I haven't try this plugin yet but I've added it to my system and have been watching it mature. I'm currently using this plugin for my VM backups at the moment: https://forums.unraid.net/topic/86303-vm-backup-plugin/. I dont think its being actively worked on any longer. What keeps me using that one instead of yours, is snapshot backups. For my use case, I'd rather not stop the VM for a backup to be perform if possible. Would you be able to have it create snapshots as a different backup method? Granted, qemu guest agent should be installed on the OS and the path needs to absolute which will add to the complexity of the plugin and support. A good warning in the UI should help with that (the plugin i mention has a warning and will revert back to shutdown/backup/restart method if needed)

Thanks! and Thank you for all the work you have done!!

it's on the list of things i'd like to accomplish yes

Awesome! Glad to hear it is. Thank you again!

Things are looking pretty good. Thanks for all of this.

One thought I just had is to have a "Manual" selection in the frequency selection. This would allow you to set up a backup plan that would only be manually triggered to run. You can basically do this by setting up a scheduled backup, disabling it, and only ever clicking on RUN. Maybe there's an alternative way to set this up.

I’m getting:

HA's vdisk /mnt/cache/domains/HA/vdisk1.img uses mount type (OTHER) but backup destination uses (USER). Both must use the same mount type.

I’m trying to backup from cache to array. Why you are not allowing it? My VM is on cache because I have 2 fast SSDs in RAID1 and backup is of course on array.

On another note I came here because I couldn’t find a way to choose destination. Folder picker really should be done differently ;)

Edited March 20Mar 20 by Namecaps

2 minutes ago, Namecaps said:

I’m getting:

HA's vdisk /mnt/cache/domains/HA/vdisk1.img uses mount type (OTHER) but backup destination uses (USER). Both must use the same mount type.

I’m trying to backup from cache to array. Why you are not allowing it? My VM is on cache because I have 2 fast SSDs in RAID1 and backup is of course on array.

On another note I came here because I couldn’t find a way to choose destination. Folder picker really should be done differently ;)

Transferring data from a direct disk path to a share path can lead to data loss as the share pathvcan encompass a pool as well so you could potentially write over itself which ends in a deleted file

On 3/10/2026 at 8:56 PM, Cino said:

I haven't try this plugin yet but I've added it to my system and have been watching it mature. I'm currently using this plugin for my VM backups at the moment: https://forums.unraid.net/topic/86303-vm-backup-plugin/. I dont think its being actively worked on any longer. What keeps me using that one instead of yours, is snapshot backups.

Yeah snapshots are a must. I’m also using above mentioned plugin - just keep in mind restoring (this plugin does not restore and there is none that does) is major PITA as you have to use shell scripts from another person. I had major issues with them and took me hours to restore.

Just now, jcofer555 said:

Transferring data from a direct disk path to a share path can lead to data loss as the share pathvcan encompass a pool as well so you could potentially write over itself which ends in a deleted file

Ok but I just chose the VM from the picker…So I should choose my destination as disk not share? If so will it end up on an array?

Edited March 20Mar 20 by Namecaps

5 minutes ago, Namecaps said:

Yeah snapshots are a must. I’m also using above mentioned plugin - just keep in mind restoring (this plugin does not restore and there is none that does) is major PITA as you have to use shell scripts from another person. I had major issues with them and took me hours to restore.

Ok but I just chose the VM from the picker…So I should choose my destination as disk not share? If so will it end up on an array?

right, you could put it on say /mnt/disk1/sharename/foldername that way it goes onto the array and then you are transferring disk to disk which is safe

12 minutes ago, jcofer555 said:

right, you could put it on say /mnt/disk1/sharename/foldername that way it goes onto the array and then you are transferring disk to disk which is safe

Thanks. I learned something new today. This means I have to fix few other apps I'm using for backup as well then 😂

My backup share contains two disks actually in case one is full data will be copied to the next one. So how this will work in case of vm backup and restore? Same?

