• Build a fully customizable Proxmox VE 9 live boot image.
• Supports persistent filesystems across reboots (if configured).
• Use it to test Proxmox VE without installing it.
• Or create a portable USB to run a live Proxmox VE system.
• Can serve as an Unraid replacement if you manually configure Samba, accounts, and shared folders.

• Get the latest PVE-9 Live ISO here: Release page
• Or build your own: How to build

• Lazy method: Use Rufus. After selecting the ISO file, adjust the Persistent partition size slider.

• Manual method: Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell as Administrator.

  Replace X with your USB disk number:

  diskpart
  list disk
  sel disk X
  clean
  con mbr
  cre par pri size=2000
  format fs=fat32 quick label=pve-live
  active
  assign
  cre par pri
  exit
  

1. Create partitions with fdisk:

   fdisk /dev/sdX
   o          # new MBR table
   n          # new partition
   p          # primary
   <enter>    # partition 1
   <enter>    # default start
   +2000M     # 2GB size
   t          # change type
   c          # W95 FAT32 (LBA)
   a          # make bootable
   n          # new partition
   p          # primary
   2          # partition 2
   <enter>    # default start
   <enter>    # use rest of disk
   w          # write changes
   

2. Format /dev/sdX1 as FAT32 and label it PVE-LIVE:

   mkfs.vfat -F 32 -n "PVE-LIVE" /dev/sdX1
   

3. Mount /dev/sdX1 and copy ISO content to it:

   mkdir /tmp/partition1 && mkdir /tmp/iso_mount
   mount /dev/sdX1 /tmp/partition1
   mount /path/to/pve-live-iso /tmp/iso_mount
   cp -r /tmp/iso_mount/* /tmp/partition1/ && sync
   

4. Format /dev/sdX2 with ext4 and label it persistence:

   mkfs.ext4 -L persistence /dev/sdX2
   

5. Mount /dev/sdX2 and create persistence.conf:

   mkdir /tmp/partition2
   mount /dev/sdX2 /tmp/partition2
   echo "/ union" > /tmp/partition2/persistence.conf
   umount /tmp/partition1 /tmp/iso_mount /tmp/partition2
   

1. Create partitions with diskutil:

   diskutil list
   diskutil partitionDisk diskX 2 MBR FAT32 "PVE-LIVE" 2g ExFAT "persistent" 0
   diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX
   sudo fdisk -e /dev/diskX <<< $'flag 1\nwrite\nexit\n'
   diskutil mount diskXs1
   

2. Copy ISO contents to the USB:

   • Download and extract 7-zip: https://www.7-zip.org/a/7z2501-mac.tar.xz

   cd ~/Downloads/7z2501-mac
   ./7zz x ~/Downloads/pve-9_live_lxde.iso -o/Volumes/PVE-LIVE && sync
   diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX
   

3. Boot from the USB and create the persistence partition:

   • See Step 4: Format /dev/sdX2 in the Linux section.

Requirements:

• Host: Debian 13
• Packages:

  apt update && apt install -y live-build git
  

Steps:

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/LongQT-sea/pve-live.git
   cd pve-live
   

2. Customization (optional)

   • Hook scripts: config/hooks/normal/
   • Add files to the root filesystem: config/includes.chroot/

3. Start the build:

   lb config && lb build
   

4. After building, rename the ISO:

   mv live-image-amd64.hybrid.iso proxmox-ve_9.0_lxde_live.iso
   

5. Cleanup before the next build:

   lb clean