is "Windows 2000 Server-flat.vmdk" okay to skip?

[heswihart]

I backed up a virtual server and the only file that got skipped was "Windows 2000 Server-flat.vmdk". I have looked all over the net and cannot find anything telling me if its okay for this file to not be backed up. Does anyone know?

Heather

 

[heswihart]

okay you can ignore my question here now someone explained it to me. It is the most important file to backup and to back it up you have to stop the virtual machine, which I had not done.

Heather

 

[mrdenny]

If you don't want to stop the virtual machine, install backup software on the virutal machine and back it up like a normal server.

Denny
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[Arisap]

You can also schedule a snapshot prior to the backup. The backup would look like this:

1. Install backup agent on the COS (Console) -- be it Netbackup, Legato, CommVault, etc
2. Run a pre-command script that would snapshot the running VM
3. Backup all files except *.vmsn, *-000001.vmdk and *.vswp
4. Run a psot-command script that deletes (applies) the snapshot

Do this for all runnng VM's