Backup Ubuntu Virtual Machines running on Hyper-V
NovaBACKUP
Last Updated: Oct 04, 2017 08:35AM PDT
In order to backup a Ubuntu Virtual Machine that is hosted and running on Hyper-V, which are started and running under Microsoft Hyper-V, you will need to perform some additional steps to your currently installed Ubuntu operating system to support that type of backup in NovaBACKUP Business Essentials software, since NovaBACKUP utilizes Microsoft VSS technology to support backing up/taking a snapshot of a running OS, no matter if it is Windows based or Linux based in this case. For Ubuntu Linux you will be enabling/activating Hyper-V Integration Services in your Ubuntu virtual machine. These steps have specifically been tested using Ubuntu 16.04 x64 (kernel = 4.4.0-59-generic) hosted under Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V utilizing NovaBACKUP Business Essentials v18.5.926. Other Linux distributions may or may not have this type of VSS support built in, and you may need to add a package to Linux to have that functionality if your Linux VM is running under Hyper-V and you want to perform a live backup/snapshot of that Linux VM. If the Linux VM is in the powered off state in Hyper-V then there is no need to have this VSS integration, but when the Linux VM is in the powered on state in Hyper-V then it is required.
You will need to check with your particular Linux distribution's support/help to see if Hyper-V Linux Integration Services is built-in or is available to install like they are in Ubuntu as an add-on described below. Ubuntu Linux users will want to follow the instructions below to get that integration added to your Ubuntu OS.
Please read the guide linked below:
Supported Ubuntu Virtual Machines on Hyper-V:
Applies To: Windows Server 2016, Hyper-V Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Hyper-V Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Hyper-V Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7.1, Windows 7
Beginning with Ubuntu 12.04, loading the "linux-virtual" package installs a kernel suitable for use as a guest virtual machine. This package always depends on the latest minimal generic kernel image and headers used for virtual machines. While its use is optional, the linux-virtual kernel will load fewer drivers and may boot faster and have less memory overhead than a generic image.
To get full use of Hyper-V, install the appropriate linux-tools and linux-cloud-tools packages to install tools and daemons for use with virtual machines. When using the linux-virtual kernel, load linux-tools-virtual and linux-cloud-tools-virtual.
The following feature distribution map indicates the features in each version. The known issues and workarounds for each distribution are listed after the table.
Here is an alternate guide on this subject specific to Ubuntu 16.04:
Here is an alternative guide for other versions of Linux other than Ubuntu:
Installing and Activating Hyper-V Linux Integration Services
and
Linux VMs on Hyper-V – be sure to install and run hyperv-daemons