Microsoft HyperV

 Overview: ZCB supports backup and restore of Hyper-V hosts and hosted virtual machines on Windows 2008, 2012, and 8.

To configure Hyper-V server backups, create a new backup set and choose Hyper-V from the dropdown list in the Backup What section. The Initial Store and any configured VMs will be automatically detected.

Functionality:

Hyper-V backups are always Full Backups. Backups are taken using the Hyper-V VSS Writer.

Users may select individual virtual machines within the Hyper-V host for backup. This will backup the virtual hard disk files (.vhd or .vhdx) as well as the snapshot files (.avhd or .avhdx) of the virtual machine(s) selected for backup.

Backup of the Initial Store is also available. This will backup the "IntiialStore.xml" file, which contains the Hyper-V Authorization Store. By default, the InitialStore.xml file is in %systemdrive%\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Hyper-V\.

Hyper-V uses one of two mechanisms to back up each VM. The default backup mechanism is called the "Saved State" method, where the VM is put into a saved state during the processing of the PrepareForSnapshot event, snapshots are taken of the appropriate volumes, and the VM is returned to the previous state during the processing of the PostSnapshot event.

The other backup mechanism is called the "Child VM Snapshot" method, which uses VSS inside the child VM to participate in the backup. For the "Child VM Snapshot" method to be supported, all of the following conditions must be met:

• Backup (volume snapshot) Integration Service is installed and running in the child VM. The service name is "Hyper-V Volume Shadow Copy Requestor".
• The child VM must be in the running state.
• The Snapshot File Location for the VM is set to be the same volume in the host operating system as the VHD files for the VM.
• All volumes in the child VM are basic disks and there are no dynamic disks.
• All disks in the child VM must use a file system that supports snapshots (for example, NTFS).

You an read more about Hyper-V backups here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd405549%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

Back up a running VM only if its hot backup can be performed is a special option designed to keep VMs running smoothly during backup. If enabled, ZCB will skip backup of a running VM when the "Child VM Snapshot" method cannot be performed.

Requirements:

The Hyper-V VSS Writer must be started.

Restore of Hyper-V virtual machines and Host Configuration must be done to the same version of Windows as took the backup. For example, if the original Hyper-V backup was taken on Windows Server 2008 R2, the restore must be done to Windows Server 2008 R2.

Restores

For all Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Sharepoint, and Hyper-V backups, the name of the new machine must exactly match the name of the old machine.

Restore Hyper-V

Overview: ZCB supports backup and restore of Hyper-V hosts and hosted virtual machines on Windows 2008, 2012, and 8.

Functionality:

• Users may select individual virtual machines for restore.
• Restore may be done to the original location or an alternate location.
• Restore to the original location cannot overwrite an active, running VM. If such a restore is attempted, it will be interrupted with this message:
  

  
  The guest VM that you are trying to restore to appears to be in running state. It will be turned off during the restore.
  Are you sure you want to continue? 
  OK   Cancel

  Select "OK" to turn off the running VM and continue the restore. Select "Cancel" to abort the restore process.

The above warning will not be issued if the Virtual Machine's name has changed since the backup was taken, even if the VM is running. ZCB will proceed directly with the restore. This will remove the existing VM and replace it with the backup VM.

Requirements:

• You must install the same Windows Operating System (with the same service packs) on the restore machine as was installed on the original machine.
• If you are attempting to restore data to a different machine than the one which was backed up, please complete the steps described in the Restore to a different machine section above.
• The Volume Shadow Copy Service must be enabled. Please refer to the Requirements section.