VCB

[max2479]

Does anyone use VCB for SQL based server backup? does it work without taking the SQL services down?

was advised not to use VCB for SQL. any suggestions?

[vmPUNK]

VCB is basically taking snapshots of your file system (vmdk and whats in it) so as long as you have a way to commit all your live transactions to disk, say like a db dump to disk than it should be ok, otherwise you'll end up with the db and log files minus whats hanging around in memory as vcb doesnt talk to the db service in any way to get it

[kjb007 · Accepted solution]

See this thread for some sql commands to freeze your I/O prior to backup and thaw them after completion. You may be able to use these to keep SQL up, but the safest method would be to shutdown.

http://communities.vmware.com/message/961891

-KjB