VMware Consolidated Backup is a program for Windows which includes a proxy server for facilitating backups of virtual machines. By directing the traffic away from the network, it relieves ESX resources, thus optimizing the VM performance.

Overview

The key features of this tool include full and incremental file level VM backups. There is also support for full image copies. It is possible to use network attached storage, Fibre Channel, local or iSCSI infrastructures. You can perform backup management from a centralized point.

It is worth noting that the software is not a conventional backup agent. It works as a command line utility that encompasses various Windows executable programs. These instruments, along with scripts, create a framework that allows third party backup products to use its functionalities.

Discontinued support

Since the introduction of vSphere 4, the developers have encouraged backup vendors to adapt the new vStorage APIs, replacing VMware Consolidated Backup. However, the installation and update files are still available on the official website. To collect data from VMs, you may try another app called RVTools.

Alongside this shift, VMware introduced VMware Data Recovery, capable of data backup via vStorage APIs. Unfortunately, the aforementioned solution does not integrate additional features found in third party backup tools.

Features

free to download and use;
compatible with modern Windows versions;
allows you to offload VM backup from the ESX server;
you have the flexibility to make full or incremental copies;
there is an option to integrate third party backup products.