XSIBACKUP - ESXI Backup Guide

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All XSIBackup argument descriptions and their associated flags and values can be found in the XSIBackup Man Page. This is a fundamental guide to consult whenever you need details on any given argument. Most well trained Linux admins will use it as their fundamental guide to using XSIBackup. Nevertheless, some other users will find it more useful that this information be structured in a more comprehensive way, grouped by topics. We have created this post for them.

1. First contact with XSIBackup
   • XSIBackup Quickstart guide, backup your ESXi host/s
   • Composing ESXi backup jobs, a guide to using XSIBackup
   • Tutorial
   • XSIBackup tutorial - part 1
   • XSIBackup tutorial - part 2
2. SMTP client usage
   • The built-in SMTP client
   • XSIBackup: the SMTP server's conf/smtpsrvs file
   • Customize the e-mail report look
3. Upgrading previous versions
   • XSIBackup: upgrade Procedure
4. Choosing and using backup programs
   • Rsync
     • Getting to know Rsync and its potential
     • Using Rsync within ESXi OS environment
     • ESXi differential backup: Rsync *NIX support as IP backup target OS
   • (c)OneDiff
     • (c)OneDiff, Change Block Tracking alike technology
     • How to use (c)OneDiff and still keep a historic set of backups
   • (c)XSITools
     • (c)XSITools: block level deduplication over VMFS and other FS
   • (c)XSIDiff
     • (c)XSIDiff, Linux and VMWare Backup differential copy
     • (c)XSIDiff Man Page
     • (c)XSIDiff Change Log
   • Borg Backup
     • Send data to a Borg Backup backend
   • How to combine backup programs
5. Scheduling backup jobs
   • Remote execution of backup jobs from outer schedulers
   • Alternatives to xsibackup crontab
6. Restoring Virtual Machines
   • Restore your virtual machines in VMWare ESXi
   • XSIBACKUP-PRO's Restore Module
7. XSIBackup GUI Manual
   • Before You Start
   • What has changed in XSIBACKUP 11.0.0
   • XSIBackup GUI
   • Cron Management
   • Key Exchange
   • SMTP Servers
   • Backup Job Management
     • Adding a backup job
     • Backup Programs
     • Backup Options
     • Backup Point
     • Backup How
     • Choose an SMTP Server
     • Editing Backup Jobs
     • Extended Backup Options
   • Restoring VMs
8. Deduplication
   • Inline deduplication
     • Inline Deduplication Tutorial 1: what to choose
     • Inline Deduplication Tutorial 2: using resources effectively
     • Inline Deduplication Tutorial 3: a lightweight deduplication appliance
     • Inline Deduplication Tutorial 4: configuring the deduplication appliance
   • Archive deduplication
     • Send data to a Borg Backup backend
9. Advanced case studies
   • Bash code use
     • Naming ESXi resources dynamically
     • Using custom variables
   • Two step deduplication
     • How to take maximum advantage of your storage
     • Solution deployment
   • How to build the perfect SME backup system
10. (c)XSIBackup inners
    • PID management, how it works
    • ESXi Virtual Hardware versions mixed setups
11. Troubleshooting
    • Most common issues backing up ESXi hosts
    • XSIBackup: cron management
    • ESXi Cron Troubleshooting
    • ESXi Snapshot Errors: solutions and workarounds
    • Troubleshooting Windows Snapshots
    • Advanced Windows quiescing troubleshooting
12. Migration of Virtual Machines
    • Live migration of ESXi virtual machines

Daniel J. García Fidalgo
33HOPS