sglee
asked on
VMware Virtual Machine Backup
Hi,
I have a windows 2000 server as Virtual Machine and need to perfform in-place upgrade to Windows 2003 server. I like to get a complete backup of Windows 2000 Server Virtual Machine so that if the upgrade results in undesirable situation, I need to restore Windows 2000 server as it was prior to the upgrade as so many people does access data & application program stored on Windows 2000 Server.
Is there a way that I can copy a complete image of a virtual machine, store it & keep it powered down?
Thank you in advance.
vSpereClient.doc
I have a windows 2000 server as Virtual Machine and need to perfform in-place upgrade to Windows 2003 server. I like to get a complete backup of Windows 2000 Server Virtual Machine so that if the upgrade results in undesirable situation, I need to restore Windows 2000 server as it was prior to the upgrade as so many people does access data & application program stored on Windows 2000 Server.
Is there a way that I can copy a complete image of a virtual machine, store it & keep it powered down?
Thank you in advance.
vSpereClient.doc
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
paulsolov:
browse the datastore and download the bm to a local drive ---> I will try this and let you know.
use clone feature in VMWAre vcenter to make an exact copy ---> can you expand on it?
cocka:
Thanks for the link. For now I am trying to find the free-of-cost solutions.
browse the datastore and download the bm to a local drive ---> I will try this and let you know.
use clone feature in VMWAre vcenter to make an exact copy ---> can you expand on it?
cocka:
Thanks for the link. For now I am trying to find the free-of-cost solutions.
My artcile also lists the FREE solutions!
Right Click the VM, and Select CLONE.
(if you have vCenter)
Right Click the VM, and Select CLONE.
(if you have vCenter)
Options 5-10 in my artcile are FREE.
ASKER
hanccocka:
Thanks for clarifying it.
I don't have vCenter. I have a vSphere Client. What is the difference between vCenter and VSphere Client?
Thanks for clarifying it.
I don't have vCenter. I have a vSphere Client. What is the difference between vCenter and VSphere Client?
vCenter is the additional management server.
Do you have an ESX license?
Do you have an ESX license?
ASKER
Do you have an ESX license? ---> I downloaded free version of ESXi 4.1
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
also as this is a Windows 2000 server, you will need an earlier version of Converter, to match the older Windows 2000 Server, so go back and download version 3.0
ASKER
hanccocka:
Thanks for all the information and I will try them..
Thanks for all the information and I will try them..
ASKER
paulsolov:
"You can shutdown vm them browse the datastore and download the bm to a local drive or network share" ---> Per your suggestion, I shut down XPP Virtual Machine in vSphere client, started downloading all the files in XPP folder in Datastore [datastore1] to the local Hard Drive.
(1) One thing I noticed that estimted time for file transfer is 1,123 minutes for now. It takes a long time. Is it typically the case?
(2) Once the transfer is complete, I plan on 'Deleting XPP Virtual Machine"
(3) Create a new Virtual Machine called "XPP" and open Datastore to restore what I backed up.
Will this work? Will all the programs/IP configuration on the XPP remain the same as before?
DataStore-Download.doc
"You can shutdown vm them browse the datastore and download the bm to a local drive or network share" ---> Per your suggestion, I shut down XPP Virtual Machine in vSphere client, started downloading all the files in XPP folder in Datastore [datastore1] to the local Hard Drive.
(1) One thing I noticed that estimted time for file transfer is 1,123 minutes for now. It takes a long time. Is it typically the case?
(2) Once the transfer is complete, I plan on 'Deleting XPP Virtual Machine"
(3) Create a new Virtual Machine called "XPP" and open Datastore to restore what I backed up.
Will this work? Will all the programs/IP configuration on the XPP remain the same as before?
DataStore-Download.doc
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
hanccocka:
This vmware server is for testing only and I am trying to see if I can have a complete backup of a virual machine (in this case XP Pro wtih certain IP address, joined to a domain), delete existing XPP virtual machine, and restore it to the original state.
What I am trying to learn is that, as I stated in my original question, I have a client who is running Windows 2000 Server (in which MS SQL 2005 database and other Apps reside) on the Vmware ESX4.1 Server/Box. I need to upgrade this Windows 2000 Server to Windows 2003 Server.
If things don't look/run right after upgrading it to Windows 2003 Server, I would like to simply delete the original virtual machine for Windows2000(upgraded to W2003) and restore the original state of Windows 2000 Virtual machine. Hopefully all will be restored .. apps, sql server, IP info, domain ... etc.
This vmware server is for testing only and I am trying to see if I can have a complete backup of a virual machine (in this case XP Pro wtih certain IP address, joined to a domain), delete existing XPP virtual machine, and restore it to the original state.
What I am trying to learn is that, as I stated in my original question, I have a client who is running Windows 2000 Server (in which MS SQL 2005 database and other Apps reside) on the Vmware ESX4.1 Server/Box. I need to upgrade this Windows 2000 Server to Windows 2003 Server.
If things don't look/run right after upgrading it to Windows 2003 Server, I would like to simply delete the original virtual machine for Windows2000(upgraded to W2003) and restore the original state of Windows 2000 Virtual machine. Hopefully all will be restored .. apps, sql server, IP info, domain ... etc.
Ok, I fully understand.
ASKER
hanccocka:
Why does the datastore download take so long?
Even thought actual size of XPP OS install in the virual machine is probably less than few gigabytes, why is the size of XPP.vmdk is over 52GB?
Is that because I allocated 50GB for this virtual machine?
Why does the datastore download take so long?
Even thought actual size of XPP OS install in the virual machine is probably less than few gigabytes, why is the size of XPP.vmdk is over 52GB?
Is that because I allocated 50GB for this virtual machine?
Correct. The virtual disk size is 50GB.
It's always best to start small, and expand your disks.
It's always best to start small, and expand your disks.
ASKER
Well, it is, all of sudden, completely copied.
Now I am going to take some screenshots of current XPP for comparision, delte the VM, and restore.
I will keep you posted.
Now I am going to take some screenshots of current XPP for comparision, delte the VM, and restore.
I will keep you posted.
ASKER
hanccocka:
Having deleted the virtual machine "XPP", do I
(1) create a virtual name first and do uploading in the datastore second?
or
(2) Go to datastore and upload and this will create the virtual machine name automatically?
Having deleted the virtual machine "XPP", do I
(1) create a virtual name first and do uploading in the datastore second?
or
(2) Go to datastore and upload and this will create the virtual machine name automatically?
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
see http:#a37316042 above Option 3.
ASKER
OK. I will try that.
ASKER
WOW. It works. It even restored the name of the VM automatically.
The restored virtual machine had everything the same as before whether it is IP information, Domain information, Apps ... etc.
And you don't even need any commercial backup software like Symantec Backupexec.
Now I feel confident that I can perform the upgrade on my client's VMware after making a backup like this.
I have downloaded/installed VMware Center Converter Standalone from the linke you provided earlier.
What is the main fuction of this software in a nutshell?
The restored virtual machine had everything the same as before whether it is IP information, Domain information, Apps ... etc.
And you don't even need any commercial backup software like Symantec Backupexec.
Now I feel confident that I can perform the upgrade on my client's VMware after making a backup like this.
I have downloaded/installed VMware Center Converter Standalone from the linke you provided earlier.
What is the main fuction of this software in a nutshell?
you can alter the VM, e.g. change virtual disk sizes, and make changes to the OS partition as well!
and complete Backups Live!
and complete Backups Live!
VMware ESX/ESXi Backup Guide