need to copy (yes "copy") vmdk files between 2 datastores

[Hariseldon1]

I have a circumstance that is unusual (for me).

Currently:
I have a standalone ESXi 7.0 host with DAS raid controller attached storage
I have VCSA v7.0
I have VM#1 (Server2012) in DataStore#1 with several vmdk's (each large in size, and already ntfs deduplicated)... I am not concerned about the vmdk that is the Operating System drive.
I have VM#2 (Server2022) in DataStore#2

I need to shut down VM#1 in DataStore#1
Then I need to copy the non-operating system vmdk's from VM#1 in DataStore#1 to VM#2 in DataStore#2.

Yes "COPY"
Not Migrate


Can VBR take a backup of VM#1 in DataStore#1... and then handpick vmdk's to restore to DataStore#2 so I can present them to VM#2?

[david.domask]

Hi Hari,

Sure, there are a lot of ways of handling this, we even have a section in the User Guide dedicated to Disk Restore options.

I would say give it a read, but note that the disk restore options typically require that you attach the disk to a VM. There are also Export specific disks from a backup to a target datastore, effectively just restoring the disk to datastore instead of attaching it to a VM.

I would say review that section of the User Guide as likely one of those operations will best meet your needs, likely Disk Export.