12-23-2013 02:43 AM
Hello All,
I have a question how Backup Exec creates a snapshot of a VM before backing up the VM.
I have VM with 4 hard disks.
-100 GB
-512 GB
150 GB
-150 GB
There are on 3 different data stores.
When Backup Exec creates the snapshot, is a snapshot taken of each disk before starting the backup process or does Backup Exec creates a snaphot of first disk, backup it and creates the next snapshot?
How about the additional space on the datastore needed for the snapshot. Will Backup Exec need the same amount of space for the snapshot as the disk space is?
Thanks,
Edy
Solved! Go to Solution.
12-23-2013 03:21 AM
Yep - should have mention that, typically wherever the .vmx file is located is where all of the snapshots are created irrespective of what datastore the source .vmdk is located.
12-23-2013 03:07 AM
As you mention Datastores I guess you are using VMware and not Hyper-V
With regards the snaphot process - Backup Exec requests that VMware snapshots the whole VM. We in effect do the same thing that happens if you use the VMware vSpeher Client Snapshot Manager to snapshot a whole VM (with quiesce enabled).
VMware itself is then responsonsible for managing how the snapshots are created including when vmdk files owned by the VM are held in different datatstores.
Note if you have database inside the VM (such as Exchange or MSSQL) then VMware tools issues a VSS request inside the VM guest operating system to make sure that the database data is consistent.
Also if multiple VMs are in one backup job, each VM is snapped as we reach that VM in order (they are not all snapshotted at the start of the job)
12-23-2013 03:10 AM
12-23-2013 03:21 AM
Yep - should have mention that, typically wherever the .vmx file is located is where all of the snapshots are created irrespective of what datastore the source .vmdk is located.
12-23-2013 03:39 AM