Is it possible for PBS to backup Windows VMs running on PVE.

[70tas]

Is it possible for PBS to backup Windows VMs running on PVE?
I keep finding threads that imply PBS cannot backup Windows VMs; But then I also see threads saying the qemu agent is essential for backups.
Can anyone help me understand when and how I can backup Windows VMs running on PVE?
Tas

 

[Dunuin]

Is it possible for PBS to backup Windows VMs running on PVE?

Yes.

I keep finding threads that imply PBS cannot backup Windows VMs;

You possibly are talking about all those threads that say you can`t backup bare metal Windows hosts. But there is one unofficial backup client for that now: https://github.com/tizbac/proxmoxbackupclient_go

But then I also see threads saying the qemu agent is essential for backups.

Yes, without it your snapshot-mode backups won't be consistent as PVE otherwise got no way to tell the VM to drop the write cache before taking the snapshot the backup is then based on. But here are some reports the fsfreeze caused by the guest agent might screw up stuff like databases.

 

[70tas]

Yes.


You possibly are talking about all those threads that say you can`t backup bare metal Windows hosts. But there is one unofficial backup client for that now: https://github.com/tizbac/proxmoxbackupclient_go


Yes, without it your snapshot-mode backups won't be consistent as PVE otherwise got no way to tell the VM to drop the write cache before taking the snapshot the backup is then based on. But here are some reports the fsfreeze caused by the guest agent might screw up stuff like databases.

Thank you Dunuin. I just want to take standard backups now.
All the fancy stuff can wait until the Broadcom storm shakes out... Unfortunately I don't think Proxmox is a proper fit for work, although it appears to be a capable replacement for VMware Workstation.
TasP