vcenter database backups

[cb122]

Do you backup the databases behind vcenter? From what I gather they are MSSQL express? I wondered what backup procedures you deploy for the vcenter databases, I would imagine its quite key to backup the database especially in security conscious organisations as the database contains potential forensics audit logs for actions taken over your data centre? What's the risks if you don't backup your vcenter SQLexpress DB? If any?

[weinstein5]

It is important to back up your vCenter database as it contains all information regarding to your vCenter's configuration as well as the logs. The risk comes in depending on the complexity of your vSphere environment - if it is complex with dVswitches, configuraitons to clusters etc. then you will want to backup the database or else you will have to recreate the environment by hand. which will have your vCenter environment offline until the rebuild is complete. If it is less complex than the downtime you will have while rebuild the environment will be reduced -