Proxmox storage is defined at datacenter level and each storage entry holds certain content types: VM disks, container volumes, ISOs, templates or backups. Picking the right backend affects speed, snapshots and how easily you can back up and migrate.
Before you start
- Spare disks you can wipe, or a share on a NAS.
- Root access to the node and the web UI.
Compare Proxmox storage types
| Type | Good for | Snapshots | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LVM-thin | VM and CT disks | Yes | Installer default (local-lvm), fast, thin provisioned |
| ZFS | VM and CT disks | Yes | Checksums, compression, mirrors; needs plenty of RAM |
| Directory | ISOs, templates, backups | With qcow2 files | Any mounted filesystem |
| NFS / CIFS | Backups, ISOs, shared disks | With qcow2 files | Network share; speed depends on the network |
| Ceph RBD | Shared VM disks in clusters | Yes | Needs 3+ nodes (Ceph guide) |
Add LVM-thin storage on a new disk
- Select the node → Disks, find the empty disk and, if it has old partitions, click Wipe Disk.
- Go to Disks → LVM-Thin → Create: Thinpool, choose the disk and a name, keep Add Storage ticked.
- The new storage appears in the tree, ready for VM disks.
Add a ZFS pool
- Node → Disks → ZFS → Create: ZFS.
- Select two or more disks and a RAID level (mirror is a safe choice for two disks), keep compression
lz4oron. - Keep Add Storage ticked and create.
More on ZFS tuning: ZFS for virtual machines.
Add an NFS share for backups
- Datacenter → Storage → Add → NFS.
- Enter an ID, the NFS server IP and pick the export from the list.
- Under Content select VZDump backup file (and ISO image if you like).
- Save; the share is mounted under
/mnt/pve/<id>on all nodes.
Tip: Never keep your only backups on the same disks as your VMs. An NFS share or Proxmox Backup Server on another machine protects you from hardware failure.
Troubleshooting
- Disk not offered for LVM or ZFS: it still has partitions; wipe it first.
- Thin pool full: VMs freeze. Watch usage with
lvsand enable discard in VMs. - NFS storage shows a question mark: the NAS is unreachable or the export does not allow this node's IP.
Frequently asked questions
LVM-thin or ZFS?
LVM-thin is simple and light on RAM; ZFS adds data integrity, compression and replication at the cost of memory.
Can I store backups on local storage?
Yes, on a directory storage, but copy them off the server too.
How do I move a VM disk to new storage?
Use Hardware → Disk Action → Move Storage, which works while the VM runs.