Best Way to Backup

I have Windows 8 running on Parallels, just started using it.

What's the best strategy for running backups? I have Time Machine running on an external drive for MacOS, I don't think this covers the Windows files that are running in Parallels. Is there a way to share the files (certain directories) running in Windows/Parallels so that Time Machine will back them up?

Thanks,
Eddie

 

Time Machine Backup: Whole .pvm or files within vm's hdd? Or either?

Following on what Eddie says:

Since the multi-gigabyte .pvm file itself changes continually it is literally impractical to back it up hourly with time machine. On the other hand the files within the .hdd that is found within the .pvm change like my typical computer files and it is at that level I want to back things up. This need seems both obvious and presumably very common, yet after searching for several hours I don't find this question addressed. Anybody?

 

Found it: http://kb.parallels.com/en/8827

 

Executive summary:
Maybe I don't completely follow http://kb.parallels.com/en/8827.

I am a fairly new Parallels (build 9.0.23062 revision 920702) user, and I have not yet found a good solution for backup and restore of the filesystem hosted by the VM. I tried three methods, and none of them work well. Two involved backup solutions specific to the Windows-based VM (native Windows 7 backup as well as Norton backup). These hijacked the CPU when scheduled to run in the background, starving non-VM processes. The other method involves Time Machine to backup the VM (see http://kb.parallels.com/en/8827). This resulted in intolerably long process times. I suspect this method is futile anyway, since I require backup and restore capability for the filesystem hosted by the VM (as opposed to snapshots of the VM).

Please tell me what I am doing wrong or, alternatively, suggest a Windows-based software solution that you know to be compatible with Parallels 9.

Configuration details:
I have a standard configuration for Apple users (i.e., a late 2012 iMac with OS X 10.8.5 and Parallels 9). The startup disk is a 1.12 TB Fusion drive. The iMac is connected by FireWire to an external drive (3 TB SATA) with two partitions, both of which are formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled):
(1) 570 GB (/Volumes/WINSHARE)
(2) 2.43 TB (/Volumes/WABAC)

My local network also has a Drobo5N NAS with two shared partitions:
(3) 1.04 TB (afp://Drobo5N.local/PCBackup)
(4) 3.76 TB (/Volumes/Time Machine Backups)
(3) is formatted as AppleShare. (4) is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, journaled); it is Time Machine enabled.

Time Machine is configured so that (2) contains the Time Machine repository (Backups.backupdb and so on). (2) and (4) are designated as alternating backup targets.Time Machine options indicate that (1) and (2) are excluded from backup. This configuration functions as desired for backup and restore of everything except for VM contents.

An 80 GB Parallels VM (/Volumes/WINSHARE/Windows 7.pvm) is the single item in (1). This contains the filesystem that I want to backup and restore. To enable backup with Time Machine (following the instructions in http://kb.parallels.com/en/8827), I have checked the Windows 7 PVM security setting to enable SmartGuard, and I have unchecked the box labeled "Do not back up virtual machine".

 

Dammit, did you find a solution? ;-)

Also seeking same....

 

Old thread I know, but I'm just getting started with time machine. Seems like 10 has support for only backing up the snapshots if you use SmartGuard. But for a small VM, it's probably best to get a fast external drive and use something like Ccc to copy the pvm on a scheduled basis. But best for the VM to be shut down for that. I need to test if the SmartGuard/time machine option really works. The pvm file copy definitely does.

 

I use SuperDuper and it backs it up with the rest of my Mac, I do the Smart update every day, it takes less than 10 minutes.