Freeze and thaw scripts

[Nelson_Oles]

I'm not seeing the scripts for freezing and thawing. I've searched my VM's hard drives, the VMTools ISOs and the ESX server's file system. What gives? Anyone know what I'm missing? (other than the obvious)

[DaveConverySHI]

there should be a pre-freeze.bat and post-thaw.bat under \program files\vmware\vmware tools\

[Nelson_Oles]

I've searched a few VMs hard drives to show all .bat files. Here is what the c:\program files\vmware\vmware tools\ directory listing consists of:

Volume in drive C has no label.

Volume Serial Number is 58C8-008F

Directory of C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools

10/31/2007 04:19 PM <DIR> .

10/31/2007 04:19 PM <DIR> ..

10/31/2007 04:19 PM <DIR> Drivers

07/26/2007 03:52 PM 45,056 hook.dll

07/26/2007 03:52 PM 284 poweroff-vm-default.bat

07/26/2007 03:52 PM 284 poweron-vm-default.bat

10/31/2007 04:19 PM 344 resume-vm-default.bat

10/31/2007 04:19 PM 345 suspend-vm-default.bat

07/26/2007 03:52 PM 159,744 VMControlPanel.cpl

07/26/2007 03:52 PM 23,552 vmdesched.exe

07/26/2007 03:52 PM 45,056 VMip.exe

07/26/2007 03:52 PM 37,111 Vmtbox.chm

07/26/2007 03:52 PM 151,552 VMwareService.exe

07/26/2007 03:52 PM 106,496 VMwareToolsUpgrader.exe

07/26/2007 03:52 PM 49,152 VMwareTray.exe

07/26/2007 03:52 PM 102,400 VMwareUser.exe

13 File(s) 721,376 bytes

3 Dir(s) 4,683,276,288 bytes free

I don't know why it's not there. I even checked on the backup server I installed the VCB components on, not there either.

(I just noticed I posted in the wrong area, sorry about that)

Nelson Oles

[DaveConverySHI]

you need to create them.

pre-freeze.bat

post-thaw.bat

[Nelson_Oles]

OK, so what type of commands are supposed to be used there? Is it for stopping and starting of services? I guess I'm just a little confused as to what they should be used for.

[DaveConverySHI]

Yes - they are optional scripts to use for anything you wish. "net stop mssql", etc. They are just simple dos batch files. I thought you already knew what they were intended for. That was based on your first question.

The VCB process is this:

NBU calls the VCB framework to perform the file-level backup.

VCB calls Virtual Center to take a snapshot

Virtual Center connects with the VMware Tools and an optional pre-freeze script can be called to stop services, etc.

Virtual Center uses VMware tools to pause I/O.

Virtual Center creates a VM snapshot

Virtual Center uses VMware tools to restart I/O.

Virtual Center connects with the VMware Tools and an optional post-thaw script can be called to start services, etc.

VCB mounts the VMDK file as a local file system.

Netbackup copies data to tape

VCB unmounts the VMDK file

Snapshot is deleted.

[DaveConverySHI]

Sorry - I was wrong. The file names are "pre-freeze-script.bat" and post-thaw-script.bat"

they should be located in c:\windows or somewhere in %path%

See page 40 of the backup guide -->> http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_vm_backup.pdf

Dave

[dougm]

I am curious as well. I have updated VM Tools on my VM and did a search for *.bat on the All Local Hard Drives. I do not have a pre-freeze, or a post-thaw batch file. I only have the poweron, poweroff, suspend, and resume batch files.

Where do these scripts(batch files) get generated? All documentation I have read and all the community entries point to C:\Windows. "Operator, A little help here, please"! :smileycool:

[DaveConverySHI]

You need to create them. They are just simple batch files. You can add something like "net stop mssql" to the script.

The file names are "pre-freeze-script.bat" and post-thaw-script.bat"

they should be located in c:\windows or somewhere in %path%

See page 40 of the backup guide -->>

Dave

[dougm]

Thank you! I just find it funny that all the reading I have done, no where did it state these needed to be created. It just says they are in the C:\Windows directory.