Proxmox VE has taken one of the most important steps since its launch by incorporating official support for the ARM64 (AArch64) architecture. The platform is no longer limited to x86-64 servers and is now entering a market that is gaining significance in data centers, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing.
The key points of Proxmox VE for ARM64 in 30 seconds
- Proxmox VE 9.2 includes official support for ARM64 servers.
- Shares the same codebase, repositories, documentation, and support cycle as the x86 version.
- Currently, there are two officially certified platforms: NVIDIA Grace Hopper and NVIDIA Vera.
- This move opens the door to new cloud deployments, AI, HPC, and future enterprise ARM platforms.
For years, running Proxmox on ARM was possible thanks to community projects, but none offered official support or kept pace with the main releases. With Proxmox VE 9.2, this situation changes definitively: ARM64 becomes part of the project’s main platform.
ARM64 ceases to be a promise and becomes a production platform
The first thing to clarify is that this is not an experimental version.
Proxmox confirms that ARM64 has the same lifecycle as the x86-64 edition, including Enterprise repositories, updates, commercial support, and the same release schedule.
The new edition uses exactly the same technological base:
- Debian 13.5 “Trixie”
- Linux Kernel 7.0
- QEMU 11.0
- LXC 7.0
- ZFS 2.4
It also maintains the same web interface, REST API, CLI, storage system, clustering, and almost all existing documentation.
For an administrator familiar with Proxmox, the experience is virtually identical.
What hardware is officially supported?
This is one of the most significant updates.
For the first time, Proxmox publishes an official list of supported ARM platforms, something that previously didn’t exist.
Currently, the only certified platforms are:
- NVIDIA Grace Hopper
- NVIDIA Vera
Additionally, the manufacturer indicates that it is working with other server manufacturers to expand this list in future releases.
This is especially interesting because Grace is becoming a reference architecture for AI workloads, HPC, and next-generation data centers.
Not every ARM device can run Proxmox
One of the most common misconceptions will be thinking that now you can install Proxmox on any ARM device.
That is not the case.
The requirements are very specific:
- UEFI boot
- Hardware description via ACPI
- ARMv9-A servers (ARMv8-A will work under best effort support)
This excludes devices such as:
- Raspberry Pi
- Orange Pi
- RockPro
- Most SBCs utilizing Device Tree
Proxmox remains focused on professional hardware and enterprise servers.
Differences compared to x86
Most features are identical, though some limitations inherent to the architecture exist.
Key differences include:
- UEFI boot available only via AAVMF
- SeaBIOS is deprecated
- AMD SEV and Intel GVT-g are exclusive to x86
- Virtual machines can only run on nodes of the same architecture
- Live migration between ARM and x86 is not supported
In other words, an ARM server does not automatically replace an x86 server within an existing cluster.
Why is this release so significant?
Beyond the technical announcement, the move has much more potential than it appears.
For years, enterprise virtualization has revolved almost exclusively around Intel and AMD. However, the landscape is rapidly changing.
Today, there are ARM processors specifically designed for data centers that offer:
- Lower power consumption
- Higher core density
- Excellent performance per watt
- Integration with AI platforms
Until now, many administrators had to rely on different solutions depending on the architecture used.
With Proxmox, this begins to change.
The ability to manage ARM infrastructures from the same platform as x86 servers greatly simplifies operations for cloud providers, businesses, and IT departments.
Opportunities ARM opens for Proxmox
This first release is probably just the beginning.
If other manufacturers certify their platforms, Proxmox could become one of the few open hypervisors with official support for multiple architectures.
Scenarios where ARM could take on a more prominent role include:
- Cloud providers already offering ARM instances to reduce energy costs.
- AI infrastructure, where NVIDIA Grace is already part of many next-generation platforms.
- High-performance computing (HPC), where performance per watt becomes increasingly crucial.
- Edge Computing, with lower-power ARM servers deployed near end-users.
- Development labs, where testing applications across architectures becomes possible using the same virtualization platform.
Proxmox has also confirmed that internal builds of other ecosystem products, such as Proxmox Backup Server, are already available for ARM64, indicating that support will not be limited solely to the hypervisor.
Is this the beginning of a new era for Proxmox?
It certainly looks that way.
For a long time, ARM was seen as an alternative architecture mainly for mobile or embedded devices. Today, it starts to play a prominent role in data centers, cloud platforms, and AI projects.
The arrival of official support in Proxmox removes one of the barriers that many organizations faced when wanting to adopt ARM servers without giving up a mature virtualization platform.
Currently, official support is limited to two NVIDIA platforms, but the company hints that this list will grow. If that expansion materializes, Proxmox could be well-positioned to support the evolution of enterprise infrastructure towards increasingly heterogeneous architectures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a beta version of Proxmox for ARM?
No. ARM64 has official support and the same update and support cycle as the x86-64 edition.
Which platforms are officially supported?
Currently, only NVIDIA Grace Hopper and NVIDIA Vera are officially certified.
Can I install Proxmox on a Raspberry Pi?
No. Proxmox requires servers with UEFI and ACPI, so devices based solely on Device Tree are not compatible.
Will there be more Proxmox products for ARM?
The company has confirmed that internal versions of products like Proxmox Backup Server already exist for ARM64, but their release will depend on enterprise demand.
