ProxmoxBackupClientPBSClien.../quickstart.md
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Add Quick Start Guide for PBS client installation
Added a comprehensive quick start guide for installing and configuring the PBS client, including installation commands, setup instructions, and troubleshooting tips.
2025-11-01 16:13:49 -05:00

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# Quick Start Guide
## One-Command Install
```bash
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/YOUR-REPO/pbs-client-installer.sh | sudo bash
```
Or download first:
```bash
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/YOUR-REPO/pbs-client-installer.sh
chmod +x pbs-client-installer.sh
sudo ./pbs-client-installer.sh
```
## Before You Start
Have these ready:
- PBS server IP (e.g., 192.168.1.181)
- Datastore name (e.g., backups)
- Authentication: username + password OR API token
### Creating an API Token (Recommended)
On your PBS server web interface:
1. Go to **Configuration → Access Control → API Tokens**
2. Click **Add**
3. Username: `backup@pbs`
4. Token ID: `backup-token`
5. Click **Add** and save the secret shown
## Installation Flow
1. Script detects your Linux distro
2. Installs correct PBS client version
3. You answer prompts for:
- PBS server details
- **Backup type:** File-level, Block device, or Both (Hybrid)
- What to backup
- When to backup (schedule)
- How long to keep backups (retention)
4. Script creates encryption key
5. Tests connection
6. Sets up automated backups
7. Optionally runs first backup
**Time required:** 2-5 minutes
## Backup Type Selection
During installation, choose your backup strategy:
**1. File-level only (.pxar):**
- Fast, efficient daily backups
- Great for file recovery
- Cannot directly boot as VM
**2. Block device only (.img):**
- Full disk images
- **Can be booted as VMs** in Proxmox
- Larger backup size, slower
**3. Both (Hybrid) - RECOMMENDED:**
- Daily file-level backups
- Weekly full disk images (Sundays)
- Best for disaster recovery + VM conversion
- See BACKUP-TYPES-GUIDE.md for details
## Example Configuration
### Basic Setup (Root filesystem only)
- Paths: `/`
- Exclusions: `/tmp /var/tmp /var/cache /proc /sys /dev /run`
- Schedule: Daily at 2 AM
- Retention: 3 last, 7 daily, 4 weekly, 6 monthly
### Full System Backup
- Paths: `/ /home`
- Exclusions: `/tmp /var/tmp /var/cache /proc /sys /dev /run`
- Schedule: Daily at 3 AM
- Retention: 3 last, 7 daily, 4 weekly, 12 monthly
## Post-Install Commands
```bash
# Check timer status
sudo systemctl status pbs-backup.timer
# View logs
sudo journalctl -u pbs-backup.service
# Run backup now
sudo systemctl start pbs-backup.service
# List your backups
sudo -E proxmox-backup-client snapshot list
# Disable automatic backups
sudo systemctl disable pbs-backup.timer
```
## Backup Your Encryption Key!
After installation, immediately backup:
```bash
/root/.config/proxmox-backup/encryption-key.json
/root/pbs-encryption-key-*.txt (paper backup with QR code)
```
**Lost key = Lost data forever!**
## Converting Backups to VMs
If you chose block device or hybrid backups, you can boot your laptop as a VM:
```bash
# On Proxmox VE host (install PBS client first)
# Create VM
qm create 999 --name "laptop-vm" --memory 4096 --cores 2 --scsi0 local-lvm:32
# Restore backup to VM disk
proxmox-backup-client restore \
host/your-laptop/2025-11-01T03:00:00Z \
sda.img \
/dev/pve/vm-999-disk-0
# Boot VM
qm set 999 --boot order=scsi0
qm start 999
```
**See BACKUP-TYPES-GUIDE.md for complete instructions**
## Troubleshooting
**Connection fails?**
```bash
ping YOUR_PBS_IP
curl -k https://YOUR_PBS_IP:8007
```
**Check credentials in PBS web interface**
**Arch: Need yay first?**
```bash
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si
```
## Uninstall
```bash
sudo ./pbs-client-uninstaller.sh
```
Keeps your backups on PBS server intact.
## Support
Full docs: See README.md
PBS Forums: https://forum.proxmox.com
Issues: [your-repo]/issues