Proxmox VE: backups with vzdump and Proxmox Backup Server, and safe updates
Protect guests with vzdump backup modes, retention and protected backups; use Proxmox Backup Server's deduplication, verification, prune and garbage collection correctly; restore with confidence; and keep nodes updated from the right repository with apt full-upgrade, one node at a time.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Length
- About 55 minutes
- Contents
- 3 lessons · final exam
- Status
- Published · updated 1 Oct 2026
- Proxmox VE · open source
Skills you'll practise
- Choose a vzdump backup mode for a guest and explain the consistency and downtime trade-off
- Configure retention with keep options and protect important backups from pruning
- Explain how prune, garbage collection and verification work together on Proxmox Backup Server
- Restore a VM or container from backup and plan regular test restores
- Update a cluster safely: correct repository, apt full-upgrade, one node at a time, and the checker script for major upgrades
Course outline
- 1.vzdump: modes, retention and restoreLesson · 18 min
- 2.Proxmox Backup ServerLesson · 18 min
- 3.Repositories and updatesLesson · 19 min
- 4.Proxmox VE: backups with vzdump and Proxmox Backup Server, and safe updates: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 14 questions
- 5.Proxmox VE: backups with vzdump and Proxmox Backup Server, and safe updates: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
- 6.Backups failing: the PBS datastore is fullScenario
- 7.Final exam9 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out
Sources it draws on
The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.
- Proxmox VE Administration Guide: Backup and Restore (vzdump)
- Proxmox Backup Server documentation: Introduction
- Proxmox Backup Server documentation: Maintenance tasks (prune, garbage collection, verification)
- Proxmox VE Administration Guide: Host System Administration (repositories, updates, network)
- Proxmox VE wiki: Upgrade from 8 to 9
See it with your own jobs and topics
Tell us about your team and we'll walk you through setup, from choosing jobs to your first skills check.