---
id: ccb2b5a4-a9bb-4f8f-9367-d74713ab2415
type: code_pattern
title: "Pattern: Proxmox LXC Creation for Headless Game Servers"
tags: [proxmox, lxc, game-server, pattern, steamcmd, claude-home]
importance: 0.7
confidence: 0.8
created: "2026-03-05T03:43:01.292934+00:00"
updated: "2026-03-05T03:43:47.041443+00:00"
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---

# Proxmox LXC Game Server Pattern

## Container Setup
- Unprivileged container with `nesting=1`
- No Docker needed, so no keyctl/apparmor hacks required
- Template: Debian 12

## SteamCMD Setup
```bash
dpkg --add-architecture i386
apt install lib32gcc-s1 steamcmd
```

## User
- Create dedicated `steam` user for server process
- Run SteamCMD and server as `steam`, not root

## SteamCMD Invocation Pattern
```bash
steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType linux +login anonymous \
  +force_install_dir /home/steam/server \
  +app_update <APP_ID> validate +quit
```

## Systemd Service Pattern
```ini
[Service]
Type=simple
User=steam
Restart=on-failure
ExecStart=/home/steam/server/start.sh
```

## DNS
- Use local gateway/Pi-hole (e.g. 10.10.0.1) not 8.8.8.8
- Set via: `pct set <CTID> --nameserver 10.10.0.1`

## GPU
- No GPU passthrough needed for headless game servers

## Reference
- Existing LXC creation script: `gaming/scripts/lxc-docker-create.sh` (adapt, minus Docker parts)