Kubernetes Proxmox: Build a Powerful On-Prem Kubernetes Cluster

Running Kubernetes doesn’t necessarily mean you have to use the public cloud. There are plenty of reasons a team may want to keep their Kubernetes cluster on premises, like having more control over the environment, knowing exactly how much the deployment will cost, and getting low latency.

Kubernetes Proxmox is the answer to these needs. It is a combination of a powerful virtualization platform with a state-of-the, art container orchestration system. The end product is a private cloud that is flexible enough to fit the requirements of labs, businesses, and production workloads. This tutorial explains Kubernetes Proxmox. You will understand how Kubernetes can run on Proxmox, the differences between this and other configurations, and the benefits of using such a solution.

If you work with servers at home and take care of office workloads, this article will help you figure out your next step.

What Is Kubernetes Proxmox?

Kubernetes Proxmox is the implementation of Kubernetes clusters on VMs under the supervision of Proxmox VE. Proxmox VE is a server platform that facilitates:

• Virtual machines
• Containers Storage
• Networking
• High availability

Kubernetes is a container orchestration system that manages:

• Application deployment
• Scaling Service networking
• Self-healing workloads

By themselves, they represent a layered configuration:

• Proxmox is the hardware manager
• Virtual machines guarantee separation
• Kubernetes is the one running the apps in those machines

The setup is a strategic one that aims at keeping systems tidy and manageable.

Kubernetes vs Proxmox – The Core Difference

So, we shouldn’t think about Proxmox vs Kubernetes. Kubernetes does not replace Proxmox. Proxmox does not replace Kubernetes. They are layers in a modern stack.

Why Run Kubernetes on Proxmox?

A lot of people use Kubernetes with Proxmox mainly because it makes sense from a usage point of view.

Main Advantages

• Absolute control over your infrastructure
• No vendor lock in
• Cheaper in the long run
• Isolation of the different workloads is very clean
• Backups and snapshots are straightforward
• Does not require internet for proper functioning

This arrangement is favored by:

• DevOps teams
• People experimenting in their home labs
• Small businesses
• Edge deployments
• Private cloud environments

How Kubernetes Runs on Proxmox?

Proxmox is not the environment where Kubernetes runs. It is in the VMs that Proxmox creates that Kubernetes is run.

Usual scheme:

• One or three control plane VMs
• A number of worker node VMs
• Shared or local storage
• Bridged networking

Each VM runs Linux, usually:

• Ubuntu Server
• Debian
• Rocky Linux
• AlmaLinux

Kubernetes is then installed using tools like:

• kubeadm
• k3s
• RKE2
• Talos Linux

Kubernetes on Proxmox Architecture

This separation improves stability and troubleshooting.

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Install Kubernetes On Proxmox – Step By Step

Here’s a practical guide. We use Ubuntu VMs inside Proxmox.

1. Prepare Proxmox VMs

Create 3 VMs in Proxmox:

• 1 Control Plane
• 2 Worker Nodes

Assign:

• 2 CPU minimum
• 4GB RAM minimum each
• 20GB Storage (higher for apps)

2. Setup Kubernetes Dependencies

On each VM, run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl
curl -fsSL https://packages.cloud.google.com/apt/doc/apt-key.gpg | sudo apt-key add -
echo "deb https://apt.kubernetes.io/ kubernetes-xenial main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubernetes.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y kubelet kubeadm kubectl
sudo apt-mark hold kubelet kubeadm kubectl

3. Initialize Kubernetes Control Plane

On the master VM:

sudo kubeadm init --pod-network-cidr=192.168.0.0/16

Follow the printed join command to add workers.

4. Install Network Plugin (Calico)

kubectl apply -f https://docs.projectcalico.org/manifests/calico.yaml

This gives internal pod networking.

Best Practices For Production-Ready Kubernetes On Proxmox

High Availability (HA)

• Run at least 3 control plane VMs
• Use an external load balancer (HAProxy / MetalLB)
• Distribute nodes across hardware

Storage

Use Proxmox integrated Ceph for scalable storage:

Ceph monitors
Ceph OSDs
CSI drivers for Kubernetes

This lets Kubernetes persistent volumes stay reliable.

Networking

Use dedicated bridges for Kubernetes traffic. Avoid NAT for nodes.

Example:

vmbr1 – Kubernetes internal
vmbr0 – External management

Auto Provisioning With Terraform

You can automate Proxmox VMs using Terraform:

resource "proxmox_vm_qemu" "k8s-node" {
  count      = 3
  name       = "k8s-node-${count.index}"
  cores      = 2
  memory     = 4096
  ...
}

This saves time and keeps environments consistent.

Storage Options for Kubernetes on Proxmox

You cannot afford to overlook storage planning.

Common choices:

• Local ZFS
• Ceph storage
• NFS
• iSCSI
• CSI drivers with shared storage

ZFS is typically utilized for:

• Snapshots
• Rollbacks
• Data protection

Ceph is great for:

• High availability
• Large clusters
• Distributed storage

Networking Considerations

Networking should be straightforward and dependable.

Normal setup:

• Linux bridge in Proxmox
• Flat network for cluster traffic
• CNI plugin in Kubernetes

Some CNI options:

• Calico
• Flannel
• Cilium

You should stay away from complicated VLAN setups at the very beginning.

Kubernetes Proxmox vs Cloud Kubernetes

Kubernetes Proxmox is ideal when control and cost matter more than convenience.

Role of CyberPanel in Kubernetes Proxmox

CyberPanel is an excellent addition to a Kubernetes Proxmox environment used for hosting purposes. It is a web hosting control panel that supports the management of:

• Websites
• DNS
• Databases
• Email
• Security

In a Kubernetes Proxmox environment:

• Proxmox manages the hardware layer
• Kubernetes handles the application layer
• CyberPanel helps in carrying out web hosting activities easily

This trio lessens the manual work and raises the uptime of the hosted services.

Common Challenges and Ways of Avoiding Them

Frequent Mistakes

• VM resources set too low
• Unplanned storage
• Complex networking
• No backups
• Not monitoring

Best Practices

• Start with a small setup and then scale
• Take snapshots before doing any changes
• Keep an eye on node health
• Make your clusters simple
• Write down everything

Is Kubernetes Proxmox Right for You?

Choose Proxmox Kubernetes if:

You want full control

• You value predictable costs
• You enjoy learning about infrastructure
• You run private workloads

Avoid it if:

• You want zero maintenance
• You rely on managed cloud services

Final Thoughts

Kubernetes Proxmox is an excellent option to run modern workloads on your own servers. It combines the best of flexibility, performance, and ownership into one package. It scales with the right setup from a home lab to real production use.

If your goal is a private cloud that you fully control, Kubernetes Proxmox is a good choice. Couple it with the right tools and a well-thought-out plan, and it can be your reliable companion for years.

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