Virtual Machine Backups
Since now we have a Server PC with much more features, the need to take regular backups is more urgent. Our setup makes it easier to take backups.
We will take backups at least from the 3 virtual machines running on the Server PC.
lserver : Server vm with all services, users, files and LServerAdmin administration software. It is running on Ubuntu LTS or Debian stable.
ltsp : Ltsp server vm providing
network boot to old machines and
remote connection to Linux OS. It is running on Ubuntu LTS or Debian stable.
win2016ts/win2019ts : Windows vm with remote access enabled so that we can connect remotely to Windows from old machines booted from network.
Initial Configuration
We do the following:
We need to format the hard disk to ntfs or ext4 filesystem. Do not use fat32 since files over 4GB will be created.
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On the left pane we select Datacenter and double click on hosta
From the buttons in the upper toolbar we select Shell.
A terminal opens and we can directly execute commands on Server PC. We execute lsa-host.
We go to menu Maintenance / Add usb disk. We select the partition of the usb disk e.g. /dev/sdd1 to mount it permanently as /mnt/usbdisk.
We close the terminal window of the Server PC.
On the left pane we click on Datacenter, we go to Storage tab, click on Add button and select Directory.
We set ID: usbdisk, Directory: /mnt/usbdisk/backup, Content: VZDump backup file και Max Backups: 2 (to keep only the last 2 backups and delete older. If our storage is 2ΤΒ or more we can set 4-6 to keep)
Άμεση Λήψη Αντιγράφου Ασφαλείας
On the left pane we click on Datacenter, we select hosta and click on the virtual machine we want to take backup e.g. lserver.
We go to Backup tab and click on Backup Now button.
We select Storage: usbdisk and leave the other options as they are.
A new Task Viewer window opens to monitor the backup process. We can close the window.
The backup process is still running on the background. We can select it on the bottom Tasks pane and double click to view it.
Scheduled backups
Since the backup process takes long to finish, it is not practical to wait for it each time.
We will see how to schedule backups.
On the left pane we click on Datacenter, select the Backup tab and click on Add button.
We select Storage: usbdisk, day Sunday and time 01:00, Selection Mode: All (or Include Selected VMs and check only the virtual machines we want). We press Create.
The backups can be done with the virtual machines running. They must be scheduled on the time the virtual machines are not used, e.g. late at night, when no changes are made and no operating burden is caused.
Recommended backup procedure
For the backup procedure, it is good to have at least 2 usb disks for rotation of backups. Also we should always keep a backup disk away from where the server is located
Server is already configured to automatically mount usb disks after 11 on the evening to allow backups and unmount them on the morning at 7. So at any time between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. we can disconnect securely the first usb disk and connect the second.
External disks can fail like any hardware. This problem we will not show up, until we try to restore, when we actually need it. Having at least 2 disks we cover this situation.