Proxmox has released the latest version of its virtualization platform, Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE) 9.1, bringing a range of updates aimed at simplifying container deployment, strengthening virtual machine security, and improving network visibility across software-defined infrastructures.
Proxmox VE 9.1 Features
A key addition in this update is the integrated support for Open Container Initiative (OCI) images. Administrators can now work with OCI images either by pulling them directly from container registries or uploading them manually, using them as templates to launch LXC containers. This allows greater flexibility in how containers are deployed, supporting both full-system containers and more lightweight, application-focused containers. The ability to run streamlined application containers is handy in microservice-oriented environments where efficient resource use is a priority.
Virtual machines in version 9.1 also benefit from enhanced security features, notably the ability to store the state of virtual Trusted Platform Modules (vTPMs) within qcow2 disk images. This update means that full VM snapshots, including the vTPM state, can now be captured across various storage types, including network storage like NFS or CIFS. Even for storage setups based on LVM snapshots, it’s now possible to take offline snapshots that preserve the vTPM data. This is especially important for Windows systems and other deployments that rely on vTPM for security features.
Proxmox also added more granular control over nested virtualization. A newly introduced virtual CPU flag now allows administrators to precisely configure virtualization extensions for VMs that require hypervisors or security features such as Windows Virtualization-based Security (VBS). Rather than exposing the entire host CPU to the virtual machine, this lets users fine-tune virtualization capabilities, giving them greater control while reducing overhead.
On the networking side, Proxmox VE 9.1 brings expanded observability tools to its Software-Defined Networking (SDN) interface. Administrators can now view all virtual machines connected to local bridges or virtual networks through the graphical interface. In EVPN configurations, the system displays discovered IP and MAC addresses. Additional network components, such as IP-VRFs and MAC-VRFs, are now more accessible, and new GUI enhancements integrate fabrics directly into the resource tree. This upgrade should reduce the need for command-line network diagnostics and improve overall visibility across distributed setups.
Proxmox VE 9.1 Availability
The new version is already available for download and comes as a full installation ISO. It can be installed on bare-metal servers using the built-in setup wizard. For those already running older versions of Proxmox VE, upgrading is seamless via the APT package manager. There’s also the option to install the environment on top of an existing Debian installation. As with previous versions, Proxmox VE 9.1 remains open source and is distributed under the GNU AGPLv3 license.
For users in enterprise environments, Proxmox continues to offer support through subscription-based services. These plans start at EUR 115 per year per CPU and provide access to the stable enterprise repository and technical assistance. This support model is intended for production systems requiring consistent updates and official guidance.
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