The matrix of considerations for backup and DR for Hyper-V is not simple, for example there are several methods to backup running VMs such as Windows Server Backup, DPM, diskshadow.exe, as well as non-Microsoft solutions such as Symantec Backup Exec.

Capability

Host-Based

Agent-Based

SAN snapshots

Protection of VM configuration

X

    

Protection of Host & Cluster configuration

X

    

Protection of Virtualization-specific data such as VM snapshots

X

    

Protection of data inside the VM

X

X

X

Protection of data inside the VM stored on pass-through disks

  

X

X

Support for VSS-based backups for supported operating systems and applications

X

X

  

Support for Continuous Data Protection (DPM)

X

X

  

Ability to granularly recover specific files or applications inside the VM

  

X

  

 

For more help on options and considerations, see:

Backup and Disaster Recovery for Server Virtualization: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc895627.aspx

This Fix it Solution automates registering the Microsoft Hyper-V VSS writer with Windows Server Backup: How to back up Hyper-V virtual machines from the parent partition on a Windows Server 2008-based computer by using Windows Server Backup

Off-line Virtual Machine Servicing Tool: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc501231.aspx

Taylor Brown's blog post explains away some of the confusion around backup/snapshot in Hyper-V: http://blogs.msdn.com/taylorb/archive/2008/08/20/backing-up-hyper-v-virtual-machines-using-windows-server-backup.aspx

How to enable Windows Server Backup support for the Hyper-V VSS Writer : http://blogs.technet.com/askcore/archive/2008/08/20/how-to-enable-windows-server-backup-support-for-the-hyper-v-vss-writer.aspx

Backing Up Hyper-V Virtual Machines Using Windows Server Backup: http://blogs.msdn.com/taylorb/archive/2008/08/20/backing-up-hyper-v-virtual-machines-using-windows-server-backup.aspx

Windows Server 2008 Backup and Recovery Overview : http://technet.microsoft.com/library/cc770593.aspx

Windows Server Backup Step-by-Step Guide for Windows Server 2008 : http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc770266.aspx

Hyper-V Backup: what's supported?: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverhyperv/thread/587474ff-8146-44bb-8ef7-c80a366b07f4/

Microsoft Data Protection Manager trial: http://technet.microsoft.com/dpm/bb727240.aspx