Okay, more from the VMware ESXi world. I performed SnapShots of all 5 guest machines (all 5 guest machines are running GREAT, by the way. Very snappy, more so than I recall late last night.). I did snapshots with memory, and the snapshot files were stored on the ESXi Server. I need to see what I can do to schedule copying those files onto a different machine. I also learned that a snapshot can be done with the guest pc turned on & running, or turned off. But, if I am running a process, copying or transferring a file, or updating a database table, and do a snapshot, I will not get the then-in-process transaction into the snapshot file. So the recommendation is to do snapshots when the machine is not in heavy use.
The snapshots for both virtual drives on each guest pc went quickly, 7 seconds. And the snapshots can be scheduled. Next up, seeing how I can copy those snapshot files to a different machine so they can be used as a true backup/virtual image in case the ESXi Server failed. There are certain conditions under which a snapshot file can be used to rebuild a guest pc on a different ESXi Server, so I have to bone up on how that works. But for now I have seen enough to know the snapshots are easy to do manually. There are considerations re: how to change a virtual HDD mode to be included or excluded from a snapshot (if I am backing up the VFP database files, no need to snapshot the 2nd data HDD, it is the "boot" drive I want to have snapshots of.). So I have to do some HDD mode changes, which must be done when the affected guest pc is off. So many options... Given the great performance with all 5 guest pcs running simultaneously I am betting I can get a 6th machine lit up on that ESXi Server, and still get decent performance. I installed the viClient app on my primary communication machine so I can manage the ESXi Server and guest machines from my main Computer Room instead of having to be in the Server Room (half the basement is a Server Room, with 11 machines down there <g>). It works very smoothly, a real nice feature where I am not tied to a single console to manage the guest pcs. More later, I have enough to chew on for the time being... 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.
