[SOLVED] Backup Database Server VM

[André Koppany]

Hi,

we would like to use the Proxmox Backup Server to backup a VM which is running a PostgreSQL Database.
As for a database the data should be in best case backed up like an atomic snapshot my question is if this is also doable
with the PBS?

Are there any experiences using the PBS for this kind of data?

Best,
André

 

[fabian]

there are three backup modes in PVE:

• snapshot mode: uses a qemu-internal Copy-on-Write feature for integrity/atomicity, optionally with a guest-agent freeze/thaw around the snapshot point (this offers consistency similar to a the state a disk would be in when you pull the power plug)
• suspend mode: similar, but additionally suspends the VM before starting the backup, and resumes it after the backup has started (this adds a bit more consistency, but also causes a bit more downtime for the suspend/resume cycle)
• shutdown mode: powers off the VM, then starts it in paused state, starts the backup, then boots the VM while the backup is running (this allows all running processes to write out their data cleanly and backs up the powered-off state which should be fully consistent, but it adds the downtime of a full reboot cycle)

you can always hook into the backup process to run custom actions at specific points in the backup task, such as flushing/locking your DB, creating a DB dump that also gets backed up, or whatever else strikes your fancy.

 

[André Koppany]

thanks, seems that snapshot mode is the right option to use for us.

Best,
André