Backup job for VM template is always converted to full backup and backup data size is the provision size of virtual disk

Symptom

When backing up a VM template, backup job is converted to full backup and the processed data size is equal to provision size of the virtual disk. The following warning message appears in activity log.

As the virtual machine is configured as template, the job will be a full backup and the virtual disks will be backed up as entire disks.

Solution

This behavior is expected for the VM template backup. One workaround is to convert the template to VM at the beginning of backup, back it up, and convert it back to template at the end of backup job. If you prefer this workaround, follow the steps below to set a registry value in proxy machine.

  1. Log onto proxy machine.
  2. Create a registry value at proxy server level or VM level.

    3. Note: If you add the registry value at both the VM level and proxy level, the setting at the VM level registry holds priority over the setting at the Proxy level registry.

    At Proxy Server level (applicable to all backup jobs running in this proxy server)

    1. Open the registry key from the following location:

      2. [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Arcserve\Unified Data Protection\Engine\AFBackupDll]

    2. Add a DWORD value with name TemplateDirectBackup and specify its value as 0.

    At VM Level

    1. Open the registry key from the following location:

      2. [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Arcserve\Unified Data Protection\Engine\AFBackupDll\<vm instance uuid>]

    2. Add a DWORD value with name TemplateDirectBackup and specify its value as 0.

Note: After enabling this option, VM cannot convert again to template if backup aborts abnormally (for example, crashes during job or when proxy machine is rebooted).