Copy live vmdk disk

virtual-machinesvirtualizationvmware-esxivmware-vsphere

Fairly new with vmware. We need to copy 2 vmdk files from the data store to a USB storage (Mounted on a VM on the host in question). The vmdk files are not the vmdks on which the OS resides; they simply make up a spanned volume on a windows 2003 OS.

What's the best practice at copying online vmdk files please ?

Best Answer

Here's is the exact process how to clone or copy a running virtual machine:

http://virtuallyhyper.com/2012/04/cloning-a-vmdk-while-the-vm-is-powered-on/

Hope this helps.

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Ssh – howto copy files on esxi datastore using scp

First of all I don't think you can on ESXi, unless you are in unsupported mode. I have done it on ESX a few times, but the recommended way to backup the files from esxi are over the network, using the vSphere client. If at all possible go that route, it's much easier.

With that said. Format the disk with ext3 (You only have read support for NTFS, and FAT32 is not good with large files). Plug in the drive.

tail /var/log/dmesg

Should tell you the name of the drive. Create a mount point and mount it, specifying the correct fs

mkdir /mnt/usb
mount /dev/<device_name> /mnt/usb -t ext3

You will probably have to use vmkstools to export the files.

How to Migrate VMWare ESXi Installation and Datastore to a New Drive

Personally I don't see host profiles as being that big a factor for you. You're dealing with a single host with no licensed features (DRS, HA, etc). My opinion is that it's probably easier and faster to backup your VM's, rebuild the host, and restore your VM's.

This product simplifies the task of backing up and restoring your VM's and does it relatively quickly:

http://www.trilead.com/

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Ssh – howto copy files on esxi datastore using scp

How to Migrate VMWare ESXi Installation and Datastore to a New Drive

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