Proxmox Backup VE as a virtual machine in a Proxmox VE Cluster

[Heracleos]

Hello everyone,
Sorry if this question has already been asked before.
In your opinion, is it possible to install Proxmox Backup VE in a virtual instance running on the same Proxmox cluster that needs to be backed up, and use an external NAS via NFS or SMB as a repository?
If it is possible, are there any specific drawbacks or things to keep in mind during installation, or any steps to take after installation?
Thanks.

 

[Meister Mopper]

Hello everyone,
Sorry if this question has already been asked before.
In your opinion, is it possible to install Proxmox Backup VE in a virtual instance running on the same Proxmox cluster that needs to be backed up, and use an external NAS via NFS or SMB as a repository?
If it is possible, are there any specific drawbacks or things to keep in mind during installation, or any steps to take after installation?
Thanks.

This is possible, but not recommended.

You must make sure that you back up the PBS directly from the PVE, otherwise you will no longer be able to access the backup in the event of damage.

 

[tcabernoch]

Ok, this is going to be not-so-obvious, but give it a chance.

• The more common method of doing this is to mount the NFS share in the PBS filesystem and then setup a PBS datastore there. If you do this, you'll have to make some file system permission changes, and it will not perform well.

• The less common method, which I actually do employ, is to use the NFS as a Proxmox datastore and host a qcows virtual disk there. Attach that qcows disk to the PBS VM and build your PBS datastore there. This option performs MUCH BETTER than the above method. It still sucks.
  • I've actually had to recover this scenario before when the PVE host had crashed, and I had to rebuild the PBS server. Re-attach the qcow disk to the new PBS, mount it, set it as a datastore, and all the backups came back.

• The very uncommon method, which I employ where the hardware supports it, is to run the PBS server as a guest of the NAS itself. TrueNAS (at a couple sites) or a DIY linux NAS (yes I built one out of scraps) can host a VM. PBS doesn't need a whole lot of resources. Putting the VM physically on top of the storage is far more advantageous than any hit you take for minimal resources on the NAS host.

Oh ... and ...

• Probably the most uncommon method is iSCSI to your NAS. That performs very well, but requires specific hardware, network, and skillset that leaves it as an unattractive option for many admins. I don't iSCSI. (And as soon as I declare that I won't learn something, it's forced on me. I'm building an iSCSI-attached-storage bare-metal PBS right now. I will map it to the ZFS dataset that is the current PBS's drive, and hope to migrate in one swell foop.)