Is it possible to backup VM while it's still running?

[alize77]

While I'm running ESX 3.02, I'm able to backup the VM using CA Arcserve Backup 11.5 SP3 while it's still running. After I upgraded to ESX 3.5, I notice I can only backup the VMs during shutdown. Is it possible to backup the VMs while it's still running? I trying to backup the entire VMs instead of from the guest OS level.

[LarsLiljeroth]

You have to check that the Arcserver 11,5 sp3 is supporting version 3.5 and the same for Vmware 3.5 is supporting arcserve.

/lars

[java_cat33]

If your intention is to have a full image level backup and still use ArcServe - you will need to use VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) - and also be licensed for this.

I'm not sure what version of ArcServe you require.

You can backup the running VM as an image level backup with VCB.

[espi3030]

I don't know about backing up a running VM via CA Archserve Backup, but I backup my VM's with a script. Works pretty good.

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Check out http://vmprofessional.com/index.php?content=esx3backups for information on ESX backup software and a comparison of their features. All these will backup running VMs.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky

VMware Communities User Moderator

====

Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education. As well as the Virtualization Wiki at http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Virtualization

[tbrouwer]

I had problems with this at first as well. I did a fresh install of ESX 3.5 and installed the latest files for the agent and got it working. You may want to open a support ticket with them as they can give you the latest files that are needed. I'm not sure if they are supporting ESX3.5 yet or not.

[alize77]

Does that mean that the only solution to backup VMs while it's running is to install VCB on the backup server? Initially, I thought that with CA Prebackup.pl and Postbackup.pl file, it's able to backup the VMs.

[java_cat33]

Yes that is correct. Or purchase a 3rd party product like Vizioncore vRanger or esXpress

[alize77]

Do you mean that you use the script to backup the VM image and use another backup software to backup that image to tape? Is the script executed another windows environment?

[espi3030]

I backup the VM's to our SAN and from there the SAN guys do their thing in backing it up. I'm pretty sure they do use another backup software since we are a large environment and they do this for other departments as well. I run the backup script manually from all the host(s) on a regular schedule, since they backup all running VM's. I passed this script on to some one who scheduled it somehow to run nightly.

[tbrouwer]

No, that is not correct. I am running Arcserve with NO vcb and can backup my machines while they are running. Like I said, go on CA's website and open a support ticket. They will give you the updated files that you need to make this work. Here is the link:

http://supportconnectw.ca.com/public/ca_common_docs/sg.asp

[vhii81]

install vcb

Run vcbmounter.exe -h vm.domain.com -u root -p Password -r C:\destination -t fullvm -M 1 -m nbd

This capture full image of your virtual machine