Virtual Server and Backup Exec

You'll have strange problems trying to backup active Virtual Machines.

Microsoft's Virtual Server 2005 (and other versions) don't work well with Backup Exec.  If you attempt to backup a *.vhd file, the VM session will crash, and you'll have an unusable backup.  Backup Exec's log, however, will say that everything's fine.

In short, don't try to backup *.vhd files that are in use.  To backup a VM, do one of the following:

- Stop the VM, run the backup, then start the VM

- Stop the VM, copy the *.vhd file elsewhere, start the VM, then backup the copy you just made

This applies to all version of Backup Exec and all versions of Microsoft Virtual Server.

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