Comparing various ways to install a Proxmox developer workstation

I recently installed Proxmox on top of Linux Mint Debian Edition 5 and themed the Xfce desktop to get that Mint look. One may wonder, what is the advantage of this process? Especially since the official Proxmox docs contain steps necessary for installing Proxmox as a developer workstation as well as installing Proxmox on top of vanilla Debian.

First, the end goal: a Proxmox developer workstation running Xfce desktop themed to look like Mint.

The options?

 

1. Install Proxmox, and then install the Xfce desktop environment, followed by theming Xfce to look like Mint.

2. Install Debian with Xfce, then install Proxmox on top of it, and theme Xfce to look like Mint.

3. Install LMDE 5, then install Proxmox on top of it, then install Xfce desktop environment (because LMDE 5 comes with Cinnamon by default), and theme Xfce to look like Mint again. (This is the method I used.)

Method 1 is the "normal" method. Here, the Proxmox features should definitely work, since it is first and foremost Proxmox. You also get a clean and lean install of Xfce desktop, which you can slowly add programs as necessary. One thing to note, though, is that Proxmox usually partitions a smaller base partition for itself, while using the rest of the storage device as a LVM for VMs. If you are going to install a lot of stuff onto the base partition, you may soon run out of space...

Method 2 is the "normal" workaround, since by installing Debian first, you can partition the storage device to your own liking. Installing Proxmox subsequently on a more or less clean install of Debian should mean that Proxmox features should work without issues, since Proxmox is based on Debian in the first place. This method should provide a lean desktop environment that also runs Proxmox.

Method 3 looks like a very complex process to achieve the same outcome. Actually, you get the same basic outcome, but you also gain other features too. For a start, you gain all the extras that come with Linux Mint, as compared to vanilla Debian. For example, codecs and such that may be needed for video playback, and ease of installing proprietary drivers. At the same time, this can be baggage if you don't use them. In my case, I ended up with a Cinnamon desktop and corresponding files that won't be used.

At the end of the day, the bottom line is that all three methods work and deliver the same baseline results. And for Linux-based systems, you can basically achieve whatever result you want, as long as you are willing to spend time on tweaking. Linux is like the diversity champion in operating systems, there is something for everyone, and if not, you can always create your own.