Ah, SBS is all I really care about as far as this discussion goes, but it makes sense about the non-SBS multi-server environments. However, in those environments it's the DC's and Exchange servers that are the primary concern right? What about SQL? I can't imagine a web or file/print server is a big deal, although by definition they are usually simpler to restore from backup anyhow...
-----Original Message----- From: Michael B. Smith [mailto:mich...@smithcons.com] Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 3:26 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Microsoft VM - 5 ways of backing up? Yes. If you restore an old VHD you WILL break stuff. Not maybe. Not "sometimes". Not "rarely". You WILL. The only exceptions are single server solutions like SBS. Regards, Michael B. Smith Consultant and Exchange MVP http://TheEssentialExchange.com -----Original Message----- From: David Lum [mailto:david....@nwea.org] Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 5:35 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Microsoft VM - 5 ways of backing up? Even with VSS it's scary? -----Original Message----- From: Michael B. Smith [mailto:mich...@smithcons.com] Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 2:05 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Microsoft VM - 5 ways of backing up? I backup the virtual machines from within themselves. Backing up vhd's is easily doable, but DR using backed up vhd's is scary with AD, SQL, and Exchange*. And will be even more so with other server roles in Win8. So... there be a method to my madness. Regards, Michael B. Smith Consultant and Exchange MVP http://TheEssentialExchange.com * Can you say "USN rollback", or "SN rollback", or anything similar? ... I knew you could. :-) -----Original Message----- From: Ben Scott [mailto:mailvor...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 4:16 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Re: Microsoft VM - 5 ways of backing up? On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 3:44 PM, Michael B. Smith <mich...@smithcons.com> wrote: > I backup the root of all my VMs to a NAS and then backup each VM to the NAS. Do you backup the virtual disk files themselves (running the backup on the root/host), or do you backup the files from within the guest (as if the guest was just another network node)? The later is the direction I'm leaning in -- it's how we do things with our physical servers anyway. But it seems like backing up the virtual disk files would also be useful, for recovery from OS corruption, disaster scenarios, etc. -- Ben ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to listmana...@lyris.sunbeltsoftware.com with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to listmana...@lyris.sunbeltsoftware.com with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to listmana...@lyris.sunbeltsoftware.com with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to listmana...@lyris.sunbeltsoftware.com with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin
