Step-by-Step Guide: How to Backup Proxmox VM with NAKIVO Backup & Replication
Last updated
Last updated
In today’s digital landscape, maintaining the integrity and availability of your virtual machines (VMs) is crucial for business continuity. Proxmox VE, known for its affordability and flexibility, is a popular choice for small to medium-sized organizations seeking a reliable virtualization solution. However, despite its benefits, Proxmox VE's open-source nature can introduce challenges, particularly when it comes to knowing how to back up Proxmox effectively and ensuring data protection through a Proxmox backup server.
Effective backup strategies are essential to safeguard critical data managed by Proxmox VMs. Given that this data often includes vital operational and revenue-related information, losing it can have severe consequences, including financial losses and compliance issues. Therefore, implementing a robust and reliable backup solution is indispensable.
In this video, we’ll guide you through the essential steps to ensure your Proxmox virtual machines are securely backed up and protected. Whether you’re new to Proxmox or looking to enhance your backup strategy, we'll cover everything from setting up NAKIVO Proxmox backup to performing your first backup job. Stay tuned to learn how to safeguard your critical data and keep your virtual environment running smoothly! Plus, don't forget to take advantage of NAKIVO’s free trial download to explore its features firsthand and see how it can streamline your Proxmox backup process.
To integrate NAKIVO Backup & Replication with Proxmox VE:
Deployment: Install the solution on a Linux Ubuntu VM running on Proxmox and use the onboard backup repository.
Storage Setup: Configure local, shared, and cloud datastores for tiered storage reliability. For example, use two local and two shared datastores on TrueNAS, enabling robust Proxmox backup VM solutions.
VM Integration: Add Proxmox VMs to the solution's inventory as physical machines. Install the Transporter component in each VM to facilitate backup.
Access Inventory Settings:
Go to Settings > Inventory in the NAKIVO web interface.
Click the + button to add a new item.
Add a Linux VM:
Choose Physical for agent-based backup.
Note: This requires installing a Transporter agent in each Proxmox VM, similar to adding physical Linux or Windows machines.
Enter details:
Display Name: Linux VM
Type: Linux
Credentials Type: Password
Username: root
Password: *********
SSH Port: 22
If automatic installation fails, manually install the Transporter.
Click Finish to complete the addition.
Add a Windows Machine:
Follow the same procedure, selecting Microsoft Windows and providing the IP address and credentials.
Create a New Backup Job:
Navigate to the Jobs tab, click +, and select Backup for physical machine.
Select VM to Back Up:
Choose the Proxmox VM(s) you wish to back up (e.g., the Linux VM).
Select Backup Destination:
Choose the “Proxmox Onboard” repository. Optionally, create a backup copy job to a remote iSCSI repository on TrueNAS, ensuring your Proxmox backup VM is secure.
Configure Schedule and Retention:
Set up the backup schedule and retention policies or choose on-demand execution. Apply a grandfather-father-son scheme if desired.
Backup Job Options:
Job Name: Enter a descriptive name.
Change Tracking: Select the proprietary method.
Full Backup Intervals: Define the intervals and type.
Run Backup Job:
Click Finish & Run. Review the job settings, including scope, schedule, and retention. Click Run to start the backup.
Select Recovery Job:
Go to the Jobs tab, select the Windows VM backup job, and click Recover > Individual files.
Select Recovery Point:
In the Backup Repositories view, choose the desired backup and proceed through the wizard.
Select Recovery Method:
Choose Recover to the following server and enter recovery details:
Select the Windows Server VM from the inventory.
Enter the IP Address and OS credentials.
Click Test Connection to verify, then Next to proceed.
Select Files to Recover:
Navigate the file system to choose the files for recovery.
Define Recovery Options:
Choose Recover to original location, set overwrite behavior, and click Recover.
Create Bootable Media:
In the NAKIVO web interface, go to Jobs, select the VM backup job, click Recover, and choose Bootable media for physical machine.
Select Get ISO to download the ISO file.
Upload ISO to Proxmox Datastore:
In the Proxmox web interface, navigate to the ISO Images tab and upload the ISO image.
Configure VM to Boot from ISO:
Select the VM, go to Hardware, set the CD/DVD Drive to use the ISO, and confirm.
Edit the VM boot order to prioritize the CD/DVD drive by clicking Options and adjusting the boot order.
Boot and Recover:
Reboot the VM from the ISO.
Open the VM console in Proxmox, launch Firefox, and navigate to the NAKIVO Backup & Replication web interface.
Log in, select the VM backup, and follow the recovery procedure.
Ensure target disks match and click Recover.
Finalize Recovery:
Once recovery is successful, return to the Proxmox web interface and restore the VM's boot order to its original settings.
Reboot the VM to start from its virtual disk.
NAKIVO Backup & Replication offers a powerful and cost-effective solution for Proxmox backup VM. With agent-based, incremental, and application-aware backups, and robust security features, NAKIVO simplifies backup and recovery processes while delivering high performance. With competitive pricing and excellent support, NAKIVO is a strong choice for protecting Proxmox VMs. For more detailed installation and configuration instructions, refer to NAKIVO's user guide.