Best way to copy VM to test lab

[lukeup]

Hello,

I have a Veeam Enterprise server creating backups to storage and also replicas to a DR ESXi host. What is the best/easiest way to copy VMs to a standalone test server that is not on the network? I have already successfully restored backups but this involved setting up a test Veeam server as well in order to do the restore of VBK files.

Would it be a better idea to copy the replicas complete folder (raw data) to the test lab datastore via USB drive, as the replica is not running, and then start it up using the vSphere client? Or use Veeam copy to get a raw copy on a USB drive and copy that?

I know there are many ways to do this but what is the most efficient way for a test environment?

Thanks

[dellock6]

No chance to connect the test ESXi to the network? That would solve half of your problems. If it's because there would be duplicated IPs, you can simply fence the networks, just like for example Veeam does with its Virtual Lab appliance.

Luca.

[Vitaliy S.]

Would it be a better idea to copy the replicas complete folder (raw data) to the test lab datastore via USB drive, as the replica is not running, and then start it up using the vSphere client? Or use Veeam copy to get a raw copy on a USB drive and copy that?

Not the best idea for sure, as your VM virtual disks will be automatically converted to thick disks (thin disks is a VMFS feature only). If I were you I would either connect your standalone host to the network our use VeeamZIP functionality to offload your production VM to the test server.