proxmox/docs/12-quick-reference/QUICK_START_TEMPLATE.md

# Quick Start: Using Template as Base for All LXCs

## Step 1: Choose Your Base Template

Run the template script to see available options:

```bash
bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/community-scripts/ProxmoxVE/main/tools/addon/all-templates.sh)"
```

Or list available templates directly:

```bash
pveam available | grep -E "debian|ubuntu|alpine"
```

## Step 2: Download the Template (Once)

For example, Debian 12:

```bash
pveam download local debian-12-standard_12.2-1_amd64.tar.zst
```

This downloads the template to your local storage. You only need to do this once.

## Step 3: Set Template Variable

Create or update your configuration file with:

```bash
# In your deployment config file or .env
export CONTAINER_OS_TEMPLATE="local:vztmpl/debian-12-standard_12.2-1_amd64.tar.zst"
```

## Step 4: Deploy Multiple Containers

Now you can deploy as many containers as needed from this single template:

```bash
# Container 1 - Web Server
pct create 100 "$CONTAINER_OS_TEMPLATE" \
  --hostname web1 \
  --memory 2048 \
  --cores 2 \
  --rootfs local-lvm:20 \
  --net0 name=eth0,bridge=vmbr0,ip=dhcp \
  --unprivileged 1

# Container 2 - Database
pct create 101 "$CONTAINER_OS_TEMPLATE" \
  --hostname db1 \
  --memory 4096 \
  --cores 4 \
  --rootfs local-lvm:50 \
  --net0 name=eth0,bridge=vmbr0,ip=dhcp \
  --unprivileged 1

# Container 3 - App Server
pct create 102 "$CONTAINER_OS_TEMPLATE" \
  --hostname app1 \
  --memory 2048 \
  --cores 2 \
  --rootfs local-lvm:30 \
  --net0 name=eth0,bridge=vmbr0,ip=dhcp \
  --unprivileged 1
```

## Step 5: Start Containers

```bash
pct start 100
pct start 101
pct start 102
```

## Benefits

✅ **One template, unlimited containers** - Download once, deploy many times  
✅ **Storage efficient** - Template is reused, only differences are stored  
✅ **Consistent base** - All containers start from the same clean OS  
✅ **Easy updates** - Update template, all new containers get updates  
✅ **Fast deployment** - No need to download template for each container

## Your Current Setup

Your deployment scripts already use this pattern! Check:
- `smom-dbis-138-proxmox/scripts/deployment/deploy-services.sh`
- `smom-dbis-138-proxmox/config/proxmox.conf.example`

They use: `CONTAINER_OS_TEMPLATE="${CONTAINER_OS_TEMPLATE:-local:vztmpl/debian-12-standard_12.2-1_amd64.tar.zst}"`

This means:
- If `CONTAINER_OS_TEMPLATE` is set, use it
- Otherwise, default to Debian 12 standard template

## Next Steps

1. **Set your template** in your config file
2. **Download it once**: `pveam download local debian-12-standard_12.2-1_amd64.tar.zst`
3. **Deploy containers** using your deployment scripts - they'll automatically use the template!