Windows Based VM Ware Backup

[MarkCarson]

Can anyone recommend a Wiki Backup program that does not reside in UNIX? I need something that installs on XP or Win Svr 2003 and reaches into the VM installation and backs up the .vmx file (or the associated files within the vmx).

Restrospect and a couple of others can't seem to handle the .vmx (no surprise really), even with open file back-up. The only way I can seem to back up the Wiki is to shut it down first and that is obviously causing automation issues. VM Ware has an application but it is part of a suite that starts getting expensive so I am looking for suggestions.

I thought about maybe an FTP based application but I need something automated and I am a little out of my element architecturally since this is my first VM installation and I am UNIX-Challenged.


Mark

[jgable]

I have been thinking about how to do this also. Instead of backing up the entire .vmx I am thinking about just backing up the attachments and the database. Use samba to get access into the VMWare image and use a backup program that grabs the attachment files and ahve a simple cron job that creates a DB backup once a day. Then simply back up that copy using the backup software and Samba.

Of course you would have the VMX file backed up once. If the system crashes you replace the VMX, restore the attachement files and restore the DB from the backup.

This would be a lot smaller than the entire vmx every time.

Anyone see a problem with this?

[SteveB]

You're absolutely correct.

Other alternatives include using 'scp' to copy the backup out from within the VM to another server. That way you don't neet to setup Samba. You could even do backups directly onto Amazon's S3 service from inside the VM. This way, it would be fully self-maintaining all the time.

[Petrus4]

Steve how would you run a backup to a windows server using scp?

[davedunckley]

Did you get an answer on this? Wondering my self.

Dave

[Petrus4]

Hi Dave,

I did not get an answer about using winscp but I am currently running a backup with Samba using a windows share.

[davedunckley]

Hi Dave,

I did not get an answer about using winscp but I am currently running a backup with Samba using a windows share.

Hey!

Hi Would love to know how you went about this. I am quite a newbie to the world of unix. Am a wintel boy I am afraide.

Any info would be great.

Thanks

Dave

[davedunckley]

Hey all!

I have worked out how to create a share to ntfs. But have the follwoing problems. Any ideas?

This is what I have done so far:-

apt-get update - To update the s/w

apt-get install smbfs - to intsall it

nano /etc/samba/smb.conf - edited the smb file and added the below

workgroup = domain.com

then

mkdir /mnt/unix - to make the share

then

nano /etc/fstab - and added the below

//serverIP/desiredfolder /mnt/servername cifs
username='username,password='password' 0 0

then

mount –a - to set up the shares


At this point I get the following error. Any ideas what I am doing wroung?


CIFS CVS: Send error is SessSetup =-13
CIFS VFS: cifs_mount failed w/return code = -13
mount: block device //my.server.ip.addy/myshare is write-protected,
mounting read-only
CIFS VFS: Send error in SessSetup =-13
CIFS VFS: cifs_mount failed w/return code = -13
mount: cannot mount block device //my.server.ip.addy/myshare read only



I have my.server.ip.addy/myshare as my ip and share.

Help

PLease

Thanks


Dave

[davedunckley]

Hey all, this one has still got me! Any ideas?

Dave