Hyper-V Backup: what's supported?
- Hi all,
Here where I work we are always into solutions and procedures that are actually supported by our vendors.
At Virtual Server 2005 servers, I made a script that Powers Off/On all the VMs while our backup system backs them up. I know that technically I can backup a running VM, but as far as Microsoft said that it was not supported by them, we decided to use only the script, even with the downtime that it brings.
Now with Hyper-V and the new features it brings, I'm looking after live backups. After some research about the different types of Hyper-V backup, some questions rose:
- Windows Backup, DPM and Symantec Backup Exec are supported. But what about those scripts that use diskshadow ? Does Microsoft support it?
- Do they really work? =P (I mean, is it really possible to backup and restore running VMs by this command? Individually too?)
Eduardo Nazato
Answers
Hi,
As you said, there are several methods to backup the running VMs such as Windows Server Backup, DPM, diskshadow.exe and Symantec Backup Exec. Microsoft only support the first three. Please contact Symantec if you want to use Symantec Backup Exec.
The following I will introduce the difference among the four tools.
1. Windows Server Backup
Windows Server Backup is a Windows build-in backup tools, you can use it to perform a living backup. However, you can't backup or restore an individual VM through Windows Server Backup.
For more information about Windows Server Backup, you can refer to:
Backing Up Hyper-V Virtual Machines Using Windows Server Backup
How to back up Hyper-V virtual machines from the parent partition on a Windows Server 2008-based computer by using Windows Server Backup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958662
2. System Center Date Protection Manager (DPM)
You can use DPM to backup all the VMs or an individual VM.
For more information about DPM, you can refer to:
Protecting Hyper-V
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd347838.aspx
DPM for data backup/recovery of virtualized apps and environments
3. Symantec Backup Exec
Symantec Backup Exec has the same function with DPM, I recommend that you contact Symantec if you want to do the further research.
4. DISKSHADOW
As I mentioned at the beginning, DISKSHADOW can be used to backup running VM. For more information about DISKSHADOW.EXE, you can refer to:
Diskshadow
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772172(WS.10).aspx
DiskShadow, the new in-box VSS requester in Windows Server 2008
Invoking diskshadow to back up a Virtual Machine from a Hyper-V Host
Backup and Disaster Recovery for Server Virtualization
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc895627.aspx
In addition, the Hyper-V VSS communicates and coordinates with the virtual machine's VSS by way of the integration components. In order for a VM to have an online backup, it needs to fulfill all of the following criteria:
1. VSS Integration component needs to be running in the VM
2. The OS needs to support VSS (VSS is supported on XP)
3. All the disks configured inside the VM's OS needs to be configured as a basic disk and not a dynamic disk (mind you, i am not talking about fixed vs. dynamic vhds. You can have any type of VHD associated with the VM)
4. The volume shadow copy area of each volume in the VM needs to be set to be in the same volume
5. All the volumes in the VM need to support VSS. In other words, if one of the volumes is formatted to be FAT32, we will not take an online backup of the VM.
6. Please ensure that your VM fulfils all of the criteria above.
Best regards,
Vincent Hu
- Marked As Answer byMike Sterling [MSFT]MSFT, OwnerWednesday, May 27, 2009 6:59 PM
Hi,
Yes, generally speaking, you can't use DISKSHADOW to backup a individual VM. However, according to the blog I provided in my previous reply, once the snapshot is complete, you can mount the snapshot to a mount point (you can do this using the expose diskshadow command) and copy the entire configuration for the VM to a backup location.
Invoking diskshadow to back up a Virtual Machine from a Hyper-V Host
In addition, I recommend that you use DPM to backup VMs, as it’s easy and convenient to perform the backup with DPM.
Vincent Hu
- Marked As Answer byEduardo Menegalli Nazato Friday, May 29, 2009 5:00 PM
All Replies
Hi,
As you said, there are several methods to backup the running VMs such as Windows Server Backup, DPM, diskshadow.exe and Symantec Backup Exec. Microsoft only support the first three. Please contact Symantec if you want to use Symantec Backup Exec.
The following I will introduce the difference among the four tools.
1. Windows Server Backup
Windows Server Backup is a Windows build-in backup tools, you can use it to perform a living backup. However, you can't backup or restore an individual VM through Windows Server Backup.
For more information about Windows Server Backup, you can refer to:
Backing Up Hyper-V Virtual Machines Using Windows Server Backup
How to back up Hyper-V virtual machines from the parent partition on a Windows Server 2008-based computer by using Windows Server Backup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958662
2. System Center Date Protection Manager (DPM)
You can use DPM to backup all the VMs or an individual VM.
