Microsoft has a VSS writer for both Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 and Hyper-V.
So, my understanding is that backup products that utilise VSS, like DPM, can backup running virtual machines (as can the native Windows Server 2008 backup utility, but that's a bit limited in terms of what it can do). Unfortunately, VMWare Server doesn't currently have a VSS writer, so you need some other kind of VMWare aware backup product, or you need to sleep/shutdown the guest OS. Cheers Ken > -----Original Message----- > From: Matthew W. Ross [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, 23 April 2008 11:11 AM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: RE: Looking for low cost VMWare aware backup solution... > > Yes, I'm using the Free version of VMWare Server. > > I was looking at the esxpress.com software, which looks very nice... > but I was unsure if it worked with the free VMWare server. Thanks for > letting me know it does. > > On the flipside, Windows 2008's Virtual machines... how do they compare > for backups? Does MS include a good backup solution for them? > > Thanks for all the info. > > --Matt Ross > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Joseph L. Casale > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: NT System Admin Issues > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 > 11:03:08 -0700 > Subject: RE: Looking for low cost VMWare aware backup > solution... > > > > 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 ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~
