Backups & Snapshots

Protecting your VMs and containers with regular backups is essential. Proxmox includes built-in backup and snapshot tools. Also, it's good idea to connect Proxmox Backup Server if you have an option of running another server. This way backups are stored off site.

For configuring Proxmox Backup Server with Virtual Environment click here for a guide

Snapshots

Snapshots save the state of a VM or container at a point in time. They are fast but stored on the same storage as the VM — not a true backup.

1. Select a VM or container in the web console
2. Go to the Snapshots tab
3. Click Take Snapshot
4. Name the snapshot and add an optional description
5. Check 'Include RAM' if you want to capture the running memory state (only for VMs)
6. Click Take Snapshot
7. To store: select the snapshot and click Rollback.

Note: Snapshots use disk space and can impact VM performance over time. Do not rely on snapshots as your only backup strategy, rather as a quick reverse when you're working or configuring something on a VM.

Manual Backups

1. Select a VM or container
2. Go to the Backup tab
3. Click Backup Now
4. Select storage (e.g., local), backup mode, and compression
5. Click Backup-  Proxmox creates a compressed backup archive

Note: If you have PBS connected to your Proxmox system, you can change the Storage from Local to PBS.

Scheduled Backups

1. Go to Datacenter > Backup
2. Click Add
3. Configure:
       • Node: your node or all
       • Storage: where to save backups
       • Schedule: e.g., daily at 2:00 AM
       • Selection: All VMs, specific IDs, or exclude certain VMs
       • Retention: set how many backups to keep (e.g., keep last 7)
4. Click Create- the schedule is saved and runs automatically

Backup Modes

•  Stop — stops the VM, backs up, then restarts. Cleanest backup.
• Suspend — suspends the VM briefly during backup. Less downtime.
• Snapshot — VM keeps running. Fastest but may have slight consistency risk.