Back up VMware virtual machines

Use a backup job that talks to vSphere, writes changed blocks elsewhere, and can register the virtual machine on a recovery host.

Back up VMware virtual machines

Changed-block tracking lets a job copy only what changed since the last run. Enable it on the virtual machines you protect, and check that the backup product still falls back to a full read if tracking resets after a storage vMotion.

Exclude temporary disks and ISO mounts from the job, but include every disk the guest needs to boot. Store the copy on a datastore or object store that is not the production VMFS volume.

Record the vCenter name, the folder, and the network port group the restore will use. A backup that cannot be registered on an isolated host is not finished.

Questions

Where should the copy live?

On storage that does not share the production datastore, rack power, or backup admin password.

What proves the job worked?

A boot of the restored guest on an isolated network, plus a recent application record.

How long do I keep points?

Daily for two to four weeks, weekly for a few months, and monthly for the period your contract names.