Best HyperV Backup solution

[Sonic007]

I have 2 HyperV Virtual machines that I need to backup.

 

Everyone recommends Veeam software. Does Windows Server 2016 not have any good HyperV backup tools?

 

I just need a simple backup of VM's every day. No cloud storage, just to a Hard drive.

 

 

What do you recommend?

 

Thanks.

[Fazza]

Veeam is recommended for exactly what you are wanting to do, as the free version will basically only do one thing and that's backup VM's to a hard disk!

 

You could purchase SCDPM but it wont backup quite like you want and is over-complicated for a simple back of 2 VM's.

 

I guess you could use the built-in backup solution that Microsoft provides (Windows Server Backup) as I think that will allow you to do what you want.

[mavhc]

There's inside the vm: windows server backup

There's outside the vm: export-vm powershell command

 

And there's various tools to automate those things https://github.com/ColiseoSoftware/hypervbackup

[AlanD]

Windows server backup (its free...just need to add it in). Works fine - well better than fine.

[mavhc]

Neither do incremental backups though

[Alis_Klar]

Altaro not free but works well and cheaper than veeam

[sparkeh]

Veeam is amazing and well worth the money. If cost is an issue then veeam free with a bit of powershell scripting is a great option (veeam has a PS module that allows you to extend the functionality of the free version beyond what you can do with GUI) Edited October 11, 2018 by sparkeh

[round2it]

altaro here they have a free version to backup 2 vms for free.

 

i got the ultimate version and it works great. has boot from backup.

file or full restore.

 

give it a go for free.

[nathan3388]

we use veeam is amazing and it has helped us out a couple of time really worth the money. I wouldn't put a price on losing data as it is the heart of every day life now.

[Jamman960]

Using Altaro here for 2 hosts, works perfectly

[ITGuyWestMidlands]

Veeam here. But their push for multi-year licences has got me thinking they are going to be pushing up prices soon. Great software though.

[Davit2005]

In answer to the OP question, Veeam End of IMO.

 

Everytime I phoned support they were awesome. I even had a conference call between Veeam and VMWare to sort a strange backup issue out at a previous place.

 

My previous experience of Windows Backup is an absolute last resort. Experience of Backup Exec, wouldn't touch it with a barge pole but not tried any others.

 

I used the free version at home with some PS scripts to automate backups but you don't not get anywhere near the functionality of the full product.

 

Veeam Enterprise allows you to even automate testing recovery of a backup within it's on Virtual lab, this can then give test many different applications in the virtual lab. It's Active Directory explorer for instance is awesome and come a long way since version 6.1 where you had to create a virtual lab for restoring AD accounts. Exchange Explorer for Veeam is also great if you still host Exchange internally.

[PotNoodleTech]

Veeam is awesome. I refuse to skimp on backup software so Veeam is probably the last thing I'd give up if my budget was cut!

[Jawloms]

I use free Veeam with scheduled tasks running a powershell script which emails me with a report of whether it was successful or not.

[Sonic007]

Many thanks everyone. It looks like Veeam is the way to go. Im going to try that and the built in Windows Serve rBackup and compare results.

 

Cheers all. Have a good weekend.

[TwistedHelixis]

We went from Veeam to windows backup and not looked back.

 

Neither do incremental backups though

not true - WSB will treat an iSCSI mounted volume like a local drive and backup to it incrementally.

[sonofsanta]

To sound a note of dissent, I've used DPM to back Hyper-V up for about six years now and it's been flawless. Backs up to local hard drives 4 days of the week and tapes for off-siting one day of the week. Restoration is a matter of clicks, just restore to original location and it will boot it up and have it running like magic (or to a network folder for off-site disaster recovery). I looked at Veeam when I last did the servers but it was an order of magnitude more expensive to licence, in the thousands each year rather than the hundred or so for the System Centre licence on our EES, and I've never felt limited by DPM in the slightest.

[Davit2005]

We went from Veeam to windows backup and not looked back.

 

 

not true - WSB will treat an iSCSI mounted volume like a local drive and backup to it incrementally.

 

Veeam also does Incremental but not in the Free version.

[supportman]

Veeam. Then end.

[PotNoodleTech]

I don't understand how people say Veeam costs thousands per year, I paid a couple of grand up front when I bought it and from year 2 - year 5 have paid about £250 per year support contract and that's it??

[sparkeh]

I don't understand how people say Veeam costs thousands per year, I paid a couple of grand up front when I bought it and from year 2 - year 5 have paid about £250 per year support contract and that's it??

Yeah there's an upfront cost but annual maintenance is very reasonable

[Sonic007]

Out of interest is it best to backup from the VM's or from the host? I would assume from the host and select the VM's?

[sparkeh]

Out of interest is it best to backup from the VM's or from the host? I would assume from the host and select the VM's?

Correct

[Sonic007]

Correct

 

 

 

Thakyou.

[Davit2005]

If you have vcenter it is better to add the vcenter to Veeam rather than individual hosts, use a DNS record for the vcenter within Veeam, the latest vcenter appliance has to have a DNS entyry in any case.

 

This also means that if the VM's move you do not have to modify the backup and end up getting messy.