There are several ways and methods of a virtual server backup. The first method of a virtual machine backup consists in the performing it when a computer is in a saved state. The process of virtual machine backup can be performed by saving the copies of corresponding configuration files and the virtual machine image files when the virtual server is in a saved mode or it is not running. As the saved state file is ready, you can start a virtual server backup.
How to perform virtual server backup
When a computer is in a safe mode, the process of virtual machine backup differs from a backup of a running machine, because the system of the virtual machine is stored in memory. In this case a complete virtual server backup set is performed by the state of the corresponding .vmc and the .vhd files. Nevertheless, backup of the .vhd file of the virtual machine which is in a saved mode might be done by restoring this file, but this operation may cause a data loss.
Another way of virtual server backup is to back it up when guests of a virtual server are running. In this case the special requirements must be met. First of all virtual machine backup software must support the writer for a virtual server. It is important as well that you an installed virtual server 2005 or later version and the guest operating system of a virtual machine supports Volume Shadow Copy Service.
These two methods listed above do not allow bare metal virtual server backup and do not provide an option to restore backup to virtual server.
The recommended method to restore backup to virtual server and virtual server backup is to perform it when a computer is not in a saved state, so it is running. Special virtual machine backup software makes the virtual machine backup operation more secure and eases the bare metal virtual server backup process. Taking advantage of this method of a virtual server backup you can avoid data loss or an unstable work of the virtual machine. The proven backup standards of backup software allow perform bare metal virtual server backup, restore backup to virtual machine using virtual server image. Utilizing virtual machine backup software you do not need to perform a backup process separately. Moreover, the backup software based on a creation of a virtual server image provides to restore backup to virtual server and keep the virtual machine image protected.