I've got a DELL 1U system running two virtual machines: a Windows Server that serves as a backup Domain Controller and another acting as a backup file server. This is all set up on an ESXI 7.0.3 host that boots from a USB stick. My concern is that I don't see any backups for the host USB stick. Can I just clone it to back up the host's configuration, or is there a better way to do it? I'm worried the USB might fail, and I won't be able to recover. Also, I'm not very experienced with VMware, so please keep the advice straightforward. Can I clone the USB with third-party software while the host is running?
2 Answers
It's not a great idea to leave the USB in use while trying to clone it. Start by shutting down the host safely, then use a third-party software to clone the USB stick to a hard drive or SSD. The USB tends to wear out fast, so best to make that backup soon. Trust me, I've seen it happen!
Since you're only running two VMs, the VMware configuration should be straightforward. Be sure to extract your license key and check if you have the installation media. For Dell machines, there’s usually a customized VMware ISO available. Between those two, you should be able to recover if your USB fails. The VM files themselves are generally easy to restore from storage, as long as that stays intact.
So I should just power down, then use software to create an exact clone? That sounds easy enough!