Will FFS backup virtual machines

Discuss new features and functions
Posts: 1
Joined: 17 Oct 2019

LAB

I have a system that has multiple VMs running in windows server. Will FFS be able to backup the virtual disk drives while the VMs are running?
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Posts: 3551
Joined: 11 Jun 2019

xCSxXenon

You can copy a file in use, typically without issue. Maybe not with a vhd since it is too big to be stored in memory
Posts: 2
Joined: 8 Nov 2019

Black-Byte

It' works but i have some issues to detect the changes. Cause the vm doesn't change the size and timestamp of the vhd. Only when more space is needed. You must use detect change with content. But this will be slow. There is no option for always copy.
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Posts: 2248
Joined: 22 Aug 2012

Plerry

You can use FFS for your present/normal sync
(but then exclude the vm/vhd files via the Exclude filter).

You can copy the vm/vhd files e.g. via a bat/cmd "copy" instruction.
This "copy" instruction my be in the same bat/cmd file you use to launch FFS, or my be called by FFS on Completion or On success (right bottom of the Synchronization (F8) window).

Unfortunately, FFS (presently) does not have a Custom sync Category "= , files are equal", otherwise you could have set up a separate sync or sync pair for your vm/vhd files (only including those files per the (local) Include filter), use the standard "File time and size" Compare method, and set up an FFS Custom variant sync and for the Category "= , files are equal" selecting the custom action "Update right item" (assuming your left location is your source and the right location the target).
Adding such "= , files are equal" Category with selectable Action to the Custom sync variant may be an interesting new feature. The obvious default action for such category would be "Do nothing".