2011 (Windows)

Backing up Microsoft virtual
environments
This appendix includes the following topics:
■ About backing up Microsoft virtual hard disks
■ About backing up and restoring Microsoft Hyper-V virtual machines
About backing up Microsoft virtual hard disks
Microsoft Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 now support the use of Virtual Hard Disks
(VHDs). Microsoft does not support backing up a physical disk and a VHD on that
physical disk in the same backup job. This limitation also applies to Symantec
System Recovery. You cannot back up a physical disk and its VHD counterpart in
the same backup job using Symantec System Recovery. Also not supported is the
ability to back up a VHD that is hosted on or "nested" within another VHD. If you
want to back up a physical disk and a VHD on that disk, you must create separate
backup jobs for each disk.
Backing up a physical disk that hosts a VHD is supported as long as it is not
included as another volume in the same backup. When a physical disk hosting a
VHD is backed up, the VHD is treated as another file that is part of the physical
disk backup.
VHDs can be attached and detached from their physical disk hosts (volumes).
Microsoft recommends that you detach a VHD that is stored on a host volume
before you back up. Not detaching a VHD before you back up a host volume can
result in an inconsistent copy of the VHD in the backup. After you restore a host
volume, you can re-attach the VHD file.
http://entsupport.symantec.com/umi/V-306-2
You can find more information on backing up VHDs on the Microsoft Web site.
D
Appendix