The script makes snapshot of a VM, copies the "old" vmdk and other files to a backup location, then deletes the snapshot.
The space use of this approach where every version takes up lot of space can be an issue, maybe solved by backup datastore having deduplication, but thats maybe for the future.

VMs that have any existing snapshot wont get backed up.

Backup storage locations

Local disk datastore
NFS share
For nfs share on trueNAS scale
- Maproot User -> root
- Maproot Group -> nogroup

Note the exact path from webgui of your datastore for backups.
Looks like this /vmfs/volumes/6187f7e1-c584077c-d7f6-3c4937073090

Install

ssh in to esxi
cd /tmp
esxcli network firewall ruleset set -e true -r httpClient
wget https://github.com/lamw/ghettoVCB/releases/download/2021_10_20/vghetto-ghettoVCB.vib --no-check-certificate
esxcli software vib install -v /tmp/vghetto-ghettoVCB.vib -f
check ls /opt

Config and preparation

Gotta know basics how to edit files with ancient vi

Config file template is in /opt/ghettovcb/ghettoVCB.conf
Make copy of it cp /opt/ghettovcb/ghettoVCB.conf /opt/ghettovcb/ghetto_1.conf
Only edit this file, for starter setting where to copy backups
vi /opt/ghettovcb/ghetto_1.conf
VM_BACKUP_VOLUME=/vmfs/volumes/6187f7e1-c584077c-d7f6-3c4937073090/Backups
Create a file that will contain list of VMs to backup
touch /opt/ghettovcb/vms_to_backup_list
vi /opt/ghettovcb/vms_to_backup_list
```
OPNsense
Arch-Docker-Host
```
Create a shell script that starts ghetto script using this config for listed VMs
touch /opt/ghettovcb/bin/ghetto_run.sh
vi /opt/ghettovcb/bin/ghetto_run.sh
```
#!/bin/sh

/opt/ghettovcb/bin/ghettoVCB.sh \
    -g /opt/ghettovcb/ghetto_1.conf \
    -f /opt/ghettovcb/vms_to_backup_list \
    &> /dev/null
```
Make the script executable
chmod +x /opt/ghettovcb/bin/ghetto_run.sh
for my use case where TrueNAS VM cant be snapshoted while running because of a passthrough pcie HBA card there needs to be another config
Make new config copy
cp /opt/ghettovcb/ghetto_1.conf /opt/ghettovcb/ghetto_2.conf
Edit the config, setting it to shut down VMs before backup.
vi /opt/ghettovcb/ghetto_2.conf
POWER_VM_DOWN_BEFORE_BACKUP=1

edit the run script, add another execution for specific VM using ghetto_2.conf
vi /opt/ghettovcb/bin/ghetto_run.sh

#!/bin/sh

/opt/ghettovcb/bin/ghettoVCB.sh \
    -g /opt/ghettovcb/ghetto_1.conf \
    -f /opt/ghettovcb/vms_to_backup_list \
    &> /dev/null

/opt/ghettovcb/bin/ghettoVCB.sh \
    -g /opt/ghettovcb/ghetto_2.conf \
    -m TrueNAS_scale \
    &> /dev/null

Execution and scheduled runs

To simply execute:

/opt/ghettovcb/bin/ghetto_run.sh

To execute it periodicly cron is used.

Make backup of roots crontab
cp /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root.backup
Edit roots crontab to execute the run script at 4:00
add the following line at the end in cron format
vi /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root
```
0    4    *   *   *   /opt/ghettovcb/bin/ghetto_run.sh
```
To save read only file in vi use :wq!

Logs about backups are in /tmp

disk reclamation

Switching from Thick to Thin disks

vmkfstools --punchzero "./TrueNAS_scale-thin.vmdk"

unmap, windows, fsck_ufs -Ey /dev/da0p3

readme.md

Esxi

guide-by-example

Purpose

Basic settings

Backups using ghettoVCB