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How to Exclude Files from Backup - Complete Guide

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How to Exclude Files from Backup - Complete Guide

Question: How do I exclude certain files or VMs from backup?

Answer: Multiple exclusion options available

How to Exclude VMs/Containers from Backup

Method 1: Web UI

Step 1: Edit Backup Job

  • Go to Datacenter → Backup
  • Select backup job → Edit

Step 2: Use Exclusion

  • Find Exclude option
  • Add VM IDs to exclude
  • Example: 100, 102

Step 3: Save

  • Click OK

Method 2: CLI Specific Exclusion

# Exclude specific VM
vzdump --mode snapshot --vmid 100,101,102 --exclude-vmid 100
 
# Exclude from "all"
vzdump --mode snapshot --vmid all --exclude-vmid 100

How to Exclude Specific Files (Inside VM)

Using Exclude File

Create file /etc/vzdump-exclude.conf:

/tmp/
/var/cache/
/var/tmp/
/swapfile

Backup automatically reads this file if present when using suspend mode.

How to Exclude CD-ROM/ISO

# Remove ISO before backup
qm set 100 --ide2 none
 
# Or use exclude option
vzdump --mode snapshot --vmid 100 --exclude-media

Pro Tips

  1. Exclude temp files to reduce backup size
  2. Exclude logs from production VMs

Keywords

exclude how-to beginner optimization

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