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I have created a Generation 2 VM running Ubuntu Server 18.04 on a Windows Server 2019 Datacenter.

I would like to do an online backup of this VM to another disk in the server (and eventually to a NAS).

After adding the Windows Server Backup feature, I ran the Backup Schedule action and went to add the VM to the scheduled backup.

Unfortunately, the wizard shows (Offline) next to the Ubuntu Server VM instead of (Online) like it shows for all the other VMs (CentOS and various Windows Servers).

Is there any way to do an online backup of this Ubuntu Server 18.04 guest? I have made sure the Backup (volume shadow copy) is enabled under Integration Services for the VM.

Kevin Morse
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2 Answers2

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With the Linux Integration Services kernel modules, available from Ubuntu, you can take online file system consistent snapshots. It does not use VSS, I am unsure as to whether that integration checkbox should be on or off for Linux.

Follow LIS install instructions from Microsoft, notably apt-get install linux-azure and reboot into this kernel.

To get application consistent snapshots, like suspending database writes, you will need hook scripts. Azure Backup has application backup hooks, for example. Edit your question if you need this, it requires integration specific to the application you are backing up.

John Mahowald
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  • `apt-get install linux-azure` seemed to do the trick. Online backups are now available. Good point about the application consistent backup hooks. – Kevin Morse Jun 25 '19 at 23:06
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Online backups are only applicable to VSS capable guests, meaning the guest needs to have VSS... which I'm pretty certain is exclusive to to the Windows operating system.

joeqwerty
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