Open source
The Proxmox stack is licensed under GNU AGPLv3: inspectable code, no lock-in.
PROXMOX BACKUP SERVER
Proxmox Backup Server: open source, deduplicated, ransomware-resistant backup
Proxmox Backup Server is the enterprise platform that protects Proxmox VE virtual machines and containers: incremental backup, deduplication, client-side encryption and granular restore. Official reseller and Gold Partner since 2021: subscriptions with invoicing from Italy.
Proxmox Backup Server 4 · free software (GNU AGPLv3) · subscription for stable updates and enterprise support
- 700+ active customers
- 24h support, every day
- GDPR data kept in Italy
Why PBS
Proxmox Backup Server (PBS): the open source platform for backup and restore
Performance in Rust
Written in Rust: fast and memory-safe, with no garbage collector.
Incremental and deduplicated
Only what changes is transferred and stored, with block-level deduplication.
ZSTD compression
Very fast compression with high ratios, at several GB/s.
AES-256 encryption
Authenticated client-side encryption: data stays protected even on the server.
Proxmox VE integration
PBS is added as storage in Proxmox VE to back up VMs and containers.
Efficiency
Incremental Proxmox backup: deduplicated and compressed
Backups travel incrementally from the client to the server, where the data is deduplicated: only what changes is transferred and stored, which reduces both storage use and network load.
- Fixed-size or variable-size chunk deduplication
- Very fast ZSTD compression (GB/s)
- Stack written in Rust: fast and memory-safe
Typical chunk size for disk images
4 MiB
The digest that identifies each chunk
SHA-256
Each chunk is stored only once: two VMs running the same operating system share almost all of their blocks. How much space you save is measured by the datastore, not by a price list.
Source: Proxmox Backup Server, Technical OverviewIntegrity and security
Data protected, even on untrusted targets
AES-256 encryption
Authenticated client-side encryption (GCM): the data is useless to anyone who gains access to the server.
SHA-256 checksums
Periodic verify jobs detect bit rot and confirm the integrity of every backup.
Ransomware protection
Granular access control, off-site copies through remote sync and tape copies for layered defence.
Roles and permissions
PAM realm, OpenID Connect and role-based access control: every user gets only the access they need.
Restore
Granular restore and fast recovery
Granular restore recovers a VM, an archive or a single file directly from the GUI. A snapshot catalogue for browsing, and an interactive shell to restore only what is needed.
- Restore of single files and folders
- Live restore: the VM starts while the data is still arriving
Management and integration
Web GUI, CLI, REST API and Proxmox VE
A built-in web interface for datastores, tasks, logs, users and permissions. A RESTful API (JSON) for automation, and native integration with Proxmox VE, including LTO tape backup.
- PBS added as storage in Proxmox VE in one click
- LTO-5 or later tape backup with hardware encryption
Off-site replication
Push and pull sync: the off-site copy
Sync jobs replicate snapshots between PBS instances. The difference between pull and push is which side opens the connection, and therefore where the credentials live.
Pull sync
Recommended for DR
The target downloads from the source
Source
Production PBS
Main site
Data flow
Connection
Target · initiates
Remote PBS
DR or off-site site
- The remote PBS connects to production with read-only access and downloads the new snapshots at every scheduled run.
- Credentials live only on the remote node: a compromised production system cannot alter or delete the copies.
- Typical scenario: the disaster recovery site pulls from headquarters at regular intervals.
Push sync
Since version 3.3
The source uploads to the target
Source · initiates
Site PBS
Branch, edge, DMZ
Data flow
Connection
Target
Central PBS
Off-site or managed cloud
- The local PBS connects to the target and uploads the snapshots: only outbound traffic is needed.
- It also works behind NAT or restrictive firewalls, where the target cannot reach the site network.
- Typical scenario: branches and edge nodes consolidating to a central PBS or a managed off-site service.
Both jobs are scheduled per datastore and namespace, with group filters, bandwidth limits and automatic removal of the snapshots that have disappeared from the source (remove-vanished). Pull and push together complete the 3-2-1 rule: a local copy, a second copy and an off-site copy.
Proxmox Backup Server: per server, per year
Each subscription covers one PBS server, with unlimited backup storage and clients.
