How to Backup VMware Virtual Machine

Why Backup VMware Virtual Machine

In recent years, virtual machines have gained significant attention as many businesses shift towards cloud-based solutions. Among the various types and models of virtual machines, VMware stands out due to its excellent scalability and performance, seamless compatibility, integration with various operating systems, hardware, and applications, and user-friendly management.
As virtual machines play a crucial role in business operations, backing them up is a necessary measure for all users. This is not only to prevent data loss due to accidental misoperations but also to protect against cyber-attacks and ransomware threats. Regular backups also help improve daily regulatory compliance and system performance. Therefore, organizations should carefully plan their backup strategies, choose appropriate tools and technologies, and monitor the performance of their backup processes.

Backup VMware Virtual Machine with EaseUS Todo Backup

By installingEaseUS Todo Backupon a virtual machine, you gain access to a comprehensive backup solution right on your VMware Virtual machine. The software allows you to back up various types of data, from the entire system to individual files or specific partitions, all based on your specific needs and preferences - just like you would on a physical machine.

To create a backup task, just clickNew Taskin the left side, choose the backup content and the destination. Then clickProceed.

One of the standout features of this software is its flexible scheduling options. You can set backups to run at specific times, ensuring your data is consistently protected without manually start the process each time.

Moreover, in the event of system failures, EaseUS Todo Backup provides a quick disaster recovery solution. It also supports selective file restoration, permitting you to retrieve specific files from your backups when needed. This level of control and convenience makes it a reliable choice for backing up your virtual machine.

Take a Snapshot for VMware Virtual Machine

A VMware snapshot is a copy of the virtual machine's disk file (VMDK) at a given point in time. Snapshots provide a change log for the virtual disk and are used to restore a VM to a particular point in time when a failure or system error occurs. Snapshots alone do not provide backup.
1. In VMware Workstation, chooseVM>Snapshot>Take Snapshot.

2. Enter a name for the snapshot. A description for the snapshot is optional. ClickTake Snapshotand wait for the process to be done.

3. After the snapshot is completed, you can see it inSnapshot Managerand choose to revert it.

Use the Build-in Clone Feature in VMware

1. There is a build-in Clone feature in VMware Virtual machine to make a clone of the virtual machine. It can be located inVM>Manage. ClickNextinClone Virtual Machine Wizardto continue.


2. Here are 2 options, to clone from the current state in the virtual machine, or choose from the existing snapshots.

3. Then decide whether the cloned virtual machine is linked to original machine, or create a complete independent copy of the original one.

4. Input the name of new virtual machine and location, clickFinishto start the clone process.

5. When the whole process completed, you will see this cloned virtual machine in the list.

Conclusion

You have two options for backing up your virtual machines: you can useEaseUS Todo Backup, a backup software, or you can utilize the snapshot feature in VMWare. The key difference between backups and snapshots lies in their nature. Backups are standalone files that are self-contained, meaning they can restore a virtual machine without relying on any other files. On the other hand, snapshots rely on multiple dependent files for the restoration of a virtual machine. After all, using EaseUS Todo Backup as a daily backup solution for virtual machines is highly recommended.

Backup VMware Virtual Machine FAQs

1. What is the difference between backup and snapshot in VMware?
Snapshot copies the state of a system at a certain point in time, preserving a virtual picture of your server's file system and settings. Unlike a backup, which performs a full copy of your data, a snapshot only copies the settings and metadata required to restore your data in the event of a disruption.

2. What are the Pros and cons of snapshots?
Snapshot pros:
Quick creation: Easily take a VM snapshot with minimal impact on the production server.
Instant rollback: Restore a machine to a previous point in time almost instantly.
Reduced TCO: Minimize the total cost of ownership (TOC) by eliminating the need for native Windows backup tools.
Snapshot cons:
Large storage consumption: Snapshots can take up large storage space if kept for too long. Based on the volume of data you generate, it is recommended to keep a snapshot for one to three days.
Short-term retention: In addition to large storage consumption, snapshots impact network performance if stored for more than a few days. This prevents long-term data retention.
单点故障:如果发生什么事哟ur production server, you risk losing all your data since source disk and delta disk files are stored in the same location.
Dependency on source data: The delta files created after you take a snapshot are directly dependent on the source machine. If the original file is deleted then you can no longer recreate the VM.

3. Can you backup a running VM?
VMware stores each VM as a VM file (typically a VMDK file). EaseUS Todo Backup can backup these files to protect entire VMs in a one easy step. Unlike operating system backups that can take a long time and consume significant system resources, the backup for a VMDK file is a quick and simple operation.