Hyper-V incrementals with BE2014

[gpn43]

Hello,

Currently, we have a BE2012 backing up our environment. This includes two hyper-v clusters with about 6 VMs each. I have seen numerous information regarding BE2014 being able to take hyper-V incrementals when the hyper-V host is running Windows Server 2012. However, our hosts are on 2008 R2. I can't find any information if incremental VM backups will work properly with BE2014 backing up a Hyper-V 2008r2 host. Can someone help me out with this? Our license for BE2012 expires at the end of August, so I will be going to 2014 within the next few weeks. 

Thank you

[gpn43]

OK, so BE2014 cannot perform block incremental backups of Hyper-V VM's unless:

1. BE2014 media server is running on a Windows Server 2012 machine

and

2. The Hyper-V hosts are also running Windows Server 2012

In other words, if one of those two criteria are not met, then incrementals will not work correctly? 

Thanks for the quick response.

[pkh]

You should be o.k., but there are some limitations. I don't have the document right now.

[VJware]

This criteria applies only if you are going to use Microsoft's incremental backups for Hyper-V and not BE's incremental backups.

[gpn43]

OK. Thanks for clarifying that, but I am still unclear on a couple things. If my BE media server AND hyper-V hosts remain on 2008r2, when I upgrade to BE2014, will the BE incrementals work on hyper-V vm's? 

Right now, on BE2012, it just takes a full backup everytime, because it detects a change in the .VHD. So I guess the root of the question is - If all servers are on 2008R2 (VM's, Hyper-V host, and BE Media server), can BE2014 do block based incrementals on the virtual machines?

Sorry, but I just want to know if I need to upgrade my Hyper-V hosts to Server 2012 sooner than I had planned to. 

Thanks for all the replies. 

[VJware · Accepted solution]

Yes, incrementals of Hyper-V VMs can be done by BE 2014 when all servers are running Win 2008 R2. In fact, incrementals of Hyper-V was introduced in BE 2012, so if incrementals aren't running as expected, I would recommend you to log a formal support case instead.

[gpn43]

Thanks for the clarification. We will be upgrading to BE2014 in the coming weeks, so I will get that upgraded and then open a case if I am still having problems.

Thank you.