---
title: "Step 5. Configuring VMware Backup Proxy"
description: "The VMware backup proxy retrieves data from the production storage, compresses, deduplicates and sends it to the backup repository. This proxy is used for the VMware vSphere infrastructure."
canonical: "https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/qsg/vmware_setup_proxy.html"
breadcrumb: "Quick Start Guide > Deployment > Step 5. Configuring VMware Backup Proxy"
dateModified: "2026-10-21"
---

# Step 5. Configuring VMware Backup Proxy

The VMware backup proxy retrieves data from the production storage, compresses, deduplicates and sends it to the backup repository. This proxy is used for the VMware vSphere infrastructure.

To configure the VMware backup proxy, you must add a Microsoft Windows or Linux server and assign the role of the backup proxy to it. In this section, you will learn how to add a Microsoft Windows proxy.

::: tip

For Linux-based components, Veeam Backup & Replication provides Veeam Infrastructure Appliance — a bundle that includes the preconfigured Rocky Linux distribution and required Veeam components and services. For the full list of the roles that can be assigned to a Linux server deployed from Veeam Infrastructure Appliance, see the [Considerations and Limitations](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/userguide/linux_infrastructure_appliance_byb.html?ver=13) section in the Veeam Backup & Replication User Guide.

:::

## Before You Begin

Check the following prerequisites:

- The machine that you plan to use as the VMware backup proxy must meet system requirements. For details, see the [System Requirements](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/userguide/system_requirements.html?ver=13) section in the Veeam Backup & Replication User Guide.
- The machine must have access to the backup server, source datastore and backup repository.
- File and printer sharing must be enabled in network connection settings of the added Microsoft Windows machine. On this machine, Veeam Backup & Replication deploys the required components. Without sharing enabled, Veeam Backup & Replication fails to deploy these components.

## Adding Server

To add a server, do the following:

1. In the inventory pane of the **Backup Infrastructure** view, right-click the **Managed Servers** node and select **Add Server**.

   [![Add Server](images/add_host_launch.png "Add Server")](images/add_host_launch.png){.toggle scale=75}

2. In the **Add Server** window, click **Microsoft Windows** to launch the **New Windows Server** wizard.
3. At the **Name** step of the wizard, specify the DNS name or IP address of the server that will perform the role of the VMware backup proxy.

   ![](images/add_proxy_server_name.png)

4. At the **Credentials** step of the wizard, specify credentials for the user account with Administrator permissions on the added server.

   To add the account, do the following:

   1. Click **Add**.
   2. Specify the username and password used to connect to the added server.
   3. Click **OK**.

   ![](images/add_server_windows_creds.png)

5. Follow the next steps of the wizard. At the **Summary** step of the wizard, click **Finish**.
6. Open the **Backup Infrastructure** view and click the **Managed Servers** node. The added server must be available in the working area.

## Assigning VMware Backup Proxy Role to Added Server

To assign the role of the VMware backup proxy:

1. In the inventory pane of the **Backup Infrastructure** view, right-click the **Backup Proxies** node and select **Add Proxy**.
2. In the **Add Backup Proxy** window, select **VMware backup proxy**.

   [![Assign Proxy Role to the Server](images/add_vmware_proxy.png "Assign Proxy Role to the Server")](images/add_vmware_proxy.png){.toggle scale=77}

3. At the **Server** step of the wizard, do the following:

   - In the **Choose server** list, select the server that you have added.
   - In the **Transport mode** field, leave the **Automatic selection** option selected.

     Veeam Backup & Replication will analyze the VMware backup proxy configuration, define to which datastores it has access and automatically select the best way to retrieve and restore data depending on the type of connection between the VMware backup proxy and the source datastore.

   - In the **Connected datastores** field, leave the **Automatic detection** option selected.

     Veeam Backup & Replication will detect datastores to which the VMware backup proxy has a direct SAN or NFS connection.

   ![](images/add_vmware_proxy_server.png)

4. At the **Traffic Rules** step of the wizard, keep the default settings.

   Network traffic throttling rules help you manage bandwidth usage and minimize impact of data protection and disaster recovery tasks on network performance. Setting up traffic throttling is not described in this guide. For details, see the [Network Traffic Management](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/userguide/managing_network_traffic.html?ver=13) section in the Veeam Backup & Replication User Guide.

5. At the **Apply** step of the wizard, click **Next** and then **Finish** to exit the wizard.
6. Open the **Backup Infrastructure** view and click the **Backup Proxies** node. The added VMware backup proxy must be available in the working area.

## Reference

For details on the VMware backup proxy, see the [VMware Backup Proxy](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/userguide/backup_proxy.html?ver=13) section in the Veeam Backup & Replication User Guide.