PBS Initial Sync for Remote (off-site) Server using USB disk?

[rholighaus]

Is there a recommended procedure to kick-start a remote (off-site) server with a USB disk instead of having to sync potentially hundreds of Gigabytes over a WAN link?

 

[alfe]

Storage seeding would surely be a cool feature.

 

[carsten2]

Is there a recommended procedure to kick-start a remote (off-site) server with a USB disk instead of having to sync potentially hundreds of Gigabytes over a WAN link?

I think you could just copy the original pvebackup storage dataset or directory (caution contains hidden files) to the other server via usb disk. For remote backup synchronization you then should change the contents of each file named "owner" from "root@pam" to "backup@pam" to avoid owner conflict errors.

If you just want to remote sync only some VMs or a reduced history you could temporarily setup a seperate pvebackup storage, backup everything you like to this new storage and copy it via USB to the other site.

 

[rholighaus]

Thank you @carsten2

I still think an export/import function for seeding a remote site would be a cool feature.

@fabian do you want me to log a feature request?

 

[dcsapak]

yes please open a feature request for this

 

[Jarvar]

@rholighaus

Perhaps a bit tedius. I was onsite and made a local backup directly to an external USB drive or to local zfs disk and then transferred the dumped image to external USB.
Then I brought the USB offsite and restored to a separate node and backed up to Proxmox Backup Server.
After that I backed up my original VM (onsite) to the offsite remote Proxmox Backup Server.
It cuts down on a lot of time especially if the internet upload speeds are slow.
I don't know if that helps what you may be trying to do.

 

[bofh]

is there now a feature request i want to vote for it

a backupserver that has to be onsite is kinda only half the game. its not useless but you absolutly need an offsite option in case you know burning buildings, thefts, nuclear strikes whatever