Curtis you were right. I had to shut down the VM’s first before
doing the backup. I put a direct link to the /volumes directory in the file
list but I think it should also work with a full / backup if all the VM’s are
down. Now does anyone have a script that I can run directly on ESX host that
automatically shuts down the VM’s prior to backup and brings them back up after?
From: Curtis Preston
[mailto:cpreston AT glasshouse DOT com]
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2008 6:45 AM
To: Martin, Jonathan; Anas Kayal; Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
Subject: RE: [Veritas-bu] Backing up ESX3
You do not have to use VCB to back up VMware. The way Anas is
trying to do it is supported. Each method has advantages and
disadvantages. This method will have all full backups and you have to
figure out how to snapshot the vmdk files.
I believe the only problem is that the VMFS filesystem isn’t being
auto-discovered.
Anas, have you put the /volumes mount point in the file list?
Also, make sure that you snapshot the vmdk files first. I
found this preso that speaks to it:
http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/tac9912.pdf
From: veritas-bu-bounces AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
[mailto:veritas-bu-bounces AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu] On Behalf Of Martin,
Jonathan
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 1:05 PM
To: Anas Kayal; Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
Subject: Re: [Veritas-bu] Backing up ESX3
The Virtual Machines are stored on a VMFS (Virtual Machine File
System) which Netbackup doesn't understand. Its a proprietary format
developed by VMWare for use in ESX Server (its got advanced capabilities like
journaling.) To backup Virtual Machines via the .vmdk you need to use
their consolidated backup piece and be running 6.5 on a server which can mount
the storage. (SAN only I think, I don't think Consolidated Backup supports
iSCSI.) Alternately (if you are not using shared storage) you can use the
built in tools on the ESX server to "export" the virtual machines to
an ext3 partition that the client can read.
-Jonathan
From: veritas-bu-bounces AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
[mailto:veritas-bu-bounces AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu] On Behalf Of Anas
Kayal
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 3:52 PM
To: Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
Subject: [Veritas-bu] Backing up ESX3
I
have a growing VMware ESX farm and have deployed NBU 6 agent on the COS of ESX.
When I do a full backup I don’t seem to get the VMDK files of the Virtual
Machines. What am I doing wrong?
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