VMware backup is the copying of data on a virtual machine (VM) in a VMware environment to prevent data loss. VMware backup, and virtual server backup in general, is a common challenge for storage and backup administrators.
VMware backup can be accomplished using conventional backup software. While this is the most straightforward approach, it can lead to resource contention. The additional resources needed to execute a backup may compromise the performance of the virtual machines on the physical server being backed up.
VMware-specific backup products which capture point-in-time snapshots of the entire virtual machine state address the issue of resource contention. This allows for fast complete restoration of a virtual machine. However, users typically have to restore the entire snapshot, even if only one file is lost or corrupted. VMware-specific backup tools from companies such as Veeam and Vizioncore are emerging that address file-level restore.
VMware has made some attempts to address the backup challenges associated with virtualizing servers. VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) and VMware vSphere offer features designed to streamline the backup process.