mondorescue and ESX

[skippy33]

Hello,

I try to backup my ESX server on DVD with mondorescue. I had installed it, (rhel3 version) without any problem but when I launch it, it frize on initialization phase.

Did anyone have an experience with this product or know another product do do this kind of backup.

I've seen a support of vmfs and ESX with the version 2.4 that is mine....

thank you

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Remember the the SC is not really running on the bare metal but a very special VM with slightly more access then before. If mondorescue uses a module that does not exist it can hang the machine or just the program. I would contact the vendors/makers of the program and ask them.

I have used several rescue disk tools but I find the best rescue disk is the ESX disk itself. Launch in graphical or text mode and after it asks about the mouse you should be able to use 'Ctrl-Alt-F1' if graphical or 'Alt-F1' to get to a shell prompt and from there you can fsck and then mount the existing filesystems, use chroot to put yourself in the filesystem and then fix any other issues. Granted a real rescue mode would be cool.

Best regards,

Edward

[skippy33]

In fact the problem is with disk IDs on fstab file.

I had booted my esx in troubleshoting mode, and I can launch mondoarchive to backup the server but i had errors on fstab, the swap partition.

I try without the swap but it won't boot, normal?!

The goal is to have a DVD with a clean install of the ESX, not to repair, it's for a client...

I hope anyone had an experience in this kind of situation.

[Texiwill]

Hello,

The UID's for linux volumes can be changed to either use device names or labels. You would need to label the volumes in question.

The problem is that your first stage loader is loading ISOLINUX which is what you need to boot from CDROM, but not what you need to boot ESX. Your first stage loader needs to boot the ESX first stage kernel which happens to be the vmkernel.

You can definitely make a DVD based installer but not ESX on a DVD unless you know how to rebuild ISOLINUX to contain the vmkernel.

Best regards,

Edward

[skippy33]

thank you, I have my problem before restore....when I backup my ESX, it will not boot anymore! I will try scripted installation with backup :smileysilly: