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Using Rsync in VMWare


VMWare ESX runs a modified Linux Kernel. Sometimes, when you are doing basic administration tasks, you might find that there are certain Linux tools that you miss. One of the tools I miss most is the rsync tool. Its a very handy tool when it comes to data transfer. I searched high and low for a proper tool to do the job but never found one until now.

The problem with installing a standard Linux package into VMWare ESX is that it will almost certainly mean that you go down the path of installing a whole bunch of dependencies along with it and eventually something might stop working. The best way around this, obviously, is to compile a static package from source with all dependencies included.

Thus, searching around the internet, I found this rsync package that was statically compiled to work on VMWare ESX 3.5. on the VMWare communities page here. I have used it and found it to work without any issues on VMWare ESX 4.0.

Please remember – this is not supported and if you decide to use this, you do so at your own risk.

Related posts:

  1. Script to Hot Backup VMWare ESX Virtual Machines
  2. Using APC PowerChute with VMWare ESX
  3. The WinRoute tool

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This entry was posted on December 25, 2009, 5:51 AM and is filed under VMWare. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  1. #1 by Sheen on March 6, 2010 - 3:18 PM

    Yes. That’s what the script claims. It can backup live virtual machines by snapshotting it and then deletes the snapshot. The only drawback is that it uses the resources of the esx host or the service console to run the backup.

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  2. #2 by Anatoliy on February 19, 2010 - 4:01 AM

    check ghettoVCB.sh – this can backup a running VM

    http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-8760

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  3. #3 by Sheen on January 29, 2010 - 2:28 PM

    @chris: I found a script that can backup live virtual machines. Here is the article that links to it. http://www.sheenaustin.com/2010/01/29/script-to-hot-backup-vmware-esx-virtual-machines/

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  4. #4 by Sheen on January 29, 2010 - 8:28 AM

    @Chris,
    It is not possible to backup a running vm using rsync. I was incidentally also thinking about something on the same lines.
    It actually can be possible to use vmware-cmd to take a snapshot and then rsync it.
    I will test this out and write a post on this.
    Thanks for bringing this up!.

    Sheen.

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  5. #5 by chris on January 28, 2010 - 8:59 AM

    Have you tried to backup running VM using rsync?

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