VM Guest goes unresponsive during quiescing for backups.

[srctech]

I am having intermittent issues taking backups of a SQL server and a domain controller in which the servers go unresponsive while being quiesced. I am using backup exec 2010 with the latest updates. This issue happens at the most twice a week, but usually only once. I am assuming it is due to I/O activity on the servers during the backup from what I have seen on other post, but am unable to track it down to the exact cause. I have not disabled the SYNC driver on the vm as I have seen as a possible solution because I would like to avoid having to do crash consistant backups (which is caused by disabling this driver). My question is, is there a way to run a pre and post script command to shutdown the vm before the backup job runs and to restart the vm when complete? This way I will be able to backup the wm without any I/O issues. Unless someone here has a fix for the actual issue.

Thanks,

SRCTECH

[AndreTheGiant]

Have a look at: http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1006671

[srctech]

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, the site is down right now for maintenance. Once it comes back up, I will give it a check.

[AndreTheGiant]

The way is the same from VCB... create custom scripts like this:

http://blog.ntgconsult.dk/2009/05/vmware-vcb-example-pre-freeze-and-post-thaw-script.html

On Windows this script are run as SYSTEM, so you can stop and restart a service before and after the snap.

Andre

[srctech]

So basically you are saying to create a script to stop the services that may be causing the quiesces to lockup and restarting them after the snapshot instead of shutting down the server. This may work, I am just not certain what the services are that are causing the lockups since I can't track it down. I could use the same process to create a script to shutdown the server, just not sure how to power it up.

[srctech]

Any other suggestions on a command to power on a virtual machine?

[AndreTheGiant]

You can use PowerCLI or other script language to do this.

Andre