I have a running VM that I am not able to shutdown, I would like to create a snapshot of this VM and bring it up on a test ESX host. I was thinking of taking a snapshot of the running VM that I can’t shutdown and then create the new VM from the snapshot, but I am not sure how to do this or if this is even possible. If this is possible what is the best way to go about doing this, if it is not possible is there any other way I can archive my goal of not having to shutdown my VM but still get a copy of it that I can get it running on a test EST hosts.
You can also try to clone the VM. Online Cloning should work with vSphere. Good Luck.
Paul
Hello.
is there any other way I can archive my goal of not having to shutdown my VM but still get a copy of it that I can get it running on a test EST hosts.
Try VMware Converter.
Good Luck!
You can also try to clone the VM. Online Cloning should work with vSphere. Good Luck.
Paul
You can make a backup of virtual machines using VCB and after restoring it with another name on the server you want.
Att
Marcos da Rosa
I would agree with vmroyale. Unless you have vCenter Converter is the tool. Before you get yourself into trouble you should understand snapshots
Hi,
You are correct in thinking that this is possible. Actually this is exactly how some backup products work.
When you take a snapshot, the original vmdk disk files are no longer opened in read/write mode, but only in read only mode, this makes it possible to copy them, even while they are in use.
The snapshot files - the vmdk files ending in "-0000001.vmdk" are Copy On Write files that only store the differences between the original disk file and the current state of the virtual machine.
So to answer your question, when you take a snapshot, you would copy everything except for the snapshot files and that will give you the exact VM from before the snapshot. Beware that the .vmx file -that makes up your virtual machine configuration- however is still pointing to the snapshot files, so you might want to take a copy of the vmx file before the snapshot or you will have to edit it to point to the correct files again.
Hope this helps,
--
Wil
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Paul Svirin
StarWind Software developer ( http://www.starwindsoftware.com )