1 minute ago, Namecaps said:

Thanks. I learned something new today. This means I have to fix few other apps I'm using for backup as well then 😂

My backup share contains two disks actually in case one is full data will be copied to the next one. So how this will work in case of vm backup and restore? Same?

it'd be better if your vms used a share path that way your destination could be a share path, if you cannot do that then you can use user0 which is "array only" disks which would then do the spillover you are talking about to another disk assigned to the share used

7 hours ago, jcofer555 said:

it'd be better if your vms used a share path that way your destination could be a share path, if you cannot do that then you can use user0 which is "array only" disks which would then do the spillover you are talking about to another disk assigned to the share used

Unfortunately it’s the same

[ERROR] Skipping HA due to incompatible mount types
[ERROR] They must be on the same mount type i.e both fields using user or both user0 or none using either user or user0
[ERROR] Vdisk /mnt/cache/domains/HA/vdisk1.img is using mount type (USER) and backup destination (USER0)
[DRY-RUN] mkdir -p /mnt/user0/Backup-4/VMBackupRestore/HA 
Started backup for HA

23 minutes ago, Namecaps said:

Unfortunately it’s the same

[ERROR] Skipping HA due to incompatible mount types
[ERROR] They must be on the same mount type i.e both fields using user or both user0 or none using either user or user0
[ERROR] Vdisk /mnt/cache/domains/HA/vdisk1.img is using mount type (USER) and backup destination (USER0)
[DRY-RUN] mkdir -p /mnt/user0/Backup-4/VMBackupRestore/HA 
Started backup for HA

I might have broadened the restriction not to account for this, ill take another run at it soon

1 hour ago, Namecaps said:

Unfortunately it’s the same

[ERROR] Skipping HA due to incompatible mount types
[ERROR] They must be on the same mount type i.e both fields using user or both user0 or none using either user or user0
[ERROR] Vdisk /mnt/cache/domains/HA/vdisk1.img is using mount type (USER) and backup destination (USER0)
[DRY-RUN] mkdir -p /mnt/user0/Backup-4/VMBackupRestore/HA 
Started backup for HA

update is pushed, please retest when you can

6 hours ago, jcofer555 said:

update is pushed, please retest when you can

almost same error

2026-03-21 01:08:55] Backup session finished - Duration: 21s
[ERROR] Skipping HA due to incompatible mount types
[ERROR] USER can only back up to USER or EXEMPT (remotes/addons). USER0 can go to USER0, DISK, or EXEMPT. DISK can go to DISK or EXEMPT.
[ERROR] Vdisk /mnt/cache/domains/HA/vdisk1.img is on mount type (DISK) and backup destination (USER0) — incompatible combination
Stopped HA
Started backup for HA
VM(s) to be backed up - HA
[2026-03-21 01:08:32] Backup session started - Plugin version: 2026.03.20.01

12 minutes ago, Namecaps said:

almost same error

2026-03-21 01:08:55] Backup session finished - Duration: 21s
[ERROR] Skipping HA due to incompatible mount types
[ERROR] USER can only back up to USER or EXEMPT (remotes/addons). USER0 can go to USER0, DISK, or EXEMPT. DISK can go to DISK or EXEMPT.
[ERROR] Vdisk /mnt/cache/domains/HA/vdisk1.img is on mount type (DISK) and backup destination (USER0) — incompatible combination
Stopped HA
Started backup for HA
VM(s) to be backed up - HA
[2026-03-21 01:08:32] Backup session started - Plugin version: 2026.03.20.01

apologies, new update out, i'm pretty certain i got it this time

No Option to Backup all VMs but Exclude selected.

Compression, Snapshots, Selecting the Backup Includes, ...

Or other Functions from: https://forums.unraid.net/topic/86303-vm-backup-plugin/

Please added this!

Edited March 21Mar 21 by Revan335

It works now but I stopped it after one hour. Why are you copying empty space in the image, it doesn’t make sense. I have 4GB of data there and 1TB of empty space and you’re copying it all. I can’t imagine doing it everyday day over full array and this is just one VM…

Edited March 22Mar 22 by Namecaps

I have two scheduled jobs since one of my VM's I don't care so much about losing if I do. However when I "run" the second scheduled job it kicks off the job based on the config that is showing within the Backup window. The section down the left side.

Semi long winded explanation, sorry.

