Introduction

This proven practice describes a technique for completing a VCB backup for large disks.

Intended Audience

Storage Team, Operations Team

Outline

Link to process and script

Author

Jamie Morrison

Resources

viops.vmware.com/home/docs/DOC-1587.

Disclaimer

You use this proven practice at your discretion. VMware and the author do not guarantee any results from the use of this proven practice. This proven practice is provided on an as-is basis and is for demonstration purposes only.

Creating a file or fullVM VCB backup on a disk by disk basis

Typically a full VM based backup of C: is required for most virtual machines for bare metal recovery. Large data disks may be backed up using other methods such as specific agents (e.g. Exchange, SQL) and can be marked as independent, so as not to be included in the snapshot for the fullVM based backup.

The issue occurs with file servers that may have data disks of hundreds of gigabytes or terabytes that are ideal candidates for a VCB file based backup, but cannot run a full VM based backup due to the size of the data disk, and due to the data disk not being able to be marked as independent, otherwise the file based backup is not possible.

Creating a file or fullVM VCB backup on a disk by disk basis

http://theether.net/kb/100131

Inspired by:

http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/jturver/2008/01/24/vcb-how-to-backup-a-selec ted-specific-disk-or-disks-using-vcbexport-and-a-useful-script-to-do-it