Step 2: Choose Host/VM Machine(s)

Step 2: Choose Host/VM Machine(s)

  • The first step in your VMware backup process is to choose the virtual machines that are to be backed up. From the list of VMs available select the required VMs for the backup process.  
  • If you have added a vCenter Server, all the ESXi hosts under that server and all the VMs under that ESXi host will be listed for backup.
  • If you have added an ESXi host, all the VMs in that host will be listed with check-boxes.
  • You can choose the VMs to be backed up by selecting the check-boxes present near the VM. You can search for a particular VM in the Search VM check-box, type the name of the VM that is to be backed up and click the search icon.

Information Note:

In a backup job where an entire host is backed up, if you add any new VM to that host,  the new VM will be backed up in the next schedule

Information Note:

Each backup job can have multiple VMs. For example, if you want to backup an ESXi host which has 10 VMs, you can select the entire host as a single backup job. During the backup process, the VMs will be backed up one by one in alphabetical order

  • If you have selected Host Level backup, you might want to exclude a specific set of VMs from the backup process. Such VMs can be excluded using VM(s)/Disk(s) exclusion option.

Information Note:

If you haven't selected any VM for the backup and proceed with VM(s)/Disk(s) Exclusion you will get the message: Select the desired VMs or Host

VM Exclusion

  • Upon choosing the VM(s)/Disk(s) Exclusion option, you will get the pop-up window displayed below. Choose Exclude VM(s) tab.

  • Click Select VM(s) option which will list the VMs that are to be excluded from this backup schedule. Click Add option, this will add the VM to the Exclude VM list.

  • You can add more VMs to be excluded from the backup job by choosing Select VM(s) option or Remove an already excluded VM by selecting the Remove VM Exclusion option in the Actions tab. Click Save once you are done excluding the VMs from your backup schedule.

Disk Exclusion

  • You can exclude a particular Disk type either at the host level or the VM level using the Disk Exclusion option. Under the 'Exclude Disk(s)' tab, you will find the configured host(s) listed.

  • Select the Edit Disk Exclusion option under the Actions tab to assign a global disk exclusion rule for VMs under a chosen host. Edit Disk exclusion tab will have the following exclusion rules:
    • No Disk Excluded
    • Include only System Disks for Backup. Exclude Others (typically Disk 0:0)
    • Select type of Disk to exclude

No Disk Excluded: If you are configuring this option, none of the disks will be excluded from the backup schedule. By default 'No disks excluded' option will be selected.

Include only System Disks for Backup. Exclude Others(typically Disk 0:0): This option will include the OS Disks for backup and exclude others. The disk with the number 0:0 will be included for the backup schedule regardless of the Disk type.

Select type of Disk to exclude: This option will allow you to select the type of disk that has to be excluded from the backup schedule. Select the disk(s) that have to be excluded in each disk type. The three options available are IDE, SATA and SCSI. Click Add once you have selected the disks to be excluded and click Save.

  • Once you save the settings you will get the message "VM's/Disk's Exclusion configuration details saved successfully".

VM Level Disk Exclusion

  • Disk exclusion can be configured for individual VMs. Select the VMs that have to backed up and click the VM(s)/Disk(s) Exclusion option.
  • The VMs that you have configured for the backup will be listed, select the type of disk to be excluded. From the Actions tab, select the Edit Disk Exclusion option.

  • Select the Edit Disk Exclusion option under the Actions tab to assign a global disk exclusion rule for VMs under a chosen host. Edit Disk exclusion tab will have the following exclusion rules:
    • No Disk Excluded
    • Include only System Disks for Backup. Exclude Others (typically Disk 0:0)
    • Select type of Disk to exclude

No Disk Excluded: If you are configuring this option, none of the disks will be excluded. By default 'No disks excluded' option will be selected.

Include only System Disks for Backup. Exclude Others(typically Disk 0:0): This option will include the OS Disks for backup and exclude others. The disk with the number 0:0 will be included for the backup schedule regardless of the Disk type.

Select type of Disk to exclude: This option will allow you to select the type of disk that has to be excluded from the backup schedule. Select the disk(s) that have to be excluded in each disk type. The three options available are IDE, SATA, and SCSI. Click Add once you have selected the disks to be excluded and click Save.

  • Once you save the settings you will get the message "VM's/Disk's Exclusion configuration details saved successfully".