The ghettoVCB script performs backups of virtual machines residing on ESX(i) 3.x, 4.x, 5.x, 6.x, 7.x & 8.x servers using methodology similar to VMware's VCB tool. The script takes snapshots of live running virtual machines, backs up the master VMDK(s) and then upon completion, deletes the snapshot until the next backup. The only caveat is that it utilizes resources available to the ESXi Shell running the backups as opposed to following the traditional method of offloading virtual machine backups through a VCB proxy.

Latest ghettoVCB VIB and Offline Bundle can be downloaded from here

You can quickly install/update ghettoVCB by downloading and installing either the VIB or offline bundle using the following commands. If you wish to update to latest ghettoVCB release and are using the ghettovcb.conf file and wish to have the setting persist, make sure to use the update command instead of install

Once installed, you will find all ghettoVCB configuration files located in:

/etc/ghettovcb/ghettoVCB.conf
/etc/ghettovcb/ghettoVCB-restore_vm_restore_configuration_template
/etc/ghettovcb/ghettoVCB-vm_backup_configuration_template

Both ghettoVCB and ghettoVCB-restore scripts are located in:

/opt/ghettovcb/bin/ghettoVCB.sh
/opt/ghettovcb/bin/ghettoVCB-restore.sh

Install VIB

esxcli software vib install -v /vghetto-ghettoVCB.vib -f

Install offline bundle

esxcli software vib install -d /vghetto-ghettoVCB-offline-bundle.zip -f

Update VIB

esxcli software vib update -v /vghetto-ghettoVCB.vib -f

Update offline bundle

esxcli software vib update -d /vghetto-ghettoVCB-offline-bundle.zip -f

Retrieve installation

esxcli software vib get -n ghettoVCB

Remove ghettoVCB

esxcli software vib remove -n ghettoVCB

Note: If the installation takes some time. Just wait. This is normal.

See the build documentation here

• ghettoVCB Documentation
• ghettoVCB Restore Documentation