Backup ESXi to local USB Hard Disk

[Wet_Floor]

Hi VMWare community,

I want to backup my Virtual Machines to a local USB Hard Disk on an ESXi 6.7, my license is VMware vSphere 6 Essentials. Previously our VMware server was installed on Microsoft Windows and we accomplish this on Veeam, but now I don't know if we can do that locally on ESXi.

Is it possible to make those backups to an external USB Hard Disk using ESXi 6.7 server?

Thank you very much! 

[diegodco31]

Yes, yes is it possible to make those backups with veem.

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you think your question have been answered correctly.

[arieldaveport]

Are you saying that you have a single host with essentials and vCenter server was previously installed on a Windows VM but is now the VCSA appliance?

I'm also assuming that you previously had Veeam installed on the vCenter server, it that correct?

If so you can still backup to a USB disk but you would need to attach the USB drive to a Windows VM, preferably the one that has Veeam on it, once that's done you should be able to setup a backup job and target the USB drive.

[Wet_Floor]

Hi Diego,

ESXi newbie here, do you know any good guide to accomplish this? Is it necessary another machine to accomplish this?

Thanks!

[Wet_Floor]

Hi arieldaveport,

Yes, you're assuming correctly. But in that way I would store all backups on that virtual machine itself? Isn't there any way to do it on ESXi instead?

The way to achieve this would be:

1. On this server, create a Windows Server machine
2. Install Veeam on this Windows Machine
3. Plug USB Hard Drive on Host (does NTFS is ok?)
4. Mount on Windows Machine.
5. Set up Veeam.
6. Make backups.

Thank you very much!

[arieldaveport · Accepted solution]

Yes! Those are the exact steps. You can also read through this link for info on a simple Veeam setup. You shouldn't have any issues mounting the USB drive to the VM but if you do let me know.

[arieldaveport]

Simple Deployment - Veeam Backup Guide for vSphere

[diegodco31]

Yes! Those are the exact steps.

Look:

https://www.vladan.fr/how-to-backup-and-restore-vmware-vcenter-server-vcsa-6-5-with-veeam/

Simple Deployment - Veeam Backup Guide for vSphere

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you think your question have been answered correctly.

[SupreetK]

If Veeam is not feasible for you, take a lot at the different options explained in the below link -

https://www.virten.net/2016/04/backup-solutions-for-free-esxi/​

Please consider marking this answer as "correct" or "helpful" if you think your questions have been answered.

Cheers,

Supreet

[arieldaveport]

You shouldn't have any issues with Veeam since you have the paid version of ESXi.