Virtualization is a key technology used in data centers to optimize the resources more efficiently and make it seamlessly available for demanding workloads. Microsoft introduced Hyper-V as a virtualization platform, which aims to go beyond the basic virtualization capabilities such as server hardware peripherals, minimum man power, etc.. This allows organizations to achieve minimal cost saving and satisfied the IT needs.
Hyper-V Architecture:
Hyper-v
We would like to show how Hyper-V works with windows operating system.
Hyper-V is installed on bare metal and all the management functions and access to hardware is controlled via a “root partition” that runs on windows server Operating system. This root partition is a special virtual machine, through which hardware I/O requests from child partitions go through the Virtual machine Bus architecture. Hyper-V role needs to be enabled in server manager which will install itself on top of the hardware and place your original OS in the special virtual machine (the root partition).
In Hyper-V there are three type of partitions like:
- Root partition
- Parent partition
- Child partition.
Root partition is an isolated area in Microsoft Hyper-V environment where the hypervisor runs and the parent partition contains the operating system and requests for the creation of child partitions. The child partitions are where virtualized operating systems (Guest OS) and applications actually run.
Hyper-V saves each virtual machine as a file with the .vhd and .vhdx extension. The max file size for .vhd is 2 TB and for .vhdx, it is is 64TB. Both formats are supported with GPT(GUID Partition Table) in Vembu BDR. When you schedule the Hyper-V backup, it will backup virtual disk of the particular virtual machine along with configuration files such as “*.xml, *.bin and *.vsv”. Vembu BDR uses “Hyper-V Integration Services” to initiate VSS snapshot for the configured virtual machines during backup. Hyper-V Integration Services are designed to enhance the performance of the virtual machine’s guest operating system. Additionally, VMware Tools package is used to improve the interaction of guest operating systems within the VMware virtualization infrastructure.
Backing up server and virtual machines is not an easy task, but we have a number of tools to help the IT administrator safeguard their virtual infrastructures. So, the question is how to make the right choice to pick up “The Best” tool which will both meet the needs and at the same time be cost effective.
Vembu BDR for Hyper-V Backup:
We propose that the best solution you can use to manage your virtual environment is “Vembu BDR Hyper-V plugin backup”.
Now let’s see how the Hyper-V backup works in Vembu BDR:
- From Host machine, Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider initiates the snapshot in the guest machine through “Hyper-v integration services”.
- Once snapshot completes in the guest machine, Vembu BDR will transfer the data to backup server as compressed data.
To perform the above task, you have to enable the Hyper-V Integration services in the VM, the guest machine HDD contain NTFS partition. Moreover, it should not be dynamic disk and also VSS should be enabled in the VM.
The restore process is very simple and user friendly for the IT administrator to handle within the needed time in case of disaster.
You can restore using three options:
- Direct Recovery
- Download
- Recover Virtual Machine using data.
With these options, you can restore the data either directly to ESXi sever or restore as .vhd file and then restore file from it.
The main highlight in Vembu BDR, is that it is supported with CSV (Cluster Shared Volume). When the servers are clustered and shared storage is contained within the Virtual machine, it will allow the VSS and CSVs to initiate snapshot to perform the backup in successful manner.
In addition, if you have read our previous blog, there would be no reason for surprise that we are working on a cool feature- CBT for Hyper V. This feature will be available in our next immediate release!
