Backup ESX1..vicfg-cfgbackup.pl help

[barber50701]

I need some clarification on vicfg-cfgbackup.pl. I just installed vMA and it appears to be working. I want to use vicfg-cfgbackup.pl to backup the esxi config. Do I run that command from vMA? Cuz when I do I get a command not found. Or do I run it from a PC? Thanks for your help

Nick

[lamw]

Yes, you'll run this on vMA OR if you have vCLI installed on Linux/Windows system, you'll just need to ensure you specify the full path or that the script is in your existing path.

By default, on vMA, it'll be located in /usr/bin

You might also want to take a look at this script which aides in doing multiple backups of your ESXi hosts:

Update: FYI - On vMA 4.0, they've remove the .pl extension, that's probably why you're not able to find it

[vi-admin@scofield ~]$ which esxcfg-cfgbackup
/usr/bin/esxcfg-cfgbackup

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Community

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

[barber50701]

Thanks that should get me going...is there any advantage to doing it in vMA Vs Windows? I lack any real knowledge of linux

Also during the backup the host does not go into Maintiance mode right...just during the restore?.

Nick

[lamw]

Platform is really personal preference, but if you want to use the script I wrote, it must be on vMA. I'm personally fan of running it on non-windows system

That's correct, the backup does not require the host to go into maintenance mode, you can do it while it's running with VMs.

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Community

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

[barber50701]

Great!! it is nice to use linux because it is free!

Ok last question...using vMA...where and how do I get the backup file off of the vMA server? I want to copy it and take it off-site.

Like I said...no real knowledge of Linux.

Nick

[lamw · Accepted solution]

Do a google search on "scp" and on a Windows box, you'll probably want to use free tool called "WinSCP"

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Community

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".