Constant debate about this in the vmware forums. Bottom line: Even if your package can queisce the filesystem, when you boot a live backed up image it is still like turning on the computer after the power was interrupted. IMHO, that is not a reliable enterprisable way of backing up a server. Would you walk over to a physical server, pick it up and simply pull the plug out of the wall and then proceed to back it up physically, EVEN if you quickly wrote cahced data to disc? Sounds sill huh?
This inacts a flame war all the time, as Vizioncore advocates say it works. Ben's suggestion although targeted at ESX works equally well in vmware server (I gather that is what you use?). If you need a _*perfect*_ backup that is reliable that is your safest solution. If you are ok with the concept that one day you *may* turn a vm on done the other way and have it fail from a corrupted filesystem or windows component, by all means do it live :) jlc ________________________________________ From: Matthew W. Ross [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 11:49 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Looking for low cost VMWare aware backup solution... I have been weary of backing up my VMs with VSS, as I don't know if it's a supported and proven method to backup. From what I've read, I need to put the VM either to sleep or shut it down, backup the directory, then power the VM back up. I also know that there are products out there (many have just been mentioned in replies) that can handle live servers correctly. It appears that you and others are validating that VSS copies of the servers work as well... Is this the case? --Matt Ross ----- Original Message ----- From: Miguel Gonzalez [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: NT System Admin Issues [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:34:24 -0700 Subject: RE: Looking for low cost VMWare aware backup solution... > What do you mean with NTBackup is not VMware aware? > > I VSS ntbackup VMware virtual machines and I can > restore them. > > Miguel > > > --- "Matthew W. Ross" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > escribió: > > > Hey List, > > > > I have a working backup of my servers, including my > > VMs guests... but I would love to have a backup of > > the VMs themselves NTBackup isn't VMWare aware, so > > what other solutions are out there? > > > > --Matt Ross > > > > ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with > > Ninja! ~ > > ~ > > > <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> > > ~ > > > > > > ______________________________________________ > Yahoo! Solidario. Intercambia los objetos que ya no necesitas y ayuda a > mantener un entorno más ecológico. > > > ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~ > ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~ ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~
