Backing up your Proxmox VE server to a NAS (Network Attached Storage) is essential for data protection, disaster recovery, and business continuity. This guide explains multiple reliable methods to back up Proxmox VMs, containers, and configuration files to a NAS—without using images, making it ideal for documentation or clean blog publishing.
Why Back Up Proxmox to a NAS?
- Centralized storage for backups
- Protection against host failure
- Easy restore to same or another Proxmox node
- Cost-effective compared to cloud backups
- Works with NFS, SMB/CIFS, or iSCSI
Supported NAS Protocols in Proxmox
Proxmox supports the following NAS types:
- NFS (Recommended)
- SMB / CIFS
- iSCSI (advanced use)
- Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) (best option if available)
Method 1: Back Up Proxmox to NAS Using NFS (Recommended)
Step 1: Configure NFS on NAS
On your NAS:
- Create a shared folder (example:
/proxmox-backups) - Enable NFS access
- Allow Proxmox IP
- Set read/write permission
Step 2: Add NFS Storage in Proxmox
- Log in to Proxmox Web UI
- Go to Datacenter → Storage → Add → NFS
- Enter:
- ID:
nas-backup - Server: NAS IP
- Export:
/proxmox-backups - Content: VZDump backup file
- ID:
- Save
Verify status:
pvesm status
Step 3: Run Backup
Manual backup:
- Select a VM or CT
- Click Backup
- Choose Storage: nas-backup
- Mode:
Snapshot - Start
CLI backup:
vzdump 101 --storage nas-backup --mode snapshot
Method 2: Back Up Proxmox to NAS Using SMB / CIFS
Step 1: Enable SMB on NAS
- Create user and password
- Create shared folder
- Allow Proxmox host access
Step 2: Add CIFS Storage in Proxmox
Datacenter → Storage → Add → CIFS
- ID:
nas-smb - Server: NAS IP
- Share:
backup - Username / Password
- Content: VZDump backup file
Test:
mount | grep cifs
Method 3: Automated Scheduled Backups to NAS
Configure Backup Job
- Go to Datacenter → Backup
- Click Add
- Select:
- Storage: NAS storage
- Schedule: Daily / Weekly
- Mode: Snapshot
- Retention: Keep last
7
- Save
Method 4: Back Up Proxmox Using Proxmox Backup Server (Best Practice)
If you have another machine or NAS capable of running PBS:
Why PBS?
- Deduplication
- Compression
- Incremental backups
- Encryption
- Faster restore
Steps:
- Install Proxmox Backup Server
- Create datastore on NAS mount
- Add PBS in Proxmox as backup target
- Schedule backups
Back Up Proxmox Configuration Files (Important)
Backup system configuration manually:
tar czvf /mnt/nas/proxmox-config-$(date +%F).tar.gz \
/etc/pve \
/etc/network/interfaces \
/etc/hosts \
/etc/resolv.conf
Restore VM from NAS Backup
From Web UI:
- Go to Storage → Backups
- Select backup
- Click Restore
- Choose target node
CLI:
qmrestore /mnt/pve/nas-backup/dump/vzdump-qemu-101.vma.zst 101
Best Practices
- Use NFS for best compatibility
- Store backups on separate hardware
- Enable email notifications
- Test restore quarterly
- Keep off-site copy if possible
- Enable retention pruning
Common Issues & Fixes
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| NAS disconnect | Check NFS permissions and firewall |
| Backup slow | Use compression zstd |
| VM lock error | Use stop-mode backup |
| Permission denied | Verify UID/GID mapping |