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Hyper-V backup - not enough disk space for snapshot. Backup Exec 2010

knightstorm1
Level 3

Can the Hyper-v backup be configured to put the VM in saved state rather than try to create a snapshot? At this time I do not have enough available space for a full snapshot of the VMs.

8 REPLIES 8

CraigV
Moderator
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Hi,

 

Nope, it's going to use VSS to do the snapshot.

Thanks!

VJware
Level 6
Employee Accredited Certified

I haven't tested this, but worth a try.

If the VM doesn't have Integration Services installed or is not in a running state, then it is put in a saved state for an offline backup & I don't think offline backups are vss snapshot backups.

 

knightstorm1
Level 3

I'll have to test this using a test VM and see how it works if no one has a definite answer. I'm hoping that the machine can be put in a saved state, backed up, and restarted.   Unfortunately, my test Hyper-v hosts are running server 2012, so I will have to use a production machine as my test host.

CraigV
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Hi,

 

This amounts to downtime...why not consider buying the necessary disk in order to have free space for snapshots, and keep your VMs up and online during backups?

Thanks!

knightstorm1
Level 3

If I had the disk space I would't be asking the question. We can afford the downtime once a week/ month and use the regular windows agent to back  up the file changes in between.  The Server 2012 host machines already have enough disk, but I can't back them up yet and I need a good backup before I can shut down the host to add disk.

I just set up a WinXP test machine with integration components, so I should have an answer soon. 

knightstorm1
Level 3

The hyper-v backup consumes disk space on the hyper-v host even if the VM is turned off or saved so I will need another way to back up the VMs until I can get more disk.  The disk consumed is less than half of the disk space used on the VM, so I may be able to get away with my limited disk - I wish there were better guidelines on this.  I am not seeing a Hyper-v snapshot created for the VM id the machine is running when it is being backed up.

Another problem - Installing the Hyper-v agent on the hyper-v host ended up installing another media server on the Hyper-v host even though it was not selected on install. 

CraigV
Moderator
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...I would say use the RAWS agents, but this will still do a VSS snapshot. Whether or not it fills up your remaining disk space everytime is something you need to test.

Thanks!

knightstorm1
Level 3

That's an interesting catch-22.  I can't add disk until the existing system is backed up and the system can't be backed up until I add more disk.  I could also export the vm and move it to my server 2012 host where I have plenty of disk and hope I don't need to back it up until server 2012 is supported.  At least there are options.