Create Your Container

This task creates the small Debian server that will hold every Docker app in the guide.

Download Debian

1. In Proxmox, select local (pve), then CT Templates.
2. Choose Templates, select the latest debian-13-standard template, and choose Download.

Create the container

In the VS Code terminal on your everyday computer, print your public key:

ssh-keygen -y -f ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Copy the single output line. In Proxmox, choose Create CT and complete the wizard:

1. General: use hostname docker, set a root password, paste the line into SSH public key, and leave Unprivileged container checked.
2. Template: select the Debian 13 template.
3. Disks: set Disk size to 16 GiB.
4. CPU: set Cores to 2.
5. Memory: set Memory to 2048 MiB and Swap to 512 MiB.
6. Network: keep bridge vmbr0, choose DHCP for IPv4, and leave IPv6 on DHCP.
7. DNS: keep Use host settings.
8. Confirm the settings and create the container.

Select the new container, open Options → Features, choose Edit, enable Nesting, and save. Docker will not start without nesting.

Start the container. Its Summary page shows the DHCP address. Reserve that address for this container in your router so it stays stable.

Connect to Debian

In VS Code’s Remote Explorer, add ssh root@CONTAINER-IP, choose the suggested SSH configuration file, and connect. Accept the fingerprint, then run:

cat /etc/debian_version

You now have a Debian 13 LXC with key-based root SSH.