VMWare ESX4 VM Backup Script

[Momsy]

Hello Community,

first of all i am New here! So Hello to Everyone!

I have a Simple Question, how can i Manage it to get the following Things done by the ESX Server itself:

Power Down a Machine (or more than one)

Save the entire Folder of each Machine to a USB Harddrive (or Network Share (UNC Path))

After that Power on the Machine(s)

-> Do that all again and first DELETE Than Backup again so that all Files are new!

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I Want to make this Work on a ESX 4.0 with the Free License aquired by VMware, if anybody can Tell me how to make This it would be Great, that could help us a Lot backing up the Servers!

Thanks to Everybody! :smileygrin:

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[JaySMX]

Hi and welcome!

Take a look at ghettoVCB, it will do exactly what you are looking to accomplish.

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-8760

[AndreTheGiant]

See also:

Andre

[Momsy]

Hello Guys!

Thanx a lot ! Ghetto VB is Running! Now ijust have to make it work on a nfs share..

How is it with SNAPSHOTS? I did not test it yet, does it work if Snapshots are there and does it copy it to?! That would be Great!

[a_p_]

Make sure you also take a look at ghettoVCBg2 - Free alternative for backing up VMs in ESX(i) 3.5 and 4.x (no SSH console required!)

As for snapshots, here is what the documentation says:

"VM(s) that initially contain snapshots and Physical RDMs (raw device mapppings) will not be backed up"

André

[Momsy]

Hello,

i have a simple question on this...

i use the old script with SSH needed... why does the script not always back up my two machines, in most cases it only backs up ONE machine, in the main case its the first in the txt file!

and the script doesnt delete the old ones, in my script there are the following settings:

VM_BACKUP_ROTATION_COUNT=1

ITER_TO_WAIT_SHUTDOWN=4

VMDK_FILES_TO_BACKUP="all"

VM is nearly 230GB size and is Thin backed upon a NAS i know it is slow!

Some help?!

[nick2421]

Hi,

My goal at this point is to only have one backup due to limited amount of space at the moment.

When using VM_BACKUP_ROTATION_COUNT=1 does the backup delete the first backup then start the new one?

Or ghettoVCB deletes the first backup once the second one is complete?

I'm thinking VM_BACKUP_ROTATION_COUNT=1 I would need enough of space for two backups?

I was wondering if VM_BACKUP_ROTATION_COUNT=1 is correct for just one backup or is there a VM_BACKUP_ROTATION_COUNT=0 parameter for only one backup?

Thanks,

Nick