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Using p2v As A Backup Solution |
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Friday, 29 February 2008
by Michel Roth
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One of the key benefits of virtualization is the fact that it opens whole new worlds in terms of disaster recovery. Recently I was emailed by a virtualization enthusiast that has created a method to use p2v as backup solution using free tools.
This virtualization enthusiast, Frane Borozan, has conceived a way to use VMware converter and VMware server (both free) to backup physical servers by "p2v-ing" them. Key in this concept is some scripts that Frane is offering to make VMware converter more suited for commandline use (which is of course what you need in a backup solution).
Frane describes this p2v backup solution on this website:
- Planned network infrastructure
- Making copy of physical server into virtual using VMware converter GUI
- Making copy of physical server into virtual with command line
p2vtool and preparing XML file needed for vmware p2vtool
- Bat script for automation of vmware converter import process
- Customizing VMware configuration file
- Running and testing virtual server using cold and hot methods
- Restoring network configuration to virtual network adapters
- Automating vmware server take over process
- Restoring virtual newly created data to new physical servers
Now this solution probably isn't most preferred option for the Kaisers of this world but this might prove to be an interesting cost effective solution for SMBs. Take a look for yourself: www.p2vbackup.com.
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