VDMK-FLAT after copy

[Formatter]

When I copy a VM from the datastore to another backup media why does it change the blabla.vdmk to blabla-flat.vdmk ???

Are these the same and can I just rename the flat part out of it?

[IB_IT]

a vmdk is really just a pointer for lack of a better term. when you see the xxx.vmdk-flat, that is what holds the real data. When you copy off the vmdk, are you using the vmkfstools?

[Formatter]

no just coppying the whole directory from the datastore to another drive on the network so that I can put it back and use it if one crashes.. I have plenty of disk storage so I figured I would back up whole vm this way.

[IB_IT]

vmkfstools copys the vmdk files as it should be copied...I have heard of issues before with copying these files off if you do not use vmkfstools. What I would do is use the "cloning" feature of vmkfstools.

vmkfstools -i /pathtosourcevmdk/vmdk.vmdk /pathtobackupdestinationvmdk/vmdk.vmdk

This method copies the vmdk's properly. If you had to restore, just create a new VM with existing vmdk's and point to these files.

[Formatter]

Ok but then to save the file on a networked machine (Windows) you have to mount the place where you putting it. Samba doesn't run on esxi correct.. how do I mount the windows share in esxi when I am SSH into the esxi.

The vmkfstools worked fine to copy it to another data store.. Thanks

[IB_IT]

hmm...I wonder if you can use converter to copy it to a Windows share? I'm not really certain of this, but may be worth a try...

[demz · Accepted solution]

And it's really faster :

http://www.jume.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=78