How to backup Proxmox virtual servers with Proxmox Backup Server

Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) is the official backup solution designed specifically for Proxmox VE environments. In this guide, we’ll show you how to set up backup for your Proxmox virtual servers using PBS and Cloud-PBS.

What is Proxmox Backup Server?

Proxmox Backup Server is an enterprise-grade backup solution that supports:

• Incremental backups with deduplication
• Client-side encryption for data security
• VM and container backups from Proxmox VE
• File-level restore without full VM recovery
• Bandwidth and storage optimization through compression

Setting up backups with Cloud-PBS

Step 1: Create your Cloud-PBS account

Sign up at dashboard.cloud-pbs.com to get your dedicated PBS instance. You’ll receive your connection credentials within minutes.

Step 2: Add remote datastore in Proxmox VE

In your Proxmox VE web interface:

1. Navigate to Datacenter > Storage > Add > Proxmox Backup Server
2. Enter your Cloud-PBS server address, username, and fingerprint
3. Select the datastore name provided in your dashboard

Step 3: Configure backup jobs

1. Navigate to Datacenter > Backup > Add
2. Select your Cloud-PBS storage
3. Choose which VMs and containers to back up
4. Set your schedule and retention policy

Step 4: Enable encryption (recommended)

For maximum security, enable client-side encryption:

1. Generate an encryption key on your Proxmox VE server
2. Configure the backup job to use encryption
3. Store your encryption key safely — we cannot recover it

Best practices

• Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies, 2 different media, 1 off-site
• Enable client-side encryption for sensitive data
• Test restores regularly to verify backup integrity
• Set appropriate retention policies to balance storage and recovery needs

Next steps

• Start your free trial with Cloud-PBS
• Read our troubleshooting guide for common issues