For more information about DPM, you can refer to:
Protecting Hyper-V
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd347838.aspx
DPM for data backup/recovery of virtualized apps and environments
3. Symantec Backup Exec
Symantec Backup Exec has the same function with DPM, I recommend that you contact Symantec if you want to do the further research.
4. DISKSHADOW
As I mentioned at the beginning, DISKSHADOW can be used to backup running VM. For more information about DISKSHADOW.EXE, you can refer to:
Diskshadow
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772172(WS.10).aspx
DiskShadow, the new in-box VSS requester in Windows Server 2008
Invoking diskshadow to back up a Virtual Machine from a Hyper-V Host
Backup and Disaster Recovery for Server Virtualization
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc895627.aspx
In addition, the Hyper-V VSS communicates and coordinates with the virtual machine's VSS by way of the integration components. In order for a VM to have an online backup, it needs to fulfill all of the following criteria:
1. VSS Integration component needs to be running in the VM
2. The OS needs to support VSS (VSS is supported on XP)
3. All the disks configured inside the VM's OS needs to be configured as a basic disk and not a dynamic disk (mind you, i am not talking about fixed vs. dynamic vhds. You can have any type of VHD associated with the VM)
4. The volume shadow copy area of each volume in the VM needs to be set to be in the same volume
5. All the volumes in the VM need to support VSS. In other words, if one of the volumes is formatted to be FAT32, we will not take an online backup of the VM.
6. Please ensure that your VM fulfils all of the criteria above.
Best regards,
Vincent Hu
- Marked As Answer byMike Sterling [MSFT]MSFT, OwnerWednesday, May 27, 2009 6:59 PM
A big thanks!
It's all the info I needed ;)
As I read, DISKSHADOW only backs up entire volumes, just like Windows Backup, right?- Marked As Answer byVincent HuMSFT, ModeratorFriday, May 29, 2009 2:36 PM
- Unmarked As Answer byVincent HuMSFT, ModeratorFriday, May 29, 2009 2:36 PM
Hi,
Yes, generally speaking, you can't use DISKSHADOW to backup a individual VM. However, according to the blog I provided in my previous reply, once the snapshot is complete, you can mount the snapshot to a mount point (you can do this using the expose diskshadow command) and copy the entire configuration for the VM to a backup location.
Invoking diskshadow to back up a Virtual Machine from a Hyper-V Host
In addition, I recommend that you use DPM to backup VMs, as it’s easy and convenient to perform the backup with DPM.
Vincent Hu
- Marked As Answer byEduardo Menegalli Nazato Friday, May 29, 2009 5:00 PM
- Windows Server Backup in 2008 R2 new features: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772523.aspx
I liked this one:
"More flexibility in what you can back up. Windows Server Backup enables you to back up selected files instead of full volumes. You can also exclude files based on file type and path"
For sure I'll try to backup my running VMs using this feature. DPM is cool, but the new Windows Backup seems to be way more simple! (I mean, no need to backup the whole volume anymore, just the VMs folder) Hi,
For Windows Server Backup in Windows Server 2008 R2, I recommend that you get further support in Windows Server 2008 R2 Forum so that you can get the most qualified pool of respondents. Thanks for your understanding.
Windows Server 2008 R2 Management
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsserver2008r2management/threads
Vincent Hu
Ok.
I asked the same question in the General forum (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsserver2008r2general/thread/7cd5716a-2d3e-47f6-b691-8ed3192b775b), it seems to be more active.
Thanks again ;)Hi,
Glad to hear that you have got the answer. Yes, the forum you linked is the forum dedicated to Windows Server 2008 R2, they are more qualified for the question about Windows Server 2008 R2.
Vincent Hu
- Hello,
I'd highly recommend taking a look at Microsoft's DPM. I've moved to it with many clients now as their primary backup solution, not only for the VMs, but for the applications running on the servers as well. My experience with the tool, especially as relates to backup to disk, has been very good. With DPM you can build a complete backup strategy including regular full backups of running VMs, as well as backups of aware applications like SQL, Exchange, AD, etc. Microsoft also has a nice licensing model when using it with virtualization.
Nathan Lasnoski
nathanlasnoski.spaces.live.com - Hi,
Can i take it from these posts that i can use windows server backup to backup the volume containing the virtual machines and associated information. then mount this backup volume using diskshadow whereby i can see the .vhd files i have backed up and then copy said vhd files to another location such as an encrypted NAS drive for storage offsite?#
or is it possible to use windows server backup to backup a volume directly to an encrypted NAS drive/USB hard drive
or how do i do this??
thanks
jdmc43
