Exclude a Pool from Backup Job

Apr 27, 2024
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Portland, OR
www.gnetsys.net
I want to exclude all DR restores, which will go into a Pool, from a Backup Job.

I'm looking at the backup job config interface.
I see the options to Select, All, or Exclude VMs.
And then there's Pool based.
1728266022822.png


That sounds like exactly what I want.
Backup everything but this Pool.
Unfortunately, it appears to just be inclusive. No exclusion option for Pools.
1728266233583.png


Ok then. I guess what I want to do won't work.
Let's assume the lunkheads i work with won't be good about putting the bulk of the VMs into a different Pool.

I write DR process.
I can make sure that any replicated backups restored for DR purpose are configured as needed, including pools or tags or whatever we do.

Is there a way that I can still use my "backup everything" job and also exclude the DR restores? I'm open to ideas.
I've just set it to the Exclude selected VMs. It would be nice to manage this from group membership, but i don't see a way.
 
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I want to exclude all DR restores, which will go into a Pool, from a Backup Job.

I'm looking at the backup job config interface.
I see the options to Select, All, or Exclude VMs.
And then there's Pool based.
View attachment 75865


That sounds like exactly what I want.
Backup everything but this Pool.
Unfortunately, it appears to just be inclusive. No exclusion option for Pools.
View attachment 75866


Ok then. I guess what I want to do won't work.
Let's assume the lunkheads i work with won't be good about putting the bulk of the VMs into a different Pool.

I write DR process.
I can make sure that any replicated backups restored for DR purpose are configured as needed, including pools or tags or whatever we do.

Is there a way that I can still use my "backup everything" job and also exclude the DR restores? I'm open to ideas.
I've just set it to the Exclude selected VMs. It would be nice to manage this from group membership, but i don't see a way.
This is currently not possible, a similar feature request has already been filed at https://bugzilla.proxmox.com/show_bug.cgi?id=4750. Please add your usecase there.

Edit: Also there is a feature request for a more flexible backup selection mechanism, see https://bugzilla.proxmox.com/show_bug.cgi?id=4186
 
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When I use Pool based Backup Job membership, I don't have a way to automatically include newly created or imported VMs, it has to be done by a human.
I have several classes of VMs to be backed up.
  • PreProd - No backups
  • DR - No backups
  • Dev - Backup to a PBS Namespace without Remote Sync
  • Prod - Backup to PBS Namespace with site-to-site Remote Sync
In PVE, you manage backup groups via Pools. Pool Based Backup Job membership is only inclusive. You cannot say "select all VMs that are not members of this group", so there's no way to backup unknown new vms to be created in the future.

That sorta sux.
I want new VMs to be automatically backed up.
Is there some sort of script or macro or widget or whatever that will automatically add new VMs to a pool? VMware had one called "Discovered Objects".

I need a Pool that automatically contains new cluster members, so I can use it in the selection interface on a Backup Job.
 
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