Easy Ways to Backup Hyper-V Virtual Machines

Read time 5 minutes

Ensuring a backup strategy is in place stands as a prudent choice regardless of your chosen platform. In this blog, we will comprehensively elucidate the process of backing up Hyper-V virtual machines. Our primary goal is to assist readers in creating seamless backups, and our secondary aim is to simplify the entire procedure. In our pursuit of delivering reliable results, we will elucidate some of the most effective approaches for backing up Hyper-V Virtual Machines.

How to Back Up Virtual Machines?

Let’s discuss how to back up Hyper-V virtual machines with the help of some easy approaches. So that you can also use VHD Viewer according to your convenience. Let’s move towards discussing other backup approaches.

1. Create Hard Disk File’s copy
   Generating duplicates of VHD files from a virtual machine is among the simplest backup solutions. While this method is fast and uncomplicated, it’s important to note that only the data present in the file at the moment of copying gets backed up.
2. Try Exporting
   Exporting the virtual machine stands as one of the top choices for creating a backup. Despite certain limitations, it proves invaluable in critical scenarios. This process can be accomplished through Hyper-V Manager, which is an administrative tool bundled with Hyper-V. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that this utility, while effective, can be rather complex to navigate and is burdened with numerous limitations, making it less than ideal for most users.
3. System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM)
   System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) offers a robust solution for VM data restoration when the need arises. To utilize this capability, it is necessary to acquire SCVMM, a virtual machine management tool developed by Microsoft. When restoring a Virtual Machine, it reverts to a previous state, providing the flexibility to restore individual files as needed.

   SCVMM may seem an effective way to create a backup, but it is not recommended because of its complexity and risk factor.

4. Windows Server Backup
   Another way to backup Hyper-V Virtual Machine is to use Windows Server Backup. Backup, as well as restore, can be done using this feature.
5. Go for a Third-Party Backup Solution
   The most optimal and user-friendly method to create backups of Hyper-V Virtual Machines is by employing a third-party tool. These automated third-party solutions offer a streamlined approach that yields excellent results. Additionally, most third-party tools provide comprehensive user guides to ensure a smooth experience. To find a dependable Hyper-V Virtual Machine backup tool, you can conduct online research, considering factors such as user reviews and other crucial criteria.

While creating Hyper-V Virtual Machine Backups, I came across a few important backup practices everyone should keep in mind, Let’s discuss:

• Don’t assign too many roles to a single Virtual Machine! If you want to keep the backup process quick and straightforward, then don’t complicate it by assigning too many tasks or roles to a single VM.
• Snapshots are not for backup! While they are undoubtedly useful for troubleshooting, analysis, and quick rollbacks, it’s important to note that snapshots are not a substitute for proper backups. Therefore, it is strongly advised not to rely on them for data protection.
• CPU, RAM, Bandwidth! Backing up virtual machine data can indeed be a resource-intensive process, involving substantial processing power, data transfer, and bandwidth usage. It’s crucial to ensure an adequate allocation of resources such as CPU, network bandwidth, and storage capacity to optimize the backup procedure.
• New is always better! Maintaining up-to-date Hyper-V hosts and backup software is essential for expediting the backup process and preventing potential errors. Regularly checking for updates, or doing so before initiating a backup, is a prudent practice.
• Always have a Plan B! Creating a backup is just the beginning; having a solid backup strategy is essential. To ensure data safety, it’s recommended to maintain three sets of data (original and two copies), store backups on at least two different types of media (e.g., local server and cloud), and keep one backup offsite. When storing offsite backups, it’s crucial to encrypt them before they leave your premises and ensure they remain encrypted during transit and at their destination.

In the unfortunate event of VHD files becoming corrupted, broken, or damaged during any of the aforementioned steps, it is advisable to avoid traditional methods and opt for an automated third-party tool such as Kernel for VHD Recovery. This robust tool effortlessly recovers dismounted VHD files, encompassing various data types such as audio files, database files, documents, email files, and more. Notably, it excels in retrieving permanently deleted data and offers users a preview of the recovered data. With its user-friendly, self-descriptive features, even beginners can use it without encountering difficulties.

Wrapping Up:

This blog has comprehensively covered various methods for creating backups of Hyper-V Virtual Machines, highlighting the significance of this practice. While the backup process can be somewhat intricate, following a few key practices can simplify it considerably. Additionally, in the unfortunate event of accidental VHD file damage during these procedures, Kernel for VHD Recovery can be a valuable solution for swift and straightforward file recovery. We hope you found this blog informative and that it aids in achieving a successful backup experience. For more details about the tool, please visit the product page on our website.