Manual backup procedure for running ESXi VMs; works, script to be tested

esxi-bak.txt

# Potential solution:
#!/bin/sh

# create storage directory for vm backup
mkdir -p /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/web01-backup/

# copy config files for the running VM
cp /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/web01/web01.vmx /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/web01-backup/web01.vmx
cp /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/web01/web01.nvram /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/web01-backup/web01.nvram
cp /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/web01/web01.vmsd /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/web01-backup/web01.vmsd

# create a snapshot of the target VM
vmid=$(vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms | grep web01 | awk '{print $1}')
vim-cmd vmsvc/snapshot.create $vmid backup 'Snapshot created by Backup Script' 0 0

# store the vmdk to a backup location while snapshot is running
vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/web01/web01.vmdk /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/web01-backup/web01.vmdk -d thin

# delete/flatten the snapshot
vim-cmd vmsvc/snapshot.removeall $vmid

# So the process would be:
#  - Copy the config files to the backup location
#  -- .vmx, .nvram, .vmsd
#  - create a snapshot for the vm
#  - copy the .vmdk to the backup location
#  - MAKE SURE TO DEL THE SNAPSHOT