# Backup and Restore Procedures

**Last Updated:** 2025-01-20  
**Document Version:** 1.0  
**Status:** Active Documentation

---

## Overview

This document provides detailed procedures for backing up and restoring Proxmox VMs, containers, and configuration.

---

## Backup Strategy

### Backup Types

1. **VM/Container Backups:**
   - Full VM snapshots
   - Container backups
   - Application data backups

2. **Configuration Backups:**
   - Proxmox host configuration
   - Network configuration
   - Storage configuration

3. **Data Backups:**
   - Database backups
   - Application data
   - Configuration files

---

## Backup Procedures

### Proxmox VM/Container Backups

#### Using Proxmox Backup Server (PBS)

**Setup:**

1. **Install PBS** (if not already installed)
2. **Add PBS to Proxmox:**
   - Datacenter → Storage → Add → Proxmox Backup Server
   - Enter PBS server details
   - Test connection

**Scheduled Backups:**

1. **Create Backup Job:**
   - Datacenter → Backup → Add
   - Select VMs/containers
   - Set schedule (daily, weekly, etc.)
   - Choose retention policy

2. **Backup Options:**
   - **Mode:** Snapshot (recommended for running VMs)
   - **Compression:** ZSTD (recommended)
   - **Storage:** Proxmox Backup Server

**Manual Backup:**

```bash
# Backup single VM
vzdump <vmid> --storage <storage-name> --mode snapshot

# Backup multiple VMs
vzdump 100 101 102 --storage <storage-name> --mode snapshot

# Backup all VMs
vzdump --all --storage <storage-name> --mode snapshot
```

#### Using vzdump (Direct)

**Backup to Local Storage:**

```bash
# Backup VM to local storage
vzdump <vmid> --storage local --mode snapshot --compress zstd

# Backup with retention
vzdump <vmid> --storage local --mode snapshot --maxfiles 7
```

**Backup to NFS:**

```bash
# Add NFS storage first
# Datacenter → Storage → Add → NFS

# Backup to NFS
vzdump <vmid> --storage nfs-backup --mode snapshot
```

---

### Configuration Backups

#### Proxmox Host Configuration

**Backup Configuration Files:**

```bash
# Backup Proxmox configuration
tar -czf /backup/proxmox-config-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz \
  /etc/pve/ \
  /etc/network/interfaces \
  /etc/hosts \
  /etc/hostname
```

**Restore Configuration:**

```bash
# Extract configuration
tar -xzf /backup/proxmox-config-YYYYMMDD.tar.gz -C /

# Restart services
systemctl restart pve-cluster
systemctl restart pve-daemon
```

#### Network Configuration

**Backup Network Config:**

```bash
# Backup network configuration
cp /etc/network/interfaces /backup/interfaces-$(date +%Y%m%d)
cp /etc/hosts /backup/hosts-$(date +%Y%m%d)
```

**Version Control:**

- Store network configuration in Git
- Track changes over time
- Easy rollback if needed

---

### Application Data Backups

#### Database Backups

**PostgreSQL:**

```bash
# Backup PostgreSQL database
pg_dump -U <user> <database> > /backup/db-$(date +%Y%m%d).sql

# Restore
psql -U <user> <database> < /backup/db-YYYYMMDD.sql
```

**MySQL/MariaDB:**

```bash
# Backup MySQL database
mysqldump -u <user> -p <database> > /backup/db-$(date +%Y%m%d).sql

# Restore
mysql -u <user> -p <database> < /backup/db-YYYYMMDD.sql
```

#### Application Files

```bash
# Backup application directory
tar -czf /backup/app-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz /path/to/application

# Restore
tar -xzf /backup/app-YYYYMMDD.tar.gz -C /
```

---

## Restore Procedures

### Restore VM/Container from Backup

#### From Proxmox Backup Server

**Via Web UI:**

1. **Select VM/Container:**
   - Datacenter → Backup → Select backup
   - Click "Restore"

2. **Restore Options:**
   - Select target storage
   - Choose new VMID (or keep original)
   - Set network configuration

3. **Start Restore:**
   - Click "Restore"
   - Monitor progress

**Via Command Line:**

```bash
# Restore from PBS
vzdump restore <backup-id> <vmid> --storage <storage>

# Restore with new VMID
vzdump restore <backup-id> <new-vmid> --storage <storage>
```

#### From vzdump Backup

```bash
# Restore from vzdump file
vzdump restore <backup-file.vma.gz> <vmid> --storage <storage>
```

---

### Restore Configuration

#### Restore Proxmox Configuration

```bash
# Stop Proxmox services
systemctl stop pve-cluster
systemctl stop pve-daemon

# Restore configuration
tar -xzf /backup/proxmox-config-YYYYMMDD.tar.gz -C /

# Start services
systemctl start pve-cluster
systemctl start pve-daemon
```

#### Restore Network Configuration

```bash
# Restore network config
cp /backup/interfaces-YYYYMMDD /etc/network/interfaces
cp /backup/hosts-YYYYMMDD /etc/hosts

# Restart networking
systemctl restart networking
```

---

## Backup Verification

### Verify Backup Integrity

**Check Backup Files:**

```bash
# List backups
vzdump list --storage <storage>

# Verify backup
vzdump verify <backup-id>
```

**Test Restore:**

- Monthly restore test
- Verify VM/container starts
- Test application functionality
- Document results

---

## Backup Retention Policy

### Retention Schedule

- **Daily Backups:** Keep 7 days
- **Weekly Backups:** Keep 4 weeks
- **Monthly Backups:** Keep 12 months
- **Yearly Backups:** Keep 7 years

### Cleanup Old Backups

```bash
# Remove backups older than retention period
vzdump prune --storage <storage> --keep-last 7
```

---

## Backup Monitoring

### Backup Status Monitoring

**Check Backup Jobs:**

- Datacenter → Backup → Jobs
- Review last backup time
- Check for errors

**Automated Monitoring:**

- Set up alerts for failed backups
- Monitor backup storage usage
- Track backup completion times

---

## Best Practices

1. **Test Restores Regularly:**
   - Monthly restore tests
   - Verify data integrity
   - Document results

2. **Multiple Backup Locations:**
   - Local backups (fast restore)
   - Remote backups (disaster recovery)
   - Offsite backups (complete protection)

3. **Document Backup Procedures:**
   - Keep procedures up to date
   - Document restore procedures
   - Maintain backup inventory

4. **Monitor Backup Storage:**
   - Check available space regularly
   - Clean up old backups
   - Plan for storage growth

---

## Related Documentation

- **[DISASTER_RECOVERY.md](DISASTER_RECOVERY.md)** - Disaster recovery procedures
- **[OPERATIONAL_RUNBOOKS.md](OPERATIONAL_RUNBOOKS.md)** - Operational procedures
- **[SECRETS_KEYS_CONFIGURATION.md](../04-configuration/SECRETS_KEYS_CONFIGURATION.md)** - Secrets backup

---

**Last Updated:** 2025-01-20  
**Review Cycle:** Monthly