How to create a VM backup using vmware vsphere 6 Hypervisor?

[abidmehmod]

I m  using vmware vsphere 6 hypervisor Web client.

I would like to create a once off backup of VM

What will be the best approach given that I can not install any software or license

The tools I have got to this task is either using Web client or putty ssh to esxi6.5

Also please advise on how to mount a USB3.0 storage device to physical host to copy the file across to usb drive?

[jUDASmILExAlmig]

T

There are several topics discussing how to backup VM files via USB devices. But that's not an ideal solution as of now. USB device is not supported to be created as datastore mount to host and there's limitation that you need to format it to FAT16 to be identified by host. Then another limitation of 2GB file size set by the file system. Anyway, currently, if you'd like to back up your VM, you may try to mount a NFS datastore and scp the files to it would be much easier given in standalone host mode.

[peetz]

Hello Abid and welcome to the forums,

here is a good overview of backup solutions for free ESXi: https://www.virten.net/2016/04/backup-solutions-for-free-esxi/

GhettoVCB is probably the most popular solution: GitHub - lamw/ghettoVCB: ghettoVCB

Regarding USB disk mounts under ESXi please refer to this blog post: https://www.virten.net/2016/11/usb-devices-as-vmfs-datastore-in-vsphere-esxi-6-5/

- Andreas