---
title: "Back up Proxmox virtual machines"
description: "Use vzdump or the backup server so each Proxmox guest has a copy outside the disk that holds its virtual disk."
url: https://howtobackupvm.com/en/blog/backup-proxmox-vms/
---

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# Back up Proxmox virtual machines

Use vzdump or the backup server so each Proxmox guest has a copy outside the disk that holds its virtual disk.

Published 2026-03-18· HowToBackupVM editors

A scheduled vzdump job can write a snapshot-mode or stop-mode archive to NFS, PBS, or another node. Snapshot mode needs a storage that supports snapshots. Stop mode is simpler and interrupts the guest, so reserve it for machines that can pause.

Keep the archive, the VMID, and the bridge name together. A restore with qmrestore or the Proxmox Backup Server UI should land on storage that is not the failed volume.

The sample below checks that a local archive exists and is non-empty before you trust the nightly job.

```text
#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail
archive="/var/lib/vz/dump/backup-proxmox-vms.vma.zst"
test -s "$archive"
echo "Archive is present: $archive"
```

## Questions

On storage that does not share the production datastore, rack power, or backup admin password.

A boot of the restored guest on an isolated network, plus a recent application record.

Daily for two to four weeks, weekly for a few months, and monthly for the period your contract names.

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