How to use the vmcontrol utility to enable CBT

Use the vmcontrol utility to enable CBT

Updated over a week ago

The vmcontrol utility is used to enable or disable Changed Block Tracking (CBT). This utility is run on any backup proxy added to the register vCenter server/ESXi host, virtual machines on which you want to enable CBT.

To use the vmcontrol utility

  1. From the vSphere Client console, click VMs and Templates, and start the backup proxy virtual machine.

  2. Open a terminal on the backup proxy.
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    πŸ“ Note
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    ​Alternatively, you can use a terminal client such as PuTTY to access the backup proxy.


  3. Log on to the backup proxy.
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    πŸ“ Note
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    ​The default username is root, and the default password is druvaphoenix. If you changed the password, use that password.


  4. To enable the CBT for a backup proxy use the following command:
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    vmcontrol enable_cbt  <vm_name>


    πŸ“ Note


    ​ If there are existing recovery points onvirtual machinewhile enabling CBT, the VMcontrol utility deletes the existing recovery points. CBT functions properly only ifvirtual machinedoes not contain any recovery point while the CBT is enabled. For more information, see Changed Block Tracking (CBT) on virtual machines.



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  5. To disable the CBT for a backup proxy, use the following command:
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    vmcontrol disable_cbt  <vm_name>

  6. To check the CBT status of a backup proxy, use the following command:
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    vmcontrol check_ cbt<vm_name>


    πŸ“ Note
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    ​The argument is the name of thevirtual machine (case sensitive).If thevirtual machinenamehas a space or any special characters in it kindly use the command in the following manner: /opt/Druva/Phoenix/lib/vmcontrol <command> <vm_name in quotes>Example: /opt/Druva/Phoenix/lib/vmcontrol enable_cbt β€˜Test VM’


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