{"url":"https://nexovirt.com/features/os-templates","title":"Proxmox cloud-init templates, no template VMs · NexoVirt","description":"Turn any cloud image URL into a Proxmox cloud-init template. NexoVirt downloads it per VM, sets user, SSH keys and IP, and cleans up afterwards.","markdown_url":"https://nexovirt.com/features/os-templates.md","sections":[{"heading":"Cloud-init templates for Proxmox, without template VMs","content":"NexoVirt turns a cloud image URL plus a cloud-init configuration into a reusable OS template for Proxmox VMs. When you create a guest, the agent downloads the image on that node, imports it, applies cloud-init and deletes the download, so you never maintain a template VM per node.\n\n[Install free](https://docs.nexovirt.com/getting-started/installation/) [Read the Cloud-init OS templates guide](https://docs.nexovirt.com/guides/images/)\n\n![Cloud-init OS templates in the NexoVirt panel](https://nexovirt.com/assets/img/screenshots/os-templates-light.webp?v=1792068738)"},{"heading":"What it does","content":"An editable cloud-init template library, grouped by distro, with images fetched on demand.\n\n- ### Editable templates\n\nEach template is a base image URL plus native cloud-init: user, SSH keys, IP, nameserver, package upgrade and root SSH. Sizes come from plans, not templates.\n- ### Grouped by distro\n\nTemplates sit in groups with their own image, such as Ubuntu or Debian. The create and reinstall wizards show the same visual picker.\n- ### Downloaded on demand\n\nThe host agent downloads the image for each new VM and removes it after the import, so nothing piles up on your storage.\n- ### Guest agent included\n\nA cloud-init snippet installs the QEMU guest agent, so IPs and disk usage show up in the panel. Without a host agent the VM still gets native cloud-init."},{"heading":"Why not just use the Proxmox web UI?","content":"Proxmox VE runs the virtualization. NexoVirt adds the layer around it. Cloud-init OS templates, task by task:\n\n| Task | Proxmox web UI | NexoVirt |\n|---|---|---|\n| Add a new distro | Download the image, qm importdisk, add a cloud-init drive, convert to template | Paste the image URL and the cloud-init settings once |\n| Use it on another node | Copy the template or use shared storage | Downloaded on the target node at create time |\n| Disk space between builds | Template disks stay on storage | The download is deleted after each import |"},{"heading":"How to use it","content":"Up and running in 3 steps, all in the panel.\n\n1. In Settings, OS templates, create a group and add a template with its image URL and cloud-init settings.\n2. Click \"Test image URL\" to confirm the host can download it.\n3. Pick the template in the create or reinstall wizard. The panel downloads, imports and boots it.\n\n[Cloud-init OS templates: step-by-step guide in the docs](https://docs.nexovirt.com/guides/images/)"},{"heading":"Cloud-init OS templates FAQ","content":"What is a cloud-init template in Proxmox?A VM disk built from a distribution's cloud image plus a cloud-init drive that sets the user, password, SSH keys and network on first boot. NexoVirt stores the image URL and those settings and builds each VM from them on demand.\n\nWhere do I get an Ubuntu cloud image for Proxmox?Ubuntu publishes them at cloud-images.ubuntu.com, for example noble-server-cloudimg-amd64.img for Ubuntu 24.04. Paste that URL into a NexoVirt template and use \"Test image URL\" to check that the host can download it."},{"heading":"Related pages","content":"- [ Supported OS templates The distributions the catalog deploys today. ](https://nexovirt.com/os-templates)\n- [ Cloud-init on Proxmox Install packages on first boot. ](https://nexovirt.com/blog/cloud-init-on-proxmox)\n- [ Guest management Every VM and container across all hosts in one searchable list with bulk actions. ](https://nexovirt.com/features/guests)\n- [ Provisioning & automation Async create, reinstall, delete and power, with a live progress page. ](https://nexovirt.com/features/provisioning)\n- [ Plans & lifecycle Resource bundles with traffic limits and expiry, enforced automatically. ](https://nexovirt.com/features/plans)\n- [ All features Everything NexoVirt adds to Proxmox VE. ](https://nexovirt.com/features)"},{"heading":"Start running NexoVirt today","content":"Free for homelabs with unlimited VMs on up to 2 nodes. Running a hosting business? Upgrade in place when you grow, no migration.\n\n[Install free](https://docs.nexovirt.com/getting-started/installation/) [See pricing](https://nexovirt.com/pricing)"}],"faq":[{"question":"What is a cloud-init template in Proxmox?","answer":"A VM disk built from a distribution's cloud image plus a cloud-init drive that sets the user, password, SSH keys and network on first boot. NexoVirt stores the image URL and those settings and builds each VM from them on demand."},{"question":"Where do I get an Ubuntu cloud image for Proxmox?","answer":"Ubuntu publishes them at cloud-images.ubuntu.com, for example noble-server-cloudimg-amd64.img for Ubuntu 24.04. Paste that URL into a NexoVirt template and use \"Test image URL\" to check that the host can download it."}]}