# How to install Proxmox Backup Server step by step A Proxmox Backup Server is a standalone system for backing up virtual machines, containers and physical hosts in a Proxmox environment. In this guide, you’ll learn how to install, set up and connect Proxmox Backup Server to Proxmox VE so you can integrate a reliable backup solution into your setup. ## Step 1: Prepare your server hardware Before installing your [Proxmox](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/know-how/proxmox/) Backup Server, make sure you have **suitable server hardware** in place. You can run Proxmox Backup Server either on physical hardware or on a virtual machine, although dedicated hardware is generally the better choice for production environments. Your system should meet these requirements: - **CPU**: A 64-bit AMD or Intel [CPU](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/know-how/cpu/) with at least four cores. More cores improve backup performance. - **Memory (RAM)**: At least 4 GB of [RAM](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/know-how/what-is-ram/) for the operating system, file system cache and Proxmox services, plus about 1 GB of RAM per [terabyte](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-terabyte/) of datastore capacity. - **Backup storage**: Fast, enterprise-grade [SSDs](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/know-how/what-is-ssd/) are ideal because backups involve many random read and write operations. If you use HDDs, consider adding a metadata [cache](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/hosting/technical-matters/what-is-caching/) to reduce access times. - **Network**: Multi-gigabit network interfaces (NICs) help maintain stable transfer speeds under heavy load. ## Step 2: Create bootable installation media Once your hardware is ready, create bootable installation media, such as a USB stick. The installation media contains all the files needed to start the server from it and launch the installer. Download the **latest Proxmox Backup Server ISO** from the [official Proxmox website](https://www.proxmox.com/en/downloads/proxmox-backup-server "Proxmox: Download section on the official website"). Proxmox Backup Server is usually installed as a [bare-metal system](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/configuration/proxmox-bare-metal-installation/) for maximum performance and reliability. To make the USB stick bootable, you can use Rufus on Windows. On Linux, write the ISO directly with the `dd` command. ## Step 3: Install Proxmox Backup Server Insert the installation media and open the **boot menu** during startup. To do this, press the appropriate [function key](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/web-development/function-keys-f-keys/) for your system – usually F2, F12, [Esc](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/web-development/esc-key/) or Del. Select the USB stick in the [BIOS](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/know-how/what-is-bios/) and start the graphical installer. Choose the target driver for installation, then set your time zone, keyboard layout and root password. Enter an email address to receive system notifications. After you confirm your settings, the installer completes the setup automatically. When prompted, remove the installation media and reboot. The system will then start into the Proxmox Backup Server environment, where you can log in **from the console or web interface** to continue setting up the system. ## Step 4: Create a datastore A datastore is where all [backups](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/security/what-is-a-backup/), snapshots and archive data are stored. Each datastore corresponds to a directory or drive on your system. You can create **multiple datastores** if you want to separate backups for different servers or systems. Note You can also place your datastore on a dedicated [Proxmox file server](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/configuration/how-to-set-up-a-proxmox-file-server/). This allows multiple Proxmox hosts to store their backups in one shared network location. You can create a datastore through the web interface or via the command line. Below, we focus on the command-line method. First make sure the **storage directory exists and is writable**. For example, if an additional drive is mounted at `/mnt/backupdisk`, check it with: ```bash ls /mnt/backupdisk ``` If the directory is **empty**, it’s ready to be used as a datastore. Create the new datastore using: ```bash proxmox-backup-manager datastore create backups /mnt/backupdisk ``` Here `backups` is the new datastore’s name and `/mnt/backupdisk` is the destination path. Proxmox Backup Server then creates the appropriate directory structure and registers the datastore in its configuration. To confirm everything was created correctly, run: ```bash proxmox-backup-manager datastore list ``` Your datastore is now active and ready to use. Note If you prefer the web interface, log in on port 8007. Go to **Datastore** then **Add**. Enter a name and directory, then save. ## Step 5: Set up users and access rights To let other systems store their backups on the server, you’ll need to create **user accounts and access tokens**. These handle authentication and permission management. Start by creating a dedicated user for backup purposes. This is more secure than using the default root account because it lets you control exactly which permissions the user receives: ```bash proxmox-backup-manager user create backup@pbs ``` This command creates a user named `backup@pbs`. The `@pbs` suffix indicates that the account belongs to the local Proxmox Backup Server realm. Next, create an [API](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-an-api/) token that Proxmox VE will use to connect to the backup server. The token serves as an **access key**, allowing Proxmox VE to authenticate against the backup server automatically without needing to store a password: ```bash proxmox-backup-manager token create backup@pbs backup-token --privileges DatastoreBackup,DatastoreAudit ``` This creates a token named `backup-token`, with the `DatastoreBackup` privilege for writing backups and the `DatastoreAudit` privilege for reading and verifying them. After the token is generated, Proxmox Backup Server displays both a token ID and a token value. **Make sure to note down both values** as you’ll need them in the next step to connect Proxmox VE to the backup server. ## Step 6: Connect Proxmox VE to the backup server To let your Proxmox VE host store backups on the backup server, you need to **add it as a storage target**. You can do this either through the web interface or from the command line. Log in to your Proxmox VE server via SSH and run the following command: ```bash pvesm add pbs pbs-backup \ --server \ --datastore backups \ --username backup@pbs!backup-token \ --password 'API_TOKEN' ``` Replace `` with your backup server’s [IP address](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/know-how/what-is-an-ip-address/) and `API_TOKEN` with the token value generated in the previous step. After the command runs successfully, verify the configuration with: ```bash pvesm status ``` If the datastore has been integrated correctly, it will appear in the **list of available storage**. You can now run a test backup to confirm the connection is working. ## Step 7: Automate your backups Once the connection is working, you can **schedule and automate your backups**. You can set this up directly from the shell. For example, the following Cron job creates a daily backup of all VMs and containers at 3am: ```bash echo "0 3 ** * root /usr/sbin/vzdump --all --storage pbs-backup --mode snapshot --quiet" >> /etc/crontab ``` This [Cron](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/hosting/technical-matters/cronjob/) entry automatically creates a snapshot backup of all [virtual machines](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/know-how/virtual-machines/) and containers every day at 3.00am on the `pbs-backup` storage. You can then check the backups on the backup server under the configured datastore (`/mnt/backupdisk`). ## Step 8: Restore and verify backups You can **restore individual backups** using either the Proxmox VE client or the backup server’s command line. For example, if you want to restore a backup of a VM with the ID 100, use the following command: ```bash proxmox-backup-client snapshot list ``` This shows you **all stored snapshots**. Select the snapshot you want to restore, then start the restoration with: ```bash proxmox-backup-client restore ``` This command extracts the snapshot you specify from the datastore and creates a new virtual disk file from it at ``. To perform **regular integrity checks** on your Proxmox backups, you can have the server verify snapshots automatically. This helps ensure all data blocks are complete and error-free. ```bash proxmox-backup-manager verify run backups ``` This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/configuration/proxmox-backup-server/](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/configuration/proxmox-backup-server/) for AI/LLM consumption.