There are many virtualization platforms that you can find in the market, but Microsoft Hyper-V is a key player when it comes to virtualization. In this article, you will gain an insight into how to back up Hyper-V virtual machines. In short, there are many different ways to back up virtual machines on Hyper-V. Ultimately, Hyper-V backup solutions vary according to the features and strategies of both commercial and free-of-cost backup products.
Using Windows Server Backup
If you have multiple virtual machines running on your Hyper-V server, you can back up those machines using Windows server. You can also backup host configurations using the same Windows Server option. If you have virtual machines running on your Hyper-V host, they will be visible on the Windows Server dashboard.
The dashboard will also show you whether your virtual machine is connected to the Hyper-V host. Thus, your virtual environment is the key aspect you must consider when Hyper-V is concerned. Some applications offer a generic mechanism to protect all kinds of databases within the environment.
Windows Server comes equipped with a backup, but it does not come installed on the computer by default, so you may have to manually add the backup feature on the manager. Adding the backup is easy, and it only requires you to navigate to the add option and select a windows server backup. Once you complete the installation, you will be able to access the Windows Server Backup features.
To perform Hyper-V backups, you will first have to create a schedule. You will now begin by clicking on the backup schedule. Creating the schedule includes adding information that pertains to your backup type, timings, and storage options.
To backup from the Hyper-V host, you will have to click on the custom option, which will lead you to the items option, further allowing you to select the Hyper-V host to your Windows Server Backup. Once you do so, you will easily include all the virtual machines running on your Hyper-V hosts.
You can also select a couple of virtual machines for backup and storage. What’s more, you have the option to customize the backup schedule for each of your virtual machines specifically. After choosing the schedule, you can then select the backup to be stored in a dedicated hard disk, which is the recommended option.
Moreover, you can select the backup to go to a volume or network. After following all of these procedures, you will have created a backup schedule. The backup will then only require your time, as virtual machines are large.
Backup Mechanism
Before diving into the different backup tools and methods, let’s look at how Hyper-V virtual machine backup works. The backup tool orders the particular Hyper-V host to make a checkpoint. After the host receives the command, the hypervisor begins creating new files. You can also call these delta files. After this, the virtual machines continue working, and as the new database enters into the Hyper-V environment, the VM starts to save all the changes.
After this process comes to fruition, it is time for the particular backup tool to show compliance and efficiency. It does so by copying the original files created by virtual machines and shifting them to the backup media. After the files have moved safely, it is safe to delete the data in the checkpoint.
While the deletion process takes place, Hyper-V combines the delta files with the original file. While this is happening, the virtual machines continue operating. If you lose the virtual machines, you will recover after the backup becomes available. As you can see, Hyper-V backups and recovery processes are very systematic and thorough.
Back up Hyper-V using Third-Party Products
NAKIVO allows users to follow simple steps to back up Hyper-V VMs. Before initiating the process, it is important to determine your Hyper-V host or cluster. This will help you create a backup repository. To back up the Hyper-V hosted virtual machines, you have to make a backup job. To do this, go to the NAKIVO dashboard and click on the “create” option.
Next, you have to enter the Microsoft hyper v backup job. This leads you to the new backup job wizard for the Microsoft hyper v, after which you will only be five simple steps away from backing it up. NAKIVO also includes a sophisticated dashboard for monitoring specific events, speed, data transfer, and used transporters.
The dashboard gives you detailed information on the job created and shows a screenshot of the compressed and booted backups. Once you secure a completed backup, you can easily secure any files and attachments and recover all virtual machines from the backup. NAKIVO’s job creation process is incredibly streamlined. If you want to learn more about NAKIVO’s hyper-v backup solutions, you can check here.
Final Words
As you can see, there are many tools and third-party products available for backing up the virtual machines running on your hyper v host. Considering the concerning number of malware threats and the unwanted occurrences of today's cyber attacks, you should formulate a hyper v backup strategy beforehand.
Moreover, make sure that you choose the right product when deciding on the best virtual machine solution. Virtualization has been pivotal for businesses in their efforts to scale, but the hosting platforms will always be vulnerable to malicious intentions. The best way to defend against that situation would be to resort to a good backup solution.
