Learn how to restore backups in Proxmox VE with ease. Our Proxmox Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

Restoring Backups in Proxmox VE | Step-by-Step Guide

Proxmox VE is an open-source virtualization platform that lets us run multiple virtual machines and containers on a single physical host. Proxmox provides a seamless way to create, configure, and monitor our virtual infrastructure by combining Kernel-based Virtual Machines and Linux Containers.

Today, we will examine restoring virtual machines in Proxmox VE using both the GUI and the CLI.

Why Use Proxmox’s Built-in Backup and Restore?

Proxmox VE offers a flexible backup system, letting you to:

• Schedule automatic backups
• Store backups locally or remotely
• Easily restore VMs or containers.
• Protect against accidental data los.s

How to Restore a VM Using the Proxmox GUI

1. First, in the Proxmox interface, select the VM we want to restore.
2. Then, go to the Backup tab, choose the desired backup file, and click Restore.
3. A new window will pop up, allowing you to customize the restore process:
   • Storage — Choose where the VM will be restored.
   • Bandwidth Limit — Set a bandwidth cap to prevent the restore process from affecting other running VMs. Use “0” for unlimited bandwidth.
   • Unique — Generate new MAC addresses and other unique attributes to prevent conflicts.
   • Start after restore — Automatically start the VM once restoration is complete.
   • Override settings — Modify VM settings, such as name, CPU, and memory, if needed.
4. Click Restore and confirm the operation.
5. Then, the Task Log window will appear, showing real-time progress.
6. Once we see the message TASK OK, the process is complete.
7. Now, we will find the restored VM listed under the selected node.
8. Click on the VM to review its settings and start it.

How to Restore a VM Using the Proxmox CLI

1. First, locate the backup. Proxmox stores backups in the default directory:

   cd /var/lib/vz/dump/
2. If the backups are elsewhere, find them with:

   find / -name "*.vma.zst"
3. Then, use the `ls` command to list the backup files. Look for file names like:

   vzdump-qemu-107-2023_11_27-11_50_25.vma.zst
   /
4. Next, run the following command to restore the VM:

   qmrestore /path/to/backup-file.vma.zst vm_id

   For example, to restore a backup to VM ID 115:

   qmrestore /mnt/pve/NFS-test/dump/vzdump-qemu-107-2023_11_27-11_50_25.vma.zst 115
5. Wait for the restore to finish — progress will be shown in the terminal.
6. Once complete, check the VM’s status:

   qm status 115

Best Practices for Backup and Restore in Proxmox VE

• Use Proxmox’s backup scheduler to automate backups for critical VMs.
• Don’t wait for an emergency. Periodically restore VMs to ensure backups are valid.
• For added security, store backups on remote NFS or NAS devices to prevent data loss in case of hardware failure.
• Avoid affecting live VMs by setting a bandwidth limit for restores.

[Need assistance with a different issue? Our team is available 24/7.]

Conclusion

Proxmox VE’s backup and restore features simplify safeguarding our virtual environments.

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated restoring backups in Proxmox VE with ease.