Backup/Recovery using vMA and RCLI

[bklynjae]

Hello all,

Im looking to create a solution in my environment to be able to backup and restore guests C: and 😧 drives. What im looking at would be using the VMware VMA appliance, RCLI, and any other script/software needed. I have a 1 TB backup lun available in Test for 4-6 guests. From what im told I would need to use the RCLI to take a snapshot with memory since alot of the guests will be file servers and sms servers and this type of snapshot wont quiesse the file system of the guest. Does this sound right? Does anyone know of any good scripts or articles on this subject.

Thank you in advance,

James

[Mohammad1982]

Creating a snapshot as a backup is not right. Snapshot is meant for testing purposes. We take a snapshot to test a software.

Install the software and check the stability of the software and then delete the snapshot or revert to a previous snapshot.

The solution for back up and recovery would be VCB.

Download and install VCB and run the commands to take the back up.

To restore the backup use VMware converter.

Please follow the link below to work with VCB

http://www.dailyhypervisor.com/wp-content/plugins/downloads-manager/upload/Setting_Up_VCB.pdf

Please consider awarding points if you found this information correct or helpful

Thank you

[bklynjae]

VCB would not be useful for us as we currently use it and when you have busy guests like file servers and sms servers the vcb script does use a snapshot without memory. Which causes the snapshot to quiesse the filesystem and either take too long or fail.

What I am looking to do is use the VMA to run RCLI commands to go out and backup guests. Just need some direction on how to start it...

[ScottBentley]

You may want to look at this link and Willian Lam's ghettoVCB script

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-9843

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Nearly ALL backup scripts/tools use snapshots. VDR, VCB, visbu, Veeam, vRanger, etc... All use snapshots. Snapshots allow you to take a copy of the virtual disk while the data is being written to the snapshot. This is the way to go for most VMDK backups.

If you are concerned that the snapshot process is too slow or causes problems then the best backup mechanism is from within the VM using an agent that understands VSS, etc.

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009, 2010

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