How to automate backup process?

[oermolaev]

I include a script with the task in the cron:

proxmox-backup-client backup etc.pxar:/etc/ --repository root@pam@ip.address.pbs:store1

But I get the error:

Error: no password input mechanism available

How to automate backup process correctly?

 

[nico400]

i am not shure, maybe using ssh keys?

 

[Ryan Anderson]

I created a script like the following (I didn't want to leave the passwords as variables, so I cleared them after use):

export PBS_PASSWORD=PASSWORD
export PBS_ENCRYPTION_PASSWORD=PASSWORD (If you don't use encryption you can leave this line out)
export PBS_REPOSITORY=root@pam@ip.address.pbs:store1
proxmox-backup-client backup etc.pxar:/etc --keyfile /root/office.key
export PBS_PASSWORD=
export PBS_ENCRYPTION_PASSWORD=
export PBS_REPOSITORY=

Then I run this as a cron job.
There maybe a better way, that is just what I came up with.

 

[oermolaev]

.....
There maybe a better way, that is just what I came up with.

Thank! It works!
Worry by that in the script the password is written in plain text.
I'm also interested in how you limited the number (depth) of backups?

 

[Ryan Anderson]

I agree with the plain text password issue. I currently have the script in my /root folder so only root has access. I also have the backups limited by the prune settings on the PBS. I currently keep 7 days, 4 weeks, 2 months, 1 year.

 

[vdm]

Thank you.

How would you exclude some folders in your script?

Best regards,
Andreas

 

[Ryan Anderson]

Thank you.

How would you exclude some folders in your script?

Best regards,
Andreas

That isn't going to be part of this script. Just place a text file called .pxarexclude in the folder that you want to exclude files/folders from and put in that file the excluded files/folders.

More detailed explanation:
https://pbs.proxmox.com/docs/backup-client.html#excluding-files-folders-from-a-backup

 

[fabian]

you could also use an API token that is just allowed to make backups, but not delete anything (while still being tied to your user account).

 

[entilza]

This is very useful, just don't forget to include: --include-dev in your command line or /etc/pve contents will be EMPTY!

 

[vdm]

Thank you @entilza for this helpful information. I can confirm: /etc/pve/ content is EMPTY.

How would I implement this --include-dev into the script that Ryan Anderson build?

 

[entilza]

Thank you @entilza for this helpful information. I can confirm: /etc/pve/ content is EMPTY.

How would I implement this --include-dev into the script that Ryan Anderson build?

You're Welcome!

Just add it to this line:

proxmox-backup-client backup etc.pxar:/etc --include-dev --keyfile /root/office.key

PS. The reason it doesnt' backup is /etc/pve is a special mounted /dev/fuse

 

[vdm]

Just tried but getting this error message:

'parameter 'include-dev': missing parameter value.'

The manual says there is a string missing.

Can you please also explain what the --keyfile is/does?

 

[entilza]

Just tried but getting this error message:

'parameter 'include-dev': missing parameter value.'

The manual says there is a string missing.

Can you please also explain what the --keyfile is/does?

ok mine is:

proxmox-backup-client backup pve-etc.pxar:/etc --include-dev /etc/pve

I believe keyfile is for encryption I don't use that.

 

[vdm]

I confirm that works and /etc/pve has content now.

It's a super important and good to know Lifesaver-Information !

I use proxmox file backup exactly to back up my nodes conf files and in "case of" I would have had no conf files, till today.
Happy new year ;o)

 

[entilza]

Yeah I figured, I mean we all browse the net search for solutions but then in the end if you don't fully test it or double check you can easily run into this scenario! I mean I myself went in and saw /etc/pve there I just assumed it was there was happy but then I went in to triple check and was like where are my files?! Cheers