Vmware Backups

[dwellington]

Hi there,

I am currently loking into ho wto backup some W2K3 servers that are now running in an VMware ESX 3.5 environment.

What I want to do is the following at the ESX level:

1. Run command 'vmware-cmd /vmfs/volumes/servers/server1.vmx createsnapsot backup 1'

2. Run a TSM Selective backup for all files in directory /vmfs/volumes/servers/

3. Run command 'vmware-cmd /vmfs/volumes/servers/server1.vmx removesnapshots


This will give me full consistent backups of the data within the VM files as the command above put the server into redo state for the entore duration of the backup.

The question is, am I correct??

Your advice, experience etc will be gratefully recevied.

TSM Linux Client Code is 5.5.0.0, TSM Server is 5.5.0.0 and ESX is at version 3.5.

Thanks in advance.

David Wellington

[email protected]

 

[Elomis]

G'day.

I hate to give you the RTFM but this is discussed in point by point detail in the "Overview of VMware backup approaches with Tivoli Storage Manager V5.5" on page 322 of the 5.5 redbook (IBM Tivoli Storage Manager Version 5.4 & 5.5 echnical Guide) at [SIZE=-1]www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpieces/pdfs/sg247447.pdf[/SIZE]


But generally, yeah you are right.

 

[mschenone]

Yes, you are right: the snapshot gives you the data consistence on ESX Server node.

There are many tips on the net on virtual machine images backups:
* http://www.searchstorage.com.au/tips/tip.asp?DocID=6100562
* http://www.vmts.net/vmbk3.htm
* http://www.esxpress.com/
...

however I preferred to write a custom script using VmPerl API:

Connect to ESX
Connect to VM
Check if there are snapshots.. eventually delete them
Make a snapshot
Copy everything in the /vmfs/volumes/X/VM dir except vswp|vmsn|delta.vmdk (i.e. swap file, delta file generated by snapshot, etc..)
Remove snapshot
That's all


Of course you can/must add some check here and there to be sure VM isn't impacted to much by the hot backup.

 

[dwellington]

Hi There,

Thanks for the replies and asssistance here, I really do appreciate it. I totally agree with the RTFM statement, however, it's always good to check to see whether the rest of the industry is following the redbook or not.

I will create a script as described and at some stage I will put it in a response to this question.

 

[boatrke1]

Have you looked at VCB (Consolidated Backup) using the TSM enablers with VMware?

 

[mschenone]

I looked at VCB.. but I preferred to script the procedure by myself to keep control on single steps.
I need to be sure there is no impact on the running VM so if a command fails I put in place a sort of "recovery procedure" (i.e. remove snapshots)

dwellington: of course you can use vmware-cmd (-h) instead of VMperl API.