Tired of clicking through endless setup screens every time you need a new VM in Proxmox? In this comprehensive guide, I’ll show you how to automate Ubuntu 24.04 system installations using HashiCorp Packer. By creating a standardized template with cloud-init integration, you’ll cut your VM deployment time from 30+ minutes of manual work to just seconds. I’ll walk you through setting up the perfect configuration files, automating the installation process with autoinstall, and pre-installing essential software like Docker. Whether you’re managing a home lab or enterprise infrastructure, this automation approach will save you countless hours and eliminate human error. Follow along as we transform tedious VM creation into a streamlined, repeatable process that takes just 6 minutes to complete—with zero manual intervention required.