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Any way to export or backup a hyper V 1.0 virtual Machine to recreate it without the missing snapshot

I have a server 2008 machine running hyper V virtual machines. I have one virtual machine that is missing an avhd file for the snapshot (deleted by a previous IT person and never fixed) that sits at the top of the snapshot tree, there are a few snapshots below it in the tree. (I don't believe that the snapshot that is missing contained anything important because the server was just sitting idle for about a year and the previous IT person had automated snapshots setup....)

This server is running exchange and is in production with this missing avhd and additional snapshots.(yeah.... I know. ) That being said... since my merge, export, and delete snapshot options don't work due to the missing avhd file is there any way I can export/backup this virtual machine so I can recreate this exact server without the lost avhd and stop using snapshots in a production server?

Please remember this is NOT the r2 version of server 2008 so that nixes anything that uses a newer hyper V or R2 functionality...

MitchViste

Asked: 2013-01-04

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1 Solution

LVL 126

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert / EE MVE^2)VMware and Virtualization ConsultantCommented: 2013-01-04

I would create a V2V using Disk2VHD, whilst the VM is running ASAP.

To get a consistent database, shutdown all the Exchange Services, and other services, and set to manual.

Disk2VHD

Source
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/ee656415

See also here.

http://www.altaro.com/hyper-v/using-disk2vhd-for-physical-to-virtual-conversions-p2v/

This will give you a new VHD, which you can create a new VM, and attach the VHD disk.

MitchVisteAuthor Commented: 2013-01-04

Is there anything else I need to watch out for or things I need to prepare ahead of time? Basically I am seeing 2 disks one a normal vhd OS disk and another SCSI disk for the mailboxes... Can you take a look at the settings tab picture I have supplied and let me know if there is anything you would like a closer look at or that I need to worry about? Do both those disk usually have corresponding avhd files?
SettingsExchangeVHD.JPG

LVL 126

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert / EE MVE^2)VMware and Virtualization ConsultantCommented: 2013-01-04

yes, if snapshots are in place, both disks would have snapshots associated with them.

To understand Hyper-V Snapshots further consult this article

Hyper-V Snapshots FAQ

But as for P2V (or V2V) you could do both disks.

MitchVisteAuthor Commented: 2013-01-04

So I would have to do both disk as 2 separate events? Or can I do this in one swoop?

And when I am recreating the virtual machine do I have to manually recreate all of the settings etc or can I export that somehow as well?

MitchVisteAuthor Commented: 2013-01-04

Also when you say exchange services AND other services should be shut down and put into manual.... which services do you mean? Is there a list of services that interfere with the process or database creation?

LVL 126

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert / EE MVE^2)VMware and Virtualization ConsultantCommented: 2013-01-04

ALL Exchange and as many others you can stop.

MitchVisteAuthor Commented: 2013-01-04

ok I'll try all this out, hopefully over the weekend. Thanks!

LVL 126

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert / EE MVE^2)VMware and Virtualization ConsultantCommented: 2013-01-04

no problems

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Any way to export or backup a hyper V 1.0 virtual Machine to recreate it without the missing snapshot

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