Auto-Start Configuration Complete Guide

Overview

Auto-start automatically starts VMs and containers after Proxmox VE boots. Essential for HA setups and ensuring services start automatically after host reboot.

Configure Auto-Start

Via Web UI

1. Navigate to Datacenter → VM/Container
2. Select VM → Options tab
3. Find Start at boot setting
4. Enable/disable

Via CLI

# Enable auto-start for VM
qm set 100 --onboot 1
 
# Disable auto-start for VM
qm set 100 --onboot 0
 
# Enable for container
pct set 200 --onboot 1

Boot Order

For VMs

# Set boot order
qm set 100 --boot order=scsi0
 
# Multiple boot devices
qm set 100 --boot order=scsi0;ide2
 
# DVD boot first
qm set 100 --boot order=ide2;scsi0

Boot Options

Parameter	Description
order=scsi0	Boot from SCSI disk
order=ide2	Boot from DVD
order=net0	Network (PXE)
order=usb	USB device

Boot Delay

Configure Delay

# Add boot delay (seconds)
qm set 100 --boot delay=5
 
# Useful for:
# - Storage not immediately available
# - Hardware initialization

Startup and Shutdown Behavior

Startup Delay

# Delay between VM startups
# File: /etc/pve/datacenter.conf
# Add startup delay
pve config set --startup-delay 5
 
# View current config
cat /etc/pve/datacenter.conf

Shutdown Timeout

# Graceful shutdown timeout
qm set 100 --shutdown-timeout 120
 
# Default: 180 seconds
# For slow shutdown: increase

Keywords

auto-start boot-order onboot startup boot-delay

Related Articles

• Auto-Start
• VM-Configuration

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