Proxmox VE includes a built-in backup tool, vzdump, that saves complete VMs and containers, including configuration, to a backup storage. This guide covers Proxmox backup and restore: scheduled jobs, modes, retention and recovery.
Before you start
- A Proxmox VE host with VMs or containers.
- A backup storage that is not on the same disks as your VMs: an NFS/CIFS share, a separate disk, or Proxmox Backup Server.
- The QEMU guest agent installed in VMs for consistent snapshots.
Add a backup storage
- Go to Datacenter → Storage → Add and choose NFS, CIFS/SMB, Directory or Proxmox Backup Server.
- Set Content to include Backup (VZDump backup file).
Backup modes
| Mode | Downtime | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Snapshot | None | Default; uses guest agent to freeze filesystems in VMs |
| Suspend | Short pause | Mainly for containers on storage without snapshots |
| Stop | VM stopped during backup | Most consistent, causes downtime |
Create a scheduled backup job
- Open Datacenter → Backup → Add.
- Select the node, the target storage and a schedule such as
daily 02:00. - Choose Selection mode: all guests, selected IDs, or a pool.
- Set Mode to Snapshot and Compression to ZSTD.
- On the Retention tab, keep for example 7 daily, 4 weekly and 3 monthly backups.
- Add an email for notifications, then save.
Run a manual backup
Select the VM → Backup → Backup now, or from the shell:
vzdump 101 --storage backup-nfs --mode snapshot --compress zstdRestore a backup
- Open the backup storage → Backups, select the file and click Restore.
- Choose the target storage and keep the same VM ID (overwrites) or enter a new ID to restore alongside.
- Start the restored guest and check it.
CLI equivalents: qmrestore for VMs and pct restore for containers:
qmrestore /mnt/pve/backup-nfs/dump/vzdump-qemu-101-2025_10_15-02_00_01.vma.zst 151 --storage local-lvmOff-site and Proxmox Backup Server
- Proxmox Backup Server adds deduplication, incremental backups, encryption and verification.
- Follow the 3-2-1 rule: three copies, two media, one off-site. See backups explained.
- Test restores regularly.
Troubleshooting
- "guest-agent not running" warning: install and start
qemu-guest-agentand enable the agent option on the VM. - Backup storage full: tighten retention or prune old files.
- Backup job slow: use ZSTD, a faster network, or PBS incremental backups.
Frequently asked questions
Are snapshots enough?
No. Snapshots stay on the same storage. See snapshots vs backups.
Can I restore single files?
With Proxmox Backup Server, yes, through the file restore browser. With vzdump archives you restore the whole guest or extract manually.
Do backups include the VM configuration?
Yes, the config is stored in the archive.