47 replies to this topic

[JerryW]

Anyone know of a good Hyper-V backup solution? I would like to backup my VM's, preferably free, if I can. Yes, I have google'd such and though I have found a lot of information, I was curious what you routines you guys were using, if any.

Thank in advance,

JerryW

[jmwills]

You could take snapshots and move those over to another box, or take the whole environment down long enough to use something like Richcopy, Robocopy, or TerraCopy to move those files across the LAN and then turn everything back on. At a minimum you need the original VHD file sets.

[ikon]

Snapshots always seemed like a good solution to me, provided you can create generations of them (I can't remember which, but I think it was VMware that, at one time, only allowed a single snapshot of any given VM, which I couldn't believe). I guess the disadvantages of this approach are: (1) you're limited to a max of 2 TB and (2) you're always making a full copy of the VM, so there aren't any 'single instance storage' efficiencies like there could be with Robo/Rich/Tera-Copy.

[JerryW]

I would like to back up the full VHDs and configuration data. Most of the solutions I have read mention using VSS (Volume Shadow Service). I have seen some scripts but I guess I was sort of looking for a freeware, semi-free method of backing up the VHD files. Maybe I am asking too much but I wanted it to be simplistic not just for me to perform a backup and restore of the VHD.

Edited by JerryW, 05 March 2012 - 12:01 PM.

[jmwills]

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[Joe_Miner]

I was cleaning out my email and this jumped out immediately;

http://go.veeam.com/...mpaign=webposey

Thanks for the Link! I wonder if I can get some PDH's for this? Either way, I plan to watch it! Thanks!

[ikon]

Have you looked at Easus ToDo Backup: http://www.todo-backup.com/

[darkside34]

Snapshots always seemed like a good solution to me, provided you can create generations of them (I can't remember which, but I think it was VMware that, at one time, only allowed a single snapshot of any given VM, which I couldn't believe). I guess the disadvantages of this approach are: (1) you're limited to a max of 2 TB and (2) you're always making a full copy of the VM, so there aren't any 'single instance storage' efficiencies like there could be with Robo/Rich/Tera-Copy.

Much like RAID isn't a backup, neither are snapshots. I have seen clients burned bad for making that mistake.

[ikon]

Much like RAID isn't a backup, neither are snapshots. I have seen clients burned bad for making that mistake.

Indeed, RAID is not a backup, nor is a snapshot. But, making copies of your snapshots, especially to different, removable media does constitute a backup, especially if you have more than 1 copy.

[mrossco]

If you're not afraid of scipting, follow this BLOG

http://blogs.msdn.co...virtual_pc_guy/

Lots of good stuff there, but Ben's been bit by the Windows 8 bug lately. If you go far back enough, you'll find the backup scripting you're looking for as well as good insight on storage management. For my server, I dropped in a couple of standalone drives for staging ISO images and backups. I then have another script that copies the backups to my WHS.

[darkside34]

Indeed, RAID is not a backup, nor is a snapshot. But, making copies of your snapshots, especially to different, removable media does constitute a backup, especially if you have more than 1 copy.

Ah yes, backing up with snapshots is much different then backing up by snapshots. The real stickler, especially with database servers, is how to properly quiesce the filesystem. That is the one thing about KVM I haven't figured out yet.

[ikon]

Ah yes, backing up with snapshots is much different then backing up by snapshots. The real stickler, especially with database servers, is how to properly quiesce the filesystem. That is the one thing about KVM I haven't figured out yet.

Databases, especially relational ones, do require some special steps to ensure they're in a state that permits a useful backup.

[HyperVG]

Hello sorry I am new here and reading through all the posts but have you tried a nas and back it up to that? Or even try a patriot nas connector that alows you to connect a usb drive over your network. That way you can remove it easily for off site backup.
Here is a link to the device.
http://www.memoryexp...roducts/MX26859

I just use a Dlink 323 nas and rotate between two of them.

As long as you turn on network discovery you should be able to see either of these in your VM.

Hope it helps.

[HyperVG]

Sorry Just found this if space is hard to find.
DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server
Holds up to 8TB (2x4TB)

[Jason]

Now that I have my WS2008R2 box up and running, I too am seeking a backup solution for the WS 2008 R2 OS and the hyper-v VMs installed within it. I've been playing with an evaluation copy of Acronis Backup and Recovery 11, but it's like $1,700+. Are there any more cost effective alternatives for home use?

[jmwills]

The Hyper V machines are essentially flat files so why not just use Windows backup?

[Joe_Miner]

I just used the Windows Server backup utility (you'll have to install that Feature). It backed my OS drive and my Drive for the VHD's. Though for a VM with pass-thru disks [i.e. WHS 2011] you may want a seperate pass-thru to back up it's OS and inportant folders. Do a search for NoControl's discussion of his backup strategy to get an excellent perspective, IMHO, on backup strategies with S2008R2 running a WHS 2011 VM. I don't remember exactly where he discusses it or I'd give you a link to it but it's in the Forums and it's worth study.

[Jason]

I've since installed the windows server backup utility. I currently have it doing bare metal backups of my OS drive twice daily like my old WHS2011 box used to do. However my 2 hyper-v VMs reside in a folder on my F:/ drive which is essentially a RAID5 array. Would it make sense to include the f:/virtual machines parent folder in the existing windows server backup or is another method suggested? I have access to backup exec 2010 from work but wanted to keep the process automatic and simple if possible.

I did read the no-control thread someone mentioned earlier, but it didn't seem to go into detail.

Thanks for your guidance!

[jmwills]

The Windows built-in backup utility will only see the drive the OS is installed on. You could use something like AllwaySync to manually manage the files and they will be in a non-propriety format.

[Jason]

So move all VMs off of the OS drive, schedule windows server backup utility backups of the OS drive and schedule Allways Sync backups of the /virtual machines folder from my RAID5 array to an external USB HDD?