FAQ¶
What distribution is Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) based on?¶
Proxmox Backup Server is based on Debian GNU/Linux.
Which platforms are supported as a backup source (client)?¶
The client tool works on most modern Linux systems, meaning you are not limited to Debian-based backups.
Will Proxmox Backup Server run on a 32-bit processor?¶
Proxmox Backup Server only supports 64-bit CPUs (AMD or Intel). There are no future plans to support 32-bit processors.
How long will my Proxmox Backup Server version be supported?¶
Proxmox Backup Version |
Debian Version |
First Release |
Debian EOL |
Proxmox Backup EOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Proxmox Backup 3 |
Debian 12 (Bookworm) |
2023-06 |
TBA |
TBA |
Proxmox Backup 2 |
Debian 11 (Bullseye) |
2021-07 |
2024-07 |
2024-07 |
Proxmox Backup 1 |
Debian 10 (Buster) |
2020-11 |
2022-08 |
2022-07 |
How can I upgrade Proxmox Backup Server to the next point release?¶
Minor version upgrades, for example upgrading from Proxmox Backup Server in version 3.1 to 3.2 or 3.3, can be done just like any normal update. But, you should still check the release notes for any relevant notable, or breaking change.
For the update itself use either the Web UI Node -> Updates panel or through the CLI with:
apt update
apt full-upgrade
Note
Always ensure you correctly setup the package repositories and only continue with the actual upgrade if apt update did not hit any error.
How can I upgrade Proxmox Backup Server to the next major release?¶
Major version upgrades, for example going from Proxmox Backup Server 2.4 to 3.1, are also supported. They must be carefully planned and tested and should never be started without having an off-site copy of the important backups, e.g., via remote sync or tape, ready.
Although the specific upgrade steps depend on your respective setup, we provide general instructions and advice of how a upgrade should be performed:
Can I copy or synchronize my datastore to another location?¶
Proxmox Backup Server allows you to copy or synchronize datastores to other locations, through the use of Remotes and Sync Jobs. Remote is the term given to a separate server, which has a datastore that can be synced to a local store. A Sync Job is the process which is used to pull the contents of a datastore from a Remote to a local datastore.
Can Proxmox Backup Server verify data integrity of a backup archive?¶
Proxmox Backup Server uses a built-in SHA-256 checksum algorithm, to ensure data integrity. Within each backup, a manifest file (index.json) is created, which contains a list of all the backup files, along with their sizes and checksums. This manifest file is used to verify the integrity of each backup.
When backing up to remote servers, do I have to trust the remote server?¶
Proxmox Backup Server transfers data via Transport Layer Security (TLS) and additionally supports client-side encryption. This means that data is transferred securely and can be encrypted before it reaches the server. Thus, in the event that an attacker gains access to the server or any point of the network, they will not be able to read the data.
Note
Encryption is not enabled by default. To set up encryption, see the backup client encryption section.
Is the backup incremental/deduplicated/full?¶
With Proxmox Backup Server, backups are sent incrementally to the server, and data is then deduplicated on the server. This minimizes both the storage consumed and the impact on the network. Each backup still references all data and such is a full backup. For details see the Technical Overview