Set Up VS Code

Visual Studio Code is the standard starting point for working with servers and code. In this guide it gives you one place for file editing, a terminal, and SSH connections.

Install VS Code and Remote - SSH

Download Visual Studio Code, run the installer for Windows, macOS, or Linux, and open it.

Open Extensions, search for Remote - SSH by Microsoft, and select Install. This is the only extension you need.

Create your key

Open Terminal → New Terminal inside VS Code and run:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519

Press Enter to accept the default file. Enter a passphrase you can remember.

Copy the key to Proxmox with these two commands, replacing the example IP:

scp ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub root@192.168.1.100:/tmp/homelab-key.pub
ssh root@192.168.1.100 "umask 077; mkdir -p /root/.ssh; cat /tmp/homelab-key.pub >> /root/.ssh/authorized_keys; rm /tmp/homelab-key.pub"

Accept the host fingerprint when prompted and enter the Proxmox root password. These commands work with the OpenSSH client included with current Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.

Connect from VS Code

1. Open Remote Explorer in the Activity Bar.
2. Under SSH, choose New Remote (+).
3. Enter ssh root@192.168.1.100 with your server’s IP.
4. Choose the SSH configuration file suggested by VS Code.
5. Select the new host and choose Connect in New Window.
6. Accept the host fingerprint and unlock your key if prompted.

The lower-left corner now shows the remote host. Open Terminal → New Terminal and run hostname; it should print pve.

Your workstation is ready.