Fusion .vmdk Backup Suggestions

[KenEyring]

One of my Fusion VMs got corrupted recently, and it took quite a while to retrieve the data from the virtual disk .vmdk file. 

I don't want to go through that again, and therefore would like to implement an automated backup solution.  With that in mind, I'm curious what solutions others are using to efficiently backup the data that is stored on the virtual disk to a location outside of the .vmdk file.

Thanks in advance for all suggestions!

Ken

[daphnissov]

https://www.vimalin.com/ would be the perfect tool by that, authored by wila​

[ColoradoMarmot]

Yep, that's a great choice. 

The big challenge with automated backups is that if the VM is running, the backup will be invalid, but you won't know it until it's too late.  That's why time machine often breaks (among other reasons).  Even something like Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper only works reliably if the VM is shut down.

[daphnissov]

Unfortunately, until this is addressed at the source by VMware by using a sync/quiescence driver, there's really not a viable, safe alternative to shutting the VM down.

[wila]

Hello,

Thanks guys for the recommendations.

With Vimalin you can make backups of a running VM, because when your VM runs at the time of making a backup, it uses VMware Fusion automation features to make a snapshot before it starts copying the data. After the copy has completed it will -also automatically- commit that snapshot again.

The advantage of doing it that way is that it does not require additional drivers such as a sync/quiescence driver within the guest.

As a result it also supports all operating systems that are supported by VMware Fusion itself.

When restoring a VM like that it looks like it has been suspended at the time of backup.

You can download the latest version of Vimalin from the https://www.vimalin.com website and run with the demo/trial license for 60 days.

After those 60 days you can buy a license to keep all the features, or keep on using it on the free license.

The free license excludes scheduling features (so it runs automatically) and email notifications.

If you are fine without that then you can continue using it for free (although I of course appreciate sales )

Let me know if you have any additional questions and I will try to answer them here.

--

Wil