From: Christian Ebner <c.ebner@proxmox.com>
To: pbs-devel@lists.proxmox.com
Subject: [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 30/30] docs: add section describing server side encryption for sync jobs
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:59:23 +0200 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <20260414125923.892345-31-c.ebner@proxmox.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20260414125923.892345-1-c.ebner@proxmox.com>
Especially clarify the terminology of active encryption key,
associated keys, key archiving and requirements for removal.
Signed-off-by: Christian Ebner <c.ebner@proxmox.com>
---
changes since version 2:
- not present in previous version
docs/managing-remotes.rst | 49 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 file changed, 49 insertions(+)
diff --git a/docs/managing-remotes.rst b/docs/managing-remotes.rst
index 95ac4823c..182fbda09 100644
--- a/docs/managing-remotes.rst
+++ b/docs/managing-remotes.rst
@@ -302,3 +302,52 @@ The following permissions are required for a sync job in push direction:
.. note:: Sync jobs in push direction require namespace support on the remote
Proxmox Backup Server instance (minimum version 2.2).
+
+Server Side Encryption/Decryption During Sync
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Sync job in push direction allow to encrypt unencrypted snapshots when syncing
+to a less trusted remote Proxmox Backup Server instance. For this, a server side
+encryption key can be assigned to the sync job. This key will then be used to
+encrypt the contents before pushing them to the remote, analogous to performing
+a backup with an encryption key. Already encrypted snapshots are not re-encrypted
+but rather pushed unmodified. Snapshots containing only partially encrypted
+contents are skipped for security reasons.
+
+On the other hand, sync jobs in pull direction allow to assign a number of
+associated keys, which will be used to decrypt snapshot contents if the key
+fingerprint of one of the listed keys matches the one used to encrypt the
+backup snapshot. The active encryption key has no effect for sync jobs in pull
+direction and should not be set.
+
+In order to configure the sync job, as well as for sync job owner/local user
+to access the keys during sync, ``System.Modify`` permissions are required on
+the ``/system/encryption-keys/{key}`` path.
+
+.. note:: Encryption key handling comes with a few risks, especially with key
+ rotatiton. Therefore, only active keys can be used to encrypt new snapshot
+ contents during push sync. If an active encryption key is changed, the key is
+ kept back as associated key on the sync job, in order to protect it from
+ accidental removal. Further, any encryption key can be archived, rendering it
+ no longer usable for encryption, only to decrypt pre-existing contents. Any
+ encryption key usable for sync jobs must therefore be marked as archived and
+ disassociated from any sync job still associated to it, before being able to
+ remove it.
+
+The following command can be used to assign the active encryption key for a sync
+job.
+
+.. code-block:: console
+
+ # proxmox-backup-manager sync-job update pbs2-push --active-encryption-key key0
+
+Setting the associated keys will drop any key not present in the given key list,
+with exception of the previously assigned active encryption key, if it is updated
+as well. The previously assigned encryption key will always be pushed to the list
+of associated keys on rotation. For example, below command would assign ``key``
+as the new active encryption key and ``key0,key2,key3`` as associated keys for
+the sync job.
+
+.. code-block:: console
+
+ # proxmox-backup-manager sync-job update pbs2-push --active-encryption-key key1 --associated-key key2 --associated-key key3
--
2.47.3
prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-04-14 12:59 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 40+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-04-14 12:58 [PATCH proxmox{,-backup} v3 00/30] fix #7251: implement server side encryption support for push " Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:58 ` [PATCH proxmox v3 01/30] pbs-api-types: define en-/decryption key type and schema Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:58 ` [PATCH proxmox v3 02/30] pbs-api-types: sync job: add optional cryptographic keys to config Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:58 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 03/30] sync: push: use tracing macros instead of log Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:58 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 04/30] datastore: blob: implement async reader for data blobs Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:58 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 05/30] datastore: manifest: add helper for change detection fingerprint Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:58 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 06/30] pbs-key-config: introduce store_with() for KeyConfig Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 07/30] pbs-config: implement encryption key config handling Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 14:32 ` Michael Köppl
2026-04-15 6:48 ` Christian Ebner
2026-04-15 8:03 ` Daniel Kral
2026-04-15 8:21 ` Christian Ebner
2026-04-15 8:06 ` Thomas Lamprecht
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 08/30] pbs-config: acls: add 'encryption-keys' as valid 'system' subpath Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 09/30] ui: expose 'encryption-keys' as acl subpath for 'system' Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 10/30] sync: add helper to check encryption key acls and load key Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 11/30] api: config: add endpoints for encryption key manipulation Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 12/30] api: config: check sync owner has access to en-/decryption keys Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 13/30] api: config: allow encryption key manipulation for sync job Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 14/30] sync: push: rewrite manifest instead of pushing pre-existing one Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 15/30] api: push sync: expose optional encryption key for push sync Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 16/30] sync: push: optionally encrypt data blob on upload Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 17/30] sync: push: optionally encrypt client log on upload if key is given Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 18/30] sync: push: add helper for loading known chunks from previous snapshot Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 19/30] fix #7251: api: push: encrypt snapshots using configured encryption key Christian Ebner
2026-04-15 14:49 ` Michael Köppl
2026-04-15 15:25 ` Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 20/30] ui: define and expose encryption key management menu item and windows Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 21/30] ui: expose assigning encryption key to sync jobs Christian Ebner
2026-04-15 14:49 ` Michael Köppl
2026-04-15 15:20 ` Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 22/30] sync: pull: load encryption key if given in job config Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 23/30] sync: expand source chunk reader trait by crypt config Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 24/30] sync: pull: introduce and use decrypt index writer if " Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 25/30] sync: pull: extend encountered chunk by optional decrypted digest Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 26/30] sync: pull: decrypt blob files on pull if encryption key is configured Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 27/30] sync: pull: decrypt chunks and rewrite index file for matching key Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 28/30] sync: pull: decrypt snapshots with matching encryption key fingerprint Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` [PATCH proxmox-backup v3 29/30] api: encryption keys: allow to toggle the archived state for keys Christian Ebner
2026-04-14 12:59 ` Christian Ebner [this message]
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