We have ESX 3.x, Backup Exec 11d (trial right now) and VCB Interoperability Module for 11d.
My question is this, in the manual I read that in order to backup a full vm I need to add in the pre and post commands the following
Pre Command
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework\backupexec\pre-backup.bat VMWare FQDN-FullVM
Post Command
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework\backupexec\post.backup.bat VMWare
However, each time the job fails, ultimatley the error is to the effect that the user does not have privileges.
So, in order to confirm that VCB was working I issued the following command
vcbmounter -h <virtualcenterserver> -u <username> -p <password> -a name:<name of vm as VI see's> -r <a path you choose> -t fullvm -m san -M 1
VCMounter works, copies all the files from the VM to the path I specify on the proxy. 100% success here, the vmdk's the logs, the nvram all are mounted locally.
So, for grins I fired up Backup Exec w/ the same pre/post commands and it failed again. So, for grins, I removed the pre/post commands I listed earlier and the backup is successfull.
I've followed what appears to be a loop of the pre-backup.bat to call a few scripts. My 1st question is, why cant I just write a batch file, .vbs file and insert it in the pre/post commands for backup exec in place of the provided pre/post batch files. 2nd question is, am I missing the boat on the purpose of the pre/post batch files? I thought that the pre-post files would one (pre) load the vm as I did w/ the manual entry of the vcbmounter command and the second (post) batch file would unmount the directory.
I'd really appreciate some guidance here as I'm stubmling thru this particular portion.
Thanks
WR
The integration module is rubbish (VMware have depricated them too). On top of that, the documentation has errors!
I made a post sometime ago clearing this up. I'll try and find it and post back.
Dave
Here it is. If it's helpful, please remember to award the points and mark the question as answered.
Dave
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have found BackupExec 10d to be quite buggy with pre/post scripts to be run on remote machines - especially when you use the text mode to do selections!
Firstly, be sure it is actually running the script remotely - otherwise it will try on the backup server and fail (unless of course they are the same server in your environment).
To test this you could create the pre script with the same path/name and get it to spawn notepad.exe or something.
Also be aware that the documentation included with the integration module is incorrect. It should be:
VMDK Backup
Pre
"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework\backupexec\pre-backup.bat" <JobName> <VMName>-FullVM
Post
"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework\backupexec\post-backup.bat" <JobName>
File Level Backup
Pre
"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework\backupexec\browse-start.bat" <JobName> <VMName>
Post
"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework\backupexec\browse-end.bat" <JobName>
Post back once you have confirmed it's executing on the correct server.
Dave
davidbarclay,
Thanks for the input, the post was helpful but I want to confirm my environment so as to elimintate any other possibilities.
What I'll refer to as the mgmt console runs the following:
VI
VCB
Backup Exec 11d
The VM's as you already know run:
ESX and the guest OS's
In your post you said
"Firstly, be sure it is actually running the script remotely - otherwise
it will try on the backup server and fail (unless of course they are
the same server in your environment)."
The word "they" is that referring to the VCB and VI software packages?
Not sure I follow you here, the script pre-backup.bat, as I understand it to work will/should copy the vmdk, nvram the works to the Proxy (the vcb server, in my case the mgmt console) after doing so the snapshot is backed up and then the post command runs.
Those comments were specifically arounf the execution of the backup exec pre/post scripts - nothing todo with the vmware scripts.
It doesn't sound like you re having this problem, so just ignore those comments!
Dave
Well, maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree.
When backup exec executes the job it fails w/ a Pre/Post command returned an error
The veritas seer support article ponts here,
http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/290964.htm
Problem is, the solution it offers
Uncheck the "*Allow pre-post to be successful only if completed with a return
code of 0*" option to run the backup job successfully.
Defats the whole purpose of the script to begin with.
Suggestions?
I am in the exact same postion as you. I can manually mount and unmount with vcbmounter but when I try ti use the pre and pos scripts, the backup jobs keep failing with "error with pre/post commands".
Anyone found an answer?