Level
Basic
Standard
Premium
Stable and secure updates (Enterprise repository)
Included
Included
Included
Full feature set
Included
Included
Included
Community support (forum)
Included
Included
Included
Support through the Customer Portal
Included
Included
Included
Support tickets (per year)
5
15
Unlimited
Guaranteed response time*
1 business day
4 hours*
2 hours*
Remote support (via SSH)
Not included
Included
Included
Offline key activation
Not included
Included
Included
Datacenter Manager repository and support
Included
Included
Included
Price / server / year, VAT excl.
€1,120
€2,240
€4,480
Community
Access to the Enterprise repository (stable and secure updates), the full feature set and community support (forum). No tickets and no guaranteed SLA.
€560/server/year, VAT excl.
*Guaranteed first response time for critical requests, within the support coverage hours of each level; Premium support covers 24 hours a day from 19 October 2026. Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH price list, subject to change. Prices exclude VAT. Activation and invoicing through Rackone.
Managed PBS in the cloud
No hardware and no updates to manage
Activate a PBS datastore in the data centers of our Edge network in Italy, managed and monitored around the clock.
Frequently asked questions about Proxmox Backup Server
How much does a Proxmox Backup Server subscription cost?
A Proxmox Backup Server subscription is priced per server, per year, at four levels (Community, Basic, Standard and Premium) set by the vendor's price list, VAT excluded. Every level covers one server with unlimited backup storage and clients, and the software itself is free.
Who activates the Proxmox Backup Server subscription?
Rackone's systems engineers activate the Proxmox Backup Server subscription key. For subscriptions bought from Rackone, reissues, upgrades and cancellations are also requested from Rackone.
Is there a multi-year commitment on the subscription?
No, a Proxmox Backup Server subscription bought from Rackone carries no multi-year commitment, and the backed-up data always remains yours.
What support comes with a Proxmox Backup Server subscription?
Rackone's systems engineers provide support by ticket and email, in English or in Italian, with 24h options available on top of the vendor support included in the subscription level.
Proxmox Backup Server or Veeam: which is better?
The choice between Proxmox Backup Server and Veeam depends on what you need to protect. PBS is the native Proxmox backup system: it is priced per server, not per machine, and it also protects LXC containers. The Veeam plug-in for Proxmox VE does not back up containers and requires a licence for every protected VM, but it manages Proxmox from the same console as VMware, Hyper-V and cloud environments, with cross-platform restore. In a Proxmox-only environment, PBS is usually the more straightforward choice; where several hypervisors coexist, or where Veeam is already in use, both are worth evaluating.
On-premises PBS or managed in the cloud: which is better?
The choice between an on-premises PBS and a PBS managed in the cloud depends on your internal resources. With dedicated hardware, enough bandwidth and a systems engineer who looks after the infrastructure, an on-premises PBS remains faster for restoring large volumes, because the data does not cross the internet. A managed PBS removes the operational load (no hardware to size, no updates to follow) and provides a truly off-site copy from day one. In most of the projects we follow the two models coexist: an on-site PBS for everyday restores and a cloud datastore as the off-site copy.
Is Proxmox Backup Server free?
Yes, Proxmox Backup Server is free: it is open source under the GNU AGPL v3 licence and runs with no licence fees, with incremental backups, deduplication, compression, client-side encryption and data verification. The subscription is optional, as it is for Proxmox VE: it is priced per server, with unlimited storage and clients, and it provides the enterprise repository and vendor support.
How do you back up virtual machines on Proxmox?
Backups of virtual machines on Proxmox VE are scheduled from the web interface, for a single VM or for the whole cluster. The built-in tool saves full copies to local disks, NFS or SMB; Proxmox Backup Server adds deduplicated incrementals, encryption, verification, synchronisation to a second site and tape. Always keep a copy outside the cluster: a snapshot is not a backup.
Does Veeam work with Proxmox?
Yes, Veeam works with Proxmox VE: Veeam Backup & Replication protects it with a dedicated plug-in, with no agent inside the VMs, and also restores to Proxmox backups created on other platforms. It makes sense when Veeam is already in use or when several hypervisors coexist; LXC containers, however, are not covered. In an all-Proxmox environment, Proxmox Backup Server is usually more straightforward.
Resell this service: for MSPs and system integrators
White-label subcontracting and pre-sales support: your brand stays at the centre, we operate behind the scenes.
partner@rackone.it · We never contact your end customers
Protect your Proxmox VE.
An official subscription invoiced from Italy, or PBS managed in the cloud: you choose, we support you.