How to delete a VM in pve, but retain it on pbs?

[Brian Read]

As per the subject.

 

[Moayad]

what are you mean with retain it on PBS?
are you mean the backup of the VM on PBS?

 

[Brian Read]

what are you mean with retain it on PBS?
are you mean the backup of the VM on PBS?

Yes I'd like to retain the backup on the pbs but delete the VM (and its associated data) on the pve system. AFAICT deleting the VM will delete the backup as well?

 

[ph0x]

No, it won't. In fact, if you add a new VM with the same number, the old backups will show up under the "backup" tab of said VM.
So, what you want to achieve is standard behaviour.

 

[Brian Read]

Is there a way I can stop that VMID being re-used?

 

[ph0x]

I don't know a way to prevent that other than not assigning that id again upon creation of another VM.
It's just a number, so PVE and PBS are rather agnostic about the content.

 

[Brian Read]

The problem I have then is that that VMID could be re-used, and then backed up by PBS and finally my original backup could get pruned.

Then the only answer is to backup to an external drive and keep it on the shelf.

 

[Brian Read]

The answer of course is to create a small VM immediatly after deleting the VM, and calling it "Dummy" or some such, malking sure that it picks up the VMID that you require to blank out.