ProxMox, running VM's and Docker container's?

Creators & Developers
1

With a fully loaded Framework laptop, has anyone tried to load bare metal installation of ProxMox, running VM’s and Docker Containers?

2

I’ve been running PVE for years now, most recently on a Framework Desktop.

Firstly, laptops are not ideal for Proxmox VE. For one thing, PVE doesn’t really support wifi and the Framework laptop has no wired Ethernet unless you purchase the expansion card. The reason for this is that most wifi access points do not support bridged clients and PVE by default sets up a bridged network for the VM’s and LXC containers.

Yes, you can make PVE work with wifi if you really want to. You will have to hack in wifi support after installation, the installer will not do it for you. And in the end you will have an unsupported setup. It is much better to spend the $$ for the Ethernet card if you want to do this.

Second, PVE does not support Docker directly. You can run Docker in a VM of course, but there’s no direct support. Some people run Docker in LXC containers in a misguided quest for “efficiency” but that tends to break on major upgrades due to changes to systemd and the kernel. One thing you should for sure not do is run Docker directly on the PVE host. It will mess with your network configuration and create problems for you.

All that being said, it should be do-able if you adjust your expectations.

Edited to clarify that it is the AP that has to support bridged clients, not the wifi card in the machine.

3

Thank you bobh, these notes and insights are appreciated. I should have clarified that any docker containers would be inside a vm running debain_kde_plasma, or w11_workstation_edition.

4

I’ve ran proxmox on a framework with the intel mainboard (Ultra 5 125H) using the cooler master case, no wifi and the ethernet expansion card. No issues at all. one thing to keep in mind - intel works much better than AMD. You can get AMD to work, but it’s not as easy of a trip. some of the TDP limits got in my way, but it was stable and dependable. It should be mentioned - the ethernet expansion card - amazing. I tried a couple of usb c ethernet dongles, and they would work for a few days then disconnect for whatever reason. No so with the framework ethernet expansion card.