I have been doing mostly Windows VMware Workstation v-6.5, although I did license the Linux version as well. In all cases the client OS is Win2k Pro SP4. I simply use the internal Windows backup, and point the backup target to a shared HDD, mapped as a network logical drive, hosted on the Host OS. Then, for the Windows XP Pro Server OS I use both Ghost to do a weekly image, and SyncBack to do a weekly full backup, and a SyncBack again to do a daily (the remaining 5 days of the week) incremental backup. Those Image and SyncBack files are backed up to an external 1.5 Tb Seagate Xtreme FreeAgent HDD connected either via USB2 or (preferably) eSATA. The XP Pro is set up to have the VSS Service running, so the VMWare .vmx and related files all get fully backed up with Syncback, and of course with Ghost also.
For the Linux Host, I do the same thing using plain vanilla Windows backup for each guest OS. I have yet to automate the Host Ubuntu Linux OS machine, just because I haven't. But I will likely use the same old TAR command I am using with one of my main Ubuntu Linux Servers. Also, I have played with VMware Server 2 long enough to know it offers no appreciable performance advantages over the VMware Workstation. So I am not going to remain on that track. Why not? Because I finally bit the bullet and looked into the VMware ESXi Server! ESXi does not use a traditional Windows or Linux Host OS. It has its own very thin platform (looks like Linux, but they say it isn't), and it installs Bare Metal onto the PC/Server platform. The Guest OS machines are either built or imported via using a Windows PC harnessing their ESXi Client app. I was able to download the VMware Conversion app (far punchier than the Import/Export Wizard in Workstation), and converted my VMX files directly into the ESXi Server. Then using the ESXi Client I altered the converted virtual machine for the purpose I had in mind. I am in the midst of completing my first ESXi build with the VMX conversions, but thus far it looks like this is the Real deal with the kind of load balancing I need for even greater density levels of Guest OS machines running concurrently without choking. I am running on a 60 day trial, and the license I will get is the baseline $995 package, at least for now. If I can get at least 4 Guest machines to run well concurrently I can easily invest justify that price. If I can get a few more such machines to run on top of that I will be thrilled. Next on my list, if this works as well as promised, a dual quad core XEON Server with a few gazillion Gb of RAM and lots of storage interfaces. I have not been this excited about diving into a new technology (for me) since I first tore into VFP3! Anyway, if you like VMware Server 2 and/or VMware Workstation, but find you can't get the performance you need beyond 3 machines (with dual core P4 and 8Gb RAM under Ubuntu Linux Server 64 bit), give the VMware ESXi platform a shot. I bet you never look back. Very cool. BTW, the ESXi package with their Fundamentals ($995) level includes guest machine backups. I have yet to set that up, but it is on my To Do list for later this week, likely Wednesday. Gil Gil > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:profoxtech- > [email protected]] On Behalf Of Malcolm Greene > Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 5:47 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [NF] Suggestions on how to automate VM Server client backups? > > Looking for suggestions on the best way to automate the backup > of VMware Server client VM's where the host OS is either Windows > or Linux. > Thanks! > Malcolm > > > --- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts --- > multipart/alternative > text/plain (text body -- kept) > text/html > --- > [excessive quoting removed by server] _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[email protected] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
