Export VM / Backups

[neyz]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering how you guys managed to export VM / Archive them in order to free space on the SANs once they become obsolete.

We need to be able to provide our clients with "exports" of their VM's so I thought the best way to do this would be to use VDR and then send them a copy of the backup but then I don't really know how to do that. I think I need to use VCB in order to read the VMDK files from the NFS share we use for VDR but then again i'm not sure of how to work this out.

Could anyone give me some insights of what to do here ?

Thank you all and have a good day !

[zanmk]

Hi!

Of course you can use VCB to archive you VM. But if don’t have all the needed infrastructure for VCB already deployed you may think about OVF or Converter tool. With the first you can export VM to an OVF format and send it to anyone. OVF file can be then deployed in VI as a standard virtual machine.

Another simple solution is to use VMware Converter. It allows to convert VM a VMware Workstation. For you the most important outcome is all VM related files on your PC. Then you are free to archive them or reimport to another VI.

regards

Martin

[AndreTheGiant]

If you have vCenter you can simple export the VM.

Or you can use, as written before, VMware Standalone Converter.

Or other backup product:

Andre

[neyz]

Thanks for your answers guys.

AndreTheGiant : When you say I can simply export it with vCenter you mean convert the VM as a template and then use the Export OVH Template like zanmk suggested ?

Thanks !

[AndreTheGiant]

When you say I can simply export it with vCenter you mean convert the VM as a template and then use the Export OVH Template like zanmk suggested ?

If you enable the Converter plugin in vCenter you can export a VM by simple right click on it in virtual center.

Andre

[neyz]

Hey that looks interesting !

I just installed the vconverter standalone (is there another version somewhere ??) but I can't seem to get that plugin you mentionned to install.I went thrue all the downloads and looked in the installation options of vconverter but nothing shows up in "available plugins" in my vsphere.

Thanks !

[AndreTheGiant]

is there another version somewhere ??

There are the Converter Standalone (free) and the Converter Enterprise (sold with vCenter Server and that works as a vCenter plugin).

Andre