Proxmox Backup Server
Proxmox Backup Server (short PBS) is an open-source, enterprise backup solution supporting virtual machines, containers, and physical hosts [1]. The server is a bare-metal solution based on the Debian GNU/Linux distribution, with some extended features, such as out-of-the-box ZFS support and Linux kernel 5.4 LTS.[2] Proxmox Backup Server is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License, version 3.[3]
Technology
Proxmox Backup Server is written mostly in Rust (programming language)[4] and implements data deduplication to reduce the storage space needed.[5] Data is split into chunks.[6]
History
Development of Proxmox Backup originally began in October, 2018 with the need to provide a more efficient backup solution for the virtualization platform Proxmox Virtual Environment than the integrated vzdump backup tool which only allows full backups. The idea was to produce a quicker and more space efficient solution. In July, 2020, the first public beta was announced. Following this, it's first stable release was announced in November, 2020.[7]
Operation
Proxmox Backup uses a client-server model and includes features that are targeted towards security and efficiency. It supports incremental backups, data deduplication, Zstandard compression and authenticated encryption (AE).[1] The backup server storing the backup data provides an API to create and manage datastores. A client tool allows to create and manage backups from all the hosts. [8]
For the Proxmox VE platform, the Proxmox Backup client is tightly integrated; the backup storage is configurable as a storage backend on a Proxmox VE node and supports deduplicated backups of QEMU virtual machines and containers.[9] The platform also leverages QEMU dirty-bitmaps, which allows for fast backups from the Proxmox VE client to the server, as only the changed data is transmitted. [10]
Backups can be stored on-premise or synchronized to remote locations with Remotes [11], and multiple, unrelated hosts can use the same backup server. All client-server traffic is transferred over TLS-1.3 to protect against eavesdropping. To further protect backup data at rest, optional encryption of all backed-up-data is available using AES-256 in Galois/Counter Mode.[12] As the backup server can not access the backup data without the matching encryption keys, it can even be an untrusted host. Administration is done with the command-line tool or with the integrated web-based management interface. Proxmox Backup Server also provides a REST API for third party tools.
References
- ^ a b Nestor, Marius. "Meet Proxmox Backup Server, a Debian-Based Open Source Enterprise Backup Solution". 9to5Linux. 9to5Linux. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ Plura, Michael (13 November 2020). "Backup Server 1.0: Proxmox und ZFS absichern" [Backup Server 1.0: Securing Proxmox and ZFS]. heise online (in German). Heinz Heise. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ "Proxmox Backup Server". Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ Thommes, Ferdinand (12 November 2020). "Proxmox erweitert Angebot mit Backup-Server" [Proxmox extends offer with backup server]. linuxnews.de (in German). Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ Legrand, David (12 November 2020). "Proxmox Backup Server est disponible en version 1.0" [Proxmox Backup Server available in version 1.0]. InpactHardware (in French). Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ "Backup Content". Proxmox Backup Documentation. Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ "Introduction - History". Proxmox Backup Documentation. Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ "Proxmox Backup Server 1.0 available". proxmox.com. Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ "Roadmap Proxmox Backup". Project page of the Proxmox Backup. Proxmox Server Solutions. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ Smith, Lyle (26 November 2020). "Proxmox VE 6.3 Now Available". StorageReview.com. Flying Pig Ventures, LLC. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ Cinar, Seda (14 November 2020). "Proxmox Backup Server 1.0 released". Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ De Luz, Sergio (15 November 2020). "¿Necesitas hacer backups profesionales? Proxmox Backup Server es tu solución" [Do you need to make professional backups? Proxmox Backup Server is your solution]. RedesZone.net (in Spanish). Grupo ADSLZone. Retrieved 21 December 2020.