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domb
Contributor
Contributor

VMDirectPath backup solutions

I have a Windows Server VM sharing a fibre channel device using VMDirectPath. It works very well but I cannot snapshot this machine for backups. As the essentials license is half price till June I will probably invest in it and this will give the storage API.

Does anybody have any ideas on the best solution to backup a VM using VMDirectPath? All I can think of is creating another VM with a script that shuts down the VM, backs it up to tape or whatever and then starts it back up again. I've looked at Arkeia but it says nothing about auto starting up/shutting down VMs for you and I don't have the 250GB it needs anyway for its VirtualAppliance. Any other ideas?

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AntonVZhbankov
Immortal
Immortal

You can backup VMs with VMDirectPath devices only via agent in guest OS, as any other physical server. You also can not VMotion such VMs or protect with HA.


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domb
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks. I guess my question is actually are there any virtual appliances that will shutdown the guest, back it up and then start it backup automatically.

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AntonVZhbankov
Immortal
Immortal

Haven't heard of any. But PowerCLI can help you Smiley Happy


---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

EMCCAe, HPE ASE, MCITP: SA+VA, VCP 3/4/5, VMware vExpert XO (14 stars)
VMUG Russia Leader
http://t.me/beerpanda
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domb
Contributor
Contributor

I think I'll just use a script and veaam fast scp. It does seem stupid that there isn't one backup solution that can shutdown a guest and start it backup again after backing it up fully. You should at least be ble to schedule start/shutdown with the vSphere client.

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