Proxmox VM Migration Guide

This guide covers migrating a virtual machine from one Proxmox node to another using the backup and restore method. This approach provides a reliable way to transfer VMs across different Proxmox hosts.

Phase 1: Connectivity Audit

Before beginning the migration, verify network connectivity between the source and destination Proxmox nodes.

On the source node, check interface configurations:

ip -br -c a

Verify connectivity to the destination node:

ping [IP_OF_DESTINATION_NODE]

Ensure both nodes can communicate over the network and that SSH access between nodes is configured. For multi-node clusters, connectivity should already be established.

Phase 2: Backup the VM

Create a backup of the VM on the source node. Navigate to the VM in Proxmox and create a backup:

1. In Proxmox Web UI, select the VM you want to migrate.
2. Click Backup Now.
3. Select a storage location with sufficient space.
4. Wait for the backup to complete.

Alternatively, use the command line. First, list available storage:

pvesm status

Create the backup:

vzdump [VM_ID] --storage [STORAGE_NAME] --compress zstd

This creates a compressed backup file (typically .vma.zst format) in the /var/lib/vz/dump/ directory.

Phase 3: Transfer the Backup

Transfer the backup file to the destination node using scp:

scp /var/lib/vz/dump/backup.vma.zst root@[DESTINATION_IP]:/var/lib/vz/dump/

Replace [DESTINATION_IP] with the IP address of the destination Proxmox node and backup.vma.zst with your actual backup filename.

Monitor the transfer progress. Large backups may take several minutes or hours depending on network bandwidth and file size.

Phase 4: Restore on the Destination Node

SSH into the destination Proxmox node and restore the VM from the backup:

qmrestore /var/lib/vz/dump/backup.vma.zst [NEW_VM_ID] --storage local-lvm

Replace [NEW_VM_ID] with the VM ID you want to assign on the destination node (e.g., 101, 102, etc.). Choose a unique ID not currently in use.

The restoration process will decompress and restore the VM to the specified storage location.

Phase 5: Verification & Cleanup

Once restoration completes:

1. In the Proxmox Web UI on the destination node, verify the VM appears in the VM list.
2. Power on the VM and confirm it boots correctly.
3. Test network connectivity and verify all services are running as expected.
4. Once satisfied, delete the source VM from the original node (optional).
5. Remove the backup files from both nodes to free up space:

   rm /var/lib/vz/dump/backup.vma.zst