cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Domain controllers as VM's

Stanleyj
Level 6
Almost all of our domain controllers are VM's running on ESX4.1. We are running netbackup version 7.0.1 and i wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts on proper procedure for backing these up. Whether it is better to backup using the system state method or if backing up the entire VMDK file using the VMware snap method is ok.
1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions

Giroevolver
Level 6

It is not reccomended to backup a VM running as a DC using vstorage api's as it can cause all sorts of issues like AD corruption! Microsoft do not support this either  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888794

We tried this and the domain controllers pause for a split second and it made them not work correctly afterwards!

View solution in original post

4 REPLIES 4

Mouse
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited Certified

I'd use two backup approach.

One, full backup for DR purpose using VMDK with Full-Mapped-VM type of backup

Second, backup of Shadow Copy Components with client inside VM for GRT, and/or system state purpose.

Stanleyj
Level 6
Could the snap of the VMDK file possibley cause an issue with the backup of the shadow copy or vice versa?

Giroevolver
Level 6

It is not reccomended to backup a VM running as a DC using vstorage api's as it can cause all sorts of issues like AD corruption! Microsoft do not support this either  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888794

We tried this and the domain controllers pause for a split second and it made them not work correctly afterwards!

Stanleyj
Level 6
I was afraid of that but thought I would give it a shot. I am going to just backup the DC like the recommendation you posted above. Thank you. Thats really the answer i guess i was after. LOL! I just needed to hear it.