How to Back Up Containers vs VMs - Complete Guide
Question: What’s the difference in backing up LXC containers vs VMs?
Answer: Similar process, some key differences
Container (LXC) Backup
How to Back Up Container
# Stop and backup
pct stop 200
vzdump --mode stop --vmid 200 --storage local
# Or live backup
vzdump --mode snapshot --vmid 200 --storage localContainer-Specific Options
# Include config only
vzdump --mode stop --vmid 200 --storage local --notes-link 0VM (QEMU) Backup
How to Back Up VM
# Live snapshot (no downtime)
vzdump --mode snapshot --vmid 100 --storage local
# Suspend mode (brief pause)
vzdump --mode suspend --vmid 100 --storage local
# Stop mode (full downtime)
vzdump --mode stop --vmid 100 --storage localVM-Specific Options
# Include cloud-init data
vzdump --mode snapshot --vmid 100 --storage local --cloud-init local:cloudinitKey Differences
| Feature | Container | VM |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Smaller | Larger |
| Speed | Faster | Slower |
| Live backup | Yes | Yes |
| Mode: snapshot | Best | Good |
| Exclude CD-ROM | - | Yes |
Keywords
container-backup vm-backup lxc how-to differences