ESX 3 hot backups

[naltoidaddict]

My ESX 3 class isn't until June. In the meantime, what's being used in 3.0 for hot backups? vmsnap.pl seems to have been removed.

[rabih_00]

I think ESX 3 has some snalshot capability. I did not get my hands on it yet, but I think I have seen this somewhere.

[kharbin]

esXpress (www.esXpress.com), use it to make full backups of your VMs everyday for free.

When your environment grows and your needs increase, you can upgrade to enable differentials, archive management and encryption.

Otherwise if your happy with daily fulls, use it for FREE forever.

Ken Harbin

PHD Technologies

[petedr]

We use esXpress in our environment. Works great. In addition to their free version which does Fulls there is an inexpensive Starter edition which enables additional features like the ability to make Delta backups.

[biekee]

You also might have a look at the cheap esxranger of vizioncore.

It does full and differential backups out of the box and scheduling of them.

bk

[esnmb]

Or you can use the included vcbMounter. There is also vcbSnapAll that is included to get all the VM's.

[davidbarclay]

Snapshots are not, and should not be used as backups!

Dave

[davidbarclay]

I second that. We have put esxRanger in many customer sites and it works well.

They have an agressive development cycle with new cool features coming out all the time.

Dave

[admin]

Another free option.

http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?threadID=70253

[kix1979]

As others have said there are lots of solutions out there:

Vizioncore's esxRanger

phd's esXpress

aeXia Virtual Solution Box

vcbMounter (local host)

vcbMounter (VCB component)

vmbk.pl

TechArchSolutions has a script as well

[bigusdadius]

We also have deployed esxRanger at over 90% of our customer sites and have had nothing but positive feedback.