Backup vsphere vm to nfs

[easgs]

is it possible to create a nfs share in a linux server, create a datastore in vsphere using that share, copy a vm to that nfs datastore and then in the server copy the vm files to a usb hdd and then do the oposite in case we have to reinstall the vsphere server?

it doesn't matter if I have to power off the vm

better if not using ghettoVCB

[weinstein5]

That should work - 

[William22]

Hi

Welcome to the communities.

that could be but may perform slow.

"With normal actions you get   normal  results."

[easgs]

William22 escribió:

Hi

Welcome to the communities.

that could be but may perform slow.

"With normal actions you get   normal  results."

I will not be running the vm from the nfs, I will just use it as a mediun to make a backup to usb of the virtual machines in the server as explained above

[nielse]

Do you need to copy the files from that VM or just the full VM to the NFS share? You could add a NFS share from a Linux server and clone your VM onto the NFS share for the VMDK/VMX/... files

If you need the files from inside the VM you will need to add the USB drive to the ESXi server and connect it onto the VM.

[ch1ta]

What about using VeeamZIP in order to achieve your goal?

VeeamZIP is similar to full VM backup. Nevertheless, when you perform backup with VeeamZIP, there is no need to configure a backup job and schedule it; instead, the backup process for selected VMs can be started immediately. Minimum settings are required during this type of backup: backup destination, compression level and enabling or disabling application-aware image processing.

All you need to do is to add your Linux NFS as backup repository to VB&R console and veeamzip given VMs to it. Afterwards corresponding .vbk file can be copied to external USB drive. In case of disaster, these VMs can be easily restored.

For more information regarding it see the following link:

http://technodrone.blogspot.com/2012/06/something-awesome-from-veeam.html

The aforesaid functionality is available in Free Edition.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.

[easgs]

I need to backup the entire VM so in case the physical server fails I can restore that vm in another server, I forgot to mention that I am using the free hypervisor, so I can not use regular backup programs

[nielse]

Cloning will take everything but is the longest way. I think this will be the easiest solution or as already mentioned try VeeamZIP.

[easgs]

does VeeamZIP works with the free hypervisor?

no it does not

http://www.discoposse.com/index.php/2012/11/17/unable-to-use-veeamzip-with-vmware-free-hypervisor-understanding-why/