My original job I created was for 3 of my 4 VMs. I had a retention of 8 backups. I scheduled to run it this morning at 3 AM, and it did. I'm not sure if it actually shutdown my VM's though since the logs all showed "creating snapshot". I did have Force Stop enabled. Or so I thought I did. I have one VM that I must shutdown for it to have a clean backup. This afternoon I changed the retention from 8 to 7 and saved the job. However when I click on the bottom Run button for my Windows 11 job, it kicks off the job that was still showing within the Backup Config section.

Backup Config section (Note the Backups to keep = 8)

Scheduled jobs (note the Keep = 7 here)

Snippet of my Debug logs: Note the Backups to keep AND VMs to backup. I ran the Windows 11 backup job. What kicked off was from the config screenshot above.

Last note. The Force Stop option will not stay toggled on. I Edit my job and turn this on, then click save. It will remain on at this moment, but if I leave the page and return, it shows toggled off. If I edit the job again, it still shows toggled off.

EDIT: Actually, it appears to kick off my original built job period. As a test I Edited my Windows 11 job so it would appear in the left config section. Enabled Force Stop again, Clicked Save. Then clicked the bottom Run. It proceeded to kick off a backup from my original job. Retaining 8 backups of my 3 VMs. I never let it run long enough to see if it makes it to my Windows 11 backup. That backup took 3 hours and I'm not during that mid-day.

EDIT edit:

Manually selecting everything in the config section and clicking "Backup Now" worked as expected. I have Force Stop enabled, so no snapshot. Looks like this option may be broken in scheduled jobs?

Edited April 10Apr 10 by UncleStu

I ended up deleting all the scheduled jobs and creating individual jobs, one for each VM to backup in the morning. I/E: VM1 on Wed, VM2 on Thur, VM3 on Fri. I just checked on this and I have three backups of VM3. One from Wed, one from Thur, and one from Fri. The scheduling completely ignores what was saved and appears to only backup the last saved config being shown in the left column. Also none of them were stopped, even though the Force Stop was enabled when the job was saved/scheduled.

Curious if this plugin is still maintained or if I should be looking at a different one to backup my VMs.

wrong thread...sorry guys, not your plugin...haha

Edited May 3May 3 by Tralien

1 hour ago, Tralien said:

I cannot access / read these ( only these ) qcow2 files. Yes, i cant read and copy them.

Where exactly, you mean you can't read the backup that's on the external HDD on another machine?

They're backups, should never be needed. If one day they are you just change the perms if you need to? 🤷

Edited May 3May 3 by Kilrah

wrong thread I think.........sorry for that.....Im using VM Backup....the other Plugin ;)

I´ll edit my post

shame on me...but it sounds so similar lol

but to answer your question. the final backups made with the plugins dont allow "read" - permission, so i cant auto-"copy" them from the unraid share to a usb-hdd without editing permissions every time.......

Edited May 3May 3 by Tralien

3 hours ago, Tralien said:

so i cant auto-"copy" them from the unraid share to a usb-hdd

Usually people would do that by connecting the HDD directly to the Unraid machine and auto-syncing with an UD script rather than pulling through the network, no issue then.

Edited May 3May 3 by Kilrah

never mind, found the issue. the snapshot files from the VM dont have the "read" permission. so the backup didnt change the permissions and did nothing wrong. whoever created the snapshot files (system) didnt want me to read them. but I found a solution.

I installed this today and set up some schedules, e.g.

Unfortunately the "Run" button for a schedule to trigger it immediately doesn't do what I expect it to do. Rather than start the backup using the definition in that row, it starts to backup a different VM. It seems to use the definition that was last loaded in the Backup configuration section.

So currently to trigger a pre-configured backup immediately I do this:

• Select Edit for the desired row, to populate the "Backup" configuration

• In the "Backup" config section select "Update" (or Cancel)

  

• In the same "Backup" config section select "Backup Now"

This workaround seems to work so it's not a showstopper, but it would be great if you could look at this.

Also, this is very similar to what @UncleStu is seeing based on his post above.

Edited May 6May 6 by Piz
Want mention that this is very similar to what @UncleStu has reported