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Proxmox Backup Server – Installation and Configuration

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By Marc Mylemans 2 min read

Introduction

If you’re running Proxmox VE, backups are not optional, they’re essential.
Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) is the official backup solution for Proxmox environments, offering deduplication and encryption with fast restores.

In this guide, we’ll walk through what PBS is, why it matters, and how to install and configure it step-by-step using Proxmox Backup Server and Proxmox VE.

What Is Proxmox Backup Server?

Proxmox Backup Server is a dedicated backup and restore platform designed to protect your virtual machines, containers, and configuration data from your Proxmox VE nodes.

It supports:

  • Block-level deduplication
  • Compression
  • Encryption
  • Incremental backups
  • Fast restore operations

PBS integrates seamlessly with Proxmox VE, and even supports remote sync and offsite replication for advanced users.

System Requirements

For most home lab environments, PBS runs perfectly on a low-power mini-PC or an old server.

Recommended minimum specs:

  • Modern AMD or Intel 64-bit based CPU, with at least 4 cores
  • 4 GB RAM
  • 32 GB system disk (SSD preferred)
  • Separate disk for backup datastore (HDD or NAS)
  • 1 Gbps network interface

Step 1: Download and Install PBS 4

  1. Visit Proxmox Downloads
  2. Download the latest Proxmox Backup Server 4.x ISO
  3. Flash it to a USB drive using Balena Etcher or Rufus
  4. Boot your mini-PC from the USB and start the installation wizard
  5. Configure hostname (e.g., pbs.lab.mylemans.online), timezone, and network settings

Once complete, you’ll see a message like:

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https://pbs.lab.mylemans.online:8007

Open that address in your browser to access the PBS web interface.

Step 2: Create a Datastore

  1. Log in using root@pam
  2. Go to Configuration → Datastores → Add
  3. Name your datastore (e.g., main-store)
  4. Select your disk path (e.g., /mnt/datastore)

If you use ZFS, ensure your pool is created and mounted first.

Step 3: Connect Proxmox VE 9 to PBS

  1. On your Proxmox VE node, navigate to:
    Datacenter → Storage → Add → Proxmox Backup Server
  2. Enter:
    • Server address
    • Datastore name
    • User credentials (root@pam)
  3. Click Fingerprint → Verify, then Add

Your PBS will now appear as available storage in Proxmox VE.

Step 4: Schedule Backups

  1. Go to Datacenter → Backup → Add
  2. Select your VMs and PBS storage
  3. Choose Snapshot Mode and a daily or weekly schedule
  4. Save and test your backup

Step 5: Test Restores

  1. Go to Datacenter → Backup
  2. Select a backup and click Restore
  3. Choose your node and storage target
  4. Start the restore process and confirm your VM boots correctly

You’ve now got a fully functioning Proxmox Backup Server protecting your homelab.
With deduplication, compression, and easy integration into Proxmox VE, it’s one of the best open-source backup solutions available.

For the video walkthrough, check out my YouTube channel:
👉 Mylemans Online on YouTube

Homelab, Backup
Proxmox Backup PBS Virtualization Homelab
This post is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by the author.