Knowledge Base

proxmox-backup-server

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Proxmox Backup Server

Enterprise-grade backup solution for VMs, containers, and physical hosts. Tight integration with Proxmox VE. Features client-side deduplication, compression, and AES-256 encryption.

Key features

  • Client-side deduplication — only changed chunks are transferred
  • AES-256 encryption — at rest and in transit
  • Compression — zstd by default
  • Pruning & GC — automated retention policies
  • Tape support — LTO tape backup
  • Verify jobs — periodic backup integrity checks
  • REST API — full API for automation

Integration with Proxmox VE

In PVE, add PBS as a storage:

Datacenter → Storage → Add → Proxmox Backup Server

Configure:

  • Server address
  • Datastore name
  • Authentication (user or API token)
  • Fingerprint (TLS cert hash)

Then back up VMs/CTs as usual via the Backup tab or scheduled jobs.

PBS CLI (proxmox-backup-client)

# List snapshots in a datastore
proxmox-backup-client list --repository user@pbs!tokenid@server:datastore
 
# Backup a directory
proxmox-backup-client backup mydir.pxar:/path/to/dir \
  --repository user@pbs@server:datastore
 
# Restore
proxmox-backup-client restore mydir.pxar /restore/path \
  --repository user@pbs@server:datastore \
  --snapshot host/mydir/2024-01-15T02:00:00Z
 
# Garbage collect
proxmox-backup-manager garbage-collect <datastore>

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