Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of Pro Suite
Pro SuiteFlag for Belgium

asked on

ESXi restore

We currently have a ESXi 5.1 server running with Acronis VMProtect, latest version/build.
Backups are running ok without problems.

However we need to replace our disks where our ESXi OS en config is stored with bigger ones. Before we configure a new raid, we wanted to make an extra back-up with the Acronis VMProtect boot cd. The cd boots without problems and we are able to make a back-up of the ESXi OS.

When we try to restore the back-up with the cd, Acronis is unable to locate the backup in the folder where the backup is made. The backup file is there, but Acronis says the folder is empty. We tried other backup media, but the problem does not go away.

Also the backups that are made daily with VMProtect are unable to be found with the Acronis CD.

Acronis is looking into it, but it has been weeks since we got an answer and this is getting frustrating.
Avatar of Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
Flag of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland image

You cannot reliable backup and restore ESXi, unless you have installed on USB flash drive or SD card using my EE Article.

How to Backup an ESXi installation on an USB Flash Drive or SD card, for security or redundancy.
Avatar of Pro Suite

ASKER

Thank you for your reply, but the option you are giving us is currently not possible. The ESXi is currently on a RAID1 installed, but one of the hard disks crashed and we have to replace both of them.

So we need to make a backup of our ESXi and restore it on the new RAID config.
You cannot backup the ESXi installation. You can backup the ESXi configuration.

Backup the ESXi configuration, Re-install ESXi, and restore the ESXi configuration.
Ok thank you. Will it automatically detect my virtual machines then which are stored on other datastores?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
Flag of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial