How to Backup and Restore Virtual Machines and Containers in Proxmox VE

Types of Proxmox Backups

Proxmox supports backups for VMs (QEMU/KVM) and Containers (LXC). These backups are always full backups (not incremental, unless you use Proxmox Backup Server).

Backup Modes

• Snapshot (Recommended): Uses storage snapshots (if supported). VM/CT runs with minimal downtime.

• Suspend: Pauses the VM/CT during backup and resumes after completion.

• Stop: Shuts down the VM/CT completely for a backup. Safest, but maximum downtime.

Backup Storage Options

Backups can be stored on:

• Local storage (local, local-lvm)

• NFS/SMB shares

• External drives

• Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) for deduplication, encryption, and incremental backups

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Backup via Proxmox Web GUI

Step 1: Open the Backup Panel

• Log into the Proxmox Web GUI.

• Select the Datacenter, then choose the node where your VM/CT runs.

• Go to VM → Backup.

Step 2: Start a Manual Backup

• Click Backup now.

• Choose the storage target (e.g., local or PBS).

• Select the mode (snapshot, suspend, stop).

• Choose the compression method (ZSTD is recommended for speed and efficiency).

• Click Start.

Step 3: Monitor Progress

You’ll see the backup log in real-time. Once completed, the backup file will be listed in the Backup tab.

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REFERENCES

• https://www.saturnme.com/how-to-backup-and-restore-virtual-machines-and-containers-in-proxmox-ve/