Scheduled Backup Policies

A scheduled backup policy creates backup jobs automatically at the times you define. Use it to apply a consistent protection schedule to selected virtual machines (VMs) and containers (CTs), rather than relying on manually started backups.

4.3.1 Configure a scheduled backup policy

Create a policy by selecting the backup destination, the workloads to protect, and the schedule.

• Policy name: Use a clear, unique name that identifies the workload or retention purpose.
• PBS Server and datastore: Select the Proxmox Backup Server connection and datastore where backup data will be written.
• Target Node (PVE): Select the Proxmox VE node that hosts the workloads.
• Target storage (PBS Storage): Select the PBS storage configured for the target node.
• Target VM / CT: Select the virtual machines and containers that should be included in the scheduled job.
• Schedule: Set the frequency and start time, such as daily, selected weekdays, or a specific time of day.

Before saving, verify that the selected datastore has sufficient available capacity and that the target workloads are appropriate for the backup window. For production workloads, schedule backups outside peak I/O periods whenever possible.

4.3.2 Operate and review the policy

Saved policies appear in the policy list, where you can review the configuration and remove policies that are no longer required. When a policy is enabled, PBS creates backup jobs automatically according to its schedule.

After the first scheduled run, confirm that the job completed successfully and that the expected VM or CT restore points are present in the datastore. Scheduled backups can use the same verification and follow-up replication procedures as manually created backups.

For reliable recovery, periodically test a restore from a recent backup. A completed backup job confirms that data was written; a restore test confirms that the recovery procedure and selected restore point meet your operational requirements.