Server 2008 backup issues with Hyper-V
More than 50% of our virtual host installations are failing constantly on the backup when the guest machines are in a running state. What was once a nuisance is now prolific. In every case simply shutting down the guest machines allows the backups to complete successfully. The guest range from SBS2003 to 2003 terminal servers to 2003 or 2008 DC's. There is no common thread or application loaded on any of them that explains the failures. If Microsoft is serious about Hyper-V then a RELIABLE backup solution needs to be rolled out asap. Having your entire backup fail because a single non-critical guest machine cannot backup while online is a very bad design. If anything at all is wrong on the guest machine then the backup of the entire server will fail for that evening. This is a chronic problem and frankly I'm not sure what to do. We now have dozens of Hyper-V host machines in the field that will never backup reliably on their own. I've got to find a solution and so far about a hundred collective manhours on this has yielded virtually no positive results. When we do get one working then it will run for a week or so and then start failing again. Hyper-V and Windows Server Backup needs constant attention. It shouldn't be that way. Contacting Microsoft has been useless so far. I'm wide open to any advice anyone can offer. Surely there must be a way to make it work reliably.
ASKER
Thanks. That's exactly what I figured would be the response. I was just hoping someone actually had good luck getting it to work as Microsoft apparently intended it to. Basic backup is all we really need for the small customers this is for. The larger customers have no problem dropping a grand or so on advanced backup software. The small customers have trouble enough as it is these days. I appreciate the reply.
you are right . unfortunately , there is no other solution for small customers with sbs :( or even with standard and entreprise editions . you can try :
http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/dataprotectionmanager/en/us/default.aspx
some of the small customers get a technet subscription
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/default.aspx
and use it , I saw it many times :) .
http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/dataprotectionmanager/en/us/default.aspx
some of the small customers get a technet subscription
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/default.aspx
and use it , I saw it many times :) .
I have to say I have done full circle with backup software of all types and yes a non native package such as dpm or symantec ca or any other may work for you,but on a limited budget such as yours you can try some of the powershell scripts out there that can do a snapshot of a vm and export it etc etc.
ASKER
I'd be perfectly happy with the ability to script out a simple VHD (and settings) capture to an external drive. All we are after is a portable VHD file I can use for disaster recovery anyway by mounting it on a temp host. So far no luck locating one but I'll keep searching.
heheh give me a break , if a small customer can afford windows 2008 with a hyper enabled solution , then why not spend an extra symantec license for one sever . :) that is one reason this economy is bad hehhe
adilodildo scripting is actually a very good and widely used method of performing routine tasks such as backup i see no reason to discount it as an option.
my friend I never said scripting as an option :). I was just showing easier methods. plus he mentionned
"I'm wide open to any advice anyone can offer. Surely there must be a way to make it work reliably." scripting will require a lot of maintenance and testing and if you have more than one server then it a pain for the neck . may be for one server with 2 vms ........
"I'm wide open to any advice anyone can offer. Surely there must be a way to make it work reliably." scripting will require a lot of maintenance and testing and if you have more than one server then it a pain for the neck . may be for one server with 2 vms ........
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did you see that term basic means basic back up :) ? you should implement a third party back up software such as symantec and get a virtualization agent licence . Symantec can do all virtualization back up without restarting your virtual machines :
http://www.symantec.com/business/products/newfeatures.jsp?pcid=&pvid=57_1
Good Luck