Restored Linux VM vhdx missing partition table

[Godfrey]

Hi

I have tried to restore a VM but it will not boot.

I added the VHDX to another Linux VM and used fdisk to look at the partition table. fdisk states the partition table is missing.

Note I have tried a number of restores for this VM back to 2021 and all have the same error.

Case ID #03306362

Thanks

[Dima P.]

Hello Godfrey,

Please keep working with our support team as they can identify the root cause of the problem based on debug logs and let us know how the investigation goes! Thank you!

[gmajestix]

Which Linux distribution is the Linux VM running?

[Godfrey]

gmajestix

Sorry for the delay in answering the question. I have been working with support but unfortunately there is no resolution.

The Linux distribution is Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS and the drives are ext4. The Hyper-V Server is Windows 2022.

I managed to use AOMEI Partition Magic to restore the partition tables however fsck.ext4 reports a lot of errors and there is a lot of data missing. I have managed to get about 30% of the desperately needed data back!

I have backups for 11 other VMs (Linux and Microsoft Windows) and they all restore without an issue. All their partition table information is present.

I noted above that I had backups to 2021 that was incorrect I had backups to January 2023. 779 on one backup server and 594 on another. I have tried restoring using Full Restore or Instant Recovery various 'backups' at various dates including the oldest backup on each backup server and they all have the same issue - eg missing partition tables and corrupted virtual disks. Application aware processing is enabled and there are no exclusions. I have health checks enabled as well but that did not pick the issue up. Another VM in the same job (Windows Server) restores correctly.

The backup servers are Linux Hardened Repositories.

I am unlikely to ever get my data back but hopefully support can identify the cause to assist others. Finding out your backups have failed when you need them the most is very stressful.

One thing I do not have implemented is SureBackup which I will be implementing.

Godfrey