Hi everyone,
I am running into a strange issue with my VM backups and could really use some help.
Environment:
- Proxmox VE 9.0.10
- Proxmox Backup Server 3.4.2
- Storage is configured as "PiBackup" and resolves correctly via DNS (pi-backup.lan)
What happens:
- All LXC containers back up successfully (but show a warning, see below)
- All VMs fail – no matter which one I try
Example log from a failing VM:
-------------------------------------------------
INFO: starting new backup job: vzdump 113 --remove 0 --node proxmox2 --notification-mode notification-system --mode snapshot --storage PiBackup --notes-template '{{guestname}}'
INFO: Starting Backup of VM 113 (qemu)
INFO: Backup started at 2025-09-28 19:24:46
INFO: status = running
INFO: VM Name: haos15.1
INFO: include disk 'scsi0' 'loopzfs:vm-113-disk-0' 32G
INFO: include disk 'efidisk0' 'loopzfs:vm-113-disk-1' 528K
INFO: backup mode: snapshot
INFO: ionice priority: 7
INFO: creating Proxmox Backup Server archive 'vm/113/2025-09-28T17:24:46Z'
ERROR: VM 113 qmp command 'backup' failed - got timeout
INFO: aborting backup job
INFO: resuming VM again
ERROR: Backup of VM 113 failed - VM 113 qmp command 'backup' failed - got timeout
INFO: Backup job finished with errors
-------------------------------------------------
On the PBS side (`journalctl -u proxmox-backup-proxy -f`) I see no log entries at all while the job runs – it's as if the request never even reaches the PBS.
Additional information:
- `proxmox-backup-client status --repository pi-backup.lan:HDD1` works and shows storage usage correctly
- DNS resolution works (`ping pi-backup.lan`)
- Qemu Guest Agent is disabled (enabling it makes no difference)
- Tried multiple VMs, all show the same behavior
LXC backup warning (but they still complete):
-------------------------------------------------
Wide character in setenv at /usr/share/perl5/PVE/Storage/PBSPlugin.pm line 330.
-------------------------------------------------
It feels like QEMU hangs during the backup start phase before any data is sent to PBS.
Has anyone seen this combination of `qmp command 'backup' timeout` + `PBSPlugin.pm wide character warning` before?
Any pointers what to check next would be appreciated.
I am running into a strange issue with my VM backups and could really use some help.
Environment:
- Proxmox VE 9.0.10
- Proxmox Backup Server 3.4.2
- Storage is configured as "PiBackup" and resolves correctly via DNS (pi-backup.lan)
What happens:
- All LXC containers back up successfully (but show a warning, see below)
- All VMs fail – no matter which one I try
Example log from a failing VM:
-------------------------------------------------
INFO: starting new backup job: vzdump 113 --remove 0 --node proxmox2 --notification-mode notification-system --mode snapshot --storage PiBackup --notes-template '{{guestname}}'
INFO: Starting Backup of VM 113 (qemu)
INFO: Backup started at 2025-09-28 19:24:46
INFO: status = running
INFO: VM Name: haos15.1
INFO: include disk 'scsi0' 'loopzfs:vm-113-disk-0' 32G
INFO: include disk 'efidisk0' 'loopzfs:vm-113-disk-1' 528K
INFO: backup mode: snapshot
INFO: ionice priority: 7
INFO: creating Proxmox Backup Server archive 'vm/113/2025-09-28T17:24:46Z'
ERROR: VM 113 qmp command 'backup' failed - got timeout
INFO: aborting backup job
INFO: resuming VM again
ERROR: Backup of VM 113 failed - VM 113 qmp command 'backup' failed - got timeout
INFO: Backup job finished with errors
-------------------------------------------------
On the PBS side (`journalctl -u proxmox-backup-proxy -f`) I see no log entries at all while the job runs – it's as if the request never even reaches the PBS.
Additional information:
- `proxmox-backup-client status --repository pi-backup.lan:HDD1` works and shows storage usage correctly
- DNS resolution works (`ping pi-backup.lan`)
- Qemu Guest Agent is disabled (enabling it makes no difference)
- Tried multiple VMs, all show the same behavior
LXC backup warning (but they still complete):
-------------------------------------------------
Wide character in setenv at /usr/share/perl5/PVE/Storage/PBSPlugin.pm line 330.
-------------------------------------------------
It feels like QEMU hangs during the backup start phase before any data is sent to PBS.
Has anyone seen this combination of `qmp command 'backup' timeout` + `PBSPlugin.pm wide character warning` before?
Any pointers what to check next would be appreciated.