How to backup and restore ESXi settings regularly ?

[AlbertWT]

People,

Can anyone please let me know how and what's the best way to backup the existing running ESXi 5.1 U3 servers regularly so that when the host failed, I can restore it from plain vanilla install of ESXi server without having to worry about reconfiguring the Distributed Switch & Storage settings ?

if the process can be automated that'd be great as well.

Thanks.

[Anjani_Kumar]

Multiple free tools to do this job on the internet. here are some links

http://www.shogan.co.uk/vmware/esxi-5-0-host-backup-restore-gui-utility-powercli-based/

http://www.vladan.fr/free-esxi-configuration-backup-tool/

[abhilashhb]

To backup/restore ESXi network setting follow the below KB

VMware KB: Backing up and restoring ESXi configuration using the vSphere Command-Line Interface and ...

To Backup/Restore distributed switch settings

VMware KB: Exporting/importing/restoring Distributed Switch configs using vSphere Web client

[AlbertWT]

thanks guys. So in this case can it be automatically scheduled to take the backup and successfully restore the ESXi settings completely ?

[vfk]

Hi, I would suggest to focus on an automated way of building esxi host from scratch with all the correct settings this should reduce your backup requirements for esxi hosts, and this will give you greater flexibility in how you manage your environment.

[abhilashhb]

You can do it with the free tool from vladan's blog. There's a line that talks about it

• Create a scheduled task in Windows to run “ESXi Configuration Backup.exe” or run it manually.

So automatic config should work.

[Anjani_Kumar]

As this can be automated and run manually both. Its your choice how to proceed with it. Good Luck

[AlbertWT]

vfk‌ May I know what's the solution that you've suggested ? is it using Autodeploy ?

I'm on Enterprise Plus but all of the ESXi servers ahs been manually build and configured for the Distributed Switch as well.

[cann0nf0dder]

If you do run a vCenter Server I'd go for Autodeploy or Host profiles.that can be applied to any new instance rather worry about ESXi

Hope that helps.

[Rausche · Accepted solution]

If you're running Enterprise vCenter Server as well your best bet is probably using Host Profiles. You can create one profile to attach to an entire cluster (if your hosts are cookie-cutter) or create one for each host (if they're fairly unique). You can export the host profiles to files somewhere else for backup if you're concerned about losing the vCenter.

These allow you to build a new host from scratch, attach it to vCenter, and configure everything (down to the vDS, domain join, security/firewall policy, etc). Very helpful feature IMO.