+https://git.proxmox.com/?p=pve-qemu.git;a=blob_plain;f=backup.txt[here].
+
+NOTE: Proxmox VE live backup provides snapshot-like semantics on any
+storage type. It does not require that the underlying storage supports
+snapshots. Also please note that since the backups are done via
+a background Qemu process, a stopped VM will appear as running for a
+short amount of time while the VM disks are being read by Qemu.
+However the VM itself is not booted, only its disk(s) are read.
+
+.Backup modes for Containers:
+
+`stop` mode::
+
+Stop the container for the duration of the backup. This potentially
+results in a very long downtime.
+
+`suspend` mode::
+
+This mode uses rsync to copy the container data to a temporary
+location (see option `--tmpdir`). Then the container is suspended and
+a second rsync copies changed files. After that, the container is
+started (resumed) again. This results in minimal downtime, but needs
+additional space to hold the container copy.
++
+When the container is on a local file system and the target storage of
+the backup is an NFS/CIFS server, you should set `--tmpdir` to reside on a
+local file system too, as this will result in a many fold performance
+improvement. Use of a local `tmpdir` is also required if you want to
+backup a local container using ACLs in suspend mode if the backup
+storage is an NFS server.
+
+`snapshot` mode::
+
+This mode uses the snapshotting facilities of the underlying
+storage. First, the container will be suspended to ensure data consistency.
+A temporary snapshot of the container's volumes will be made and the
+snapshot content will be archived in a tar file. Finally, the temporary
+snapshot is deleted again.
+
+NOTE: `snapshot` mode requires that all backed up volumes are on a storage that
+supports snapshots. Using the `backup=no` mount point option individual volumes
+can be excluded from the backup (and thus this requirement).
+
+// see PVE::VZDump::LXC::prepare()
+NOTE: By default additional mount points besides the Root Disk mount point are
+not included in backups. For volume mount points you can set the *Backup* option
+to include the mount point in the backup. Device and bind mounts are never
+backed up as their content is managed outside the {pve} storage library.