3

We are running a test install of Hyper-V Server 2008 (Stand Alone Free Version).

I was wondering if there is anyway to backup the VHD's using the command line as this is all you have. I know you can use System Center Data Protection Manager but this costs a fortune. We don't mind if they pause the VM's for a few minutes. :)

Any help would be great. Thanks Al

  • I haven't tried this myself, but what happens if you just try to do a regular copy (ie. xcopy) of the VHD without pausing the server? Does it result in an inconsistent or unbootable image? – Nic Oct 20 '09 at 08:10
  • Here is the solution I had come up with. http://serverfault.com/questions/55789/command-line-backup-of-running-hyper-v-images-using-volume-shadow-copies-vss-an – Doug Luxem Nov 05 '09 at 14:33

1 Answers1

2

If you have Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 you can enable PowerShell (Link) and then use the PowerShell Management Library for Hyper-V available on codeplex.

The PowerShell library will allow you to script the pausing/shutdown of virtual machines before backing up the VHD files and restarting them automatically. There are several commands in the library listed under, Backing up, exporting and snapshotting VMs.

Glorfindel
  • 1,213
  • 3
  • 15
  • 22
Liam Westley
  • 121
  • 2