Q: Parallels VM Manual Backup -how exclude folders ?

Can you clarify, are you trying to back up only via Parallels

or are you trying to backup via Time Machine and want to exclude a folder?

If the latter, go to Time Machine preferences and pick your folder(s) to exclude

If you are backing up only Parallels see here

http://kb.parallels.com/en/4859

or here

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

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Your mileage may vary.   Any advice given is based on my experience.   I have purchased shareware/commercial software in any advice given and have no financial interest in any products mentioned.

I can think of two solutions.

First, if you routinely back up the entire VM frequently and the Picture folder is both big and unchanged, why not move the Picture folder to an external USB Flash drive (I've seen USB 3.0 256GB drives for under $70) and connect it to the VM.

Second, while having a VM get corrupted while backing up via TM is predictable, Parallels has an "Optimize for Time Machine" backup option which should skip over the Picture folder after the initial TM backup since the folder doesn't change and only Snapshots are saved. Of course the 48 hour snapshot schedule means a TM backup of the VM can be two days old even if it was only done and hour ago. If you try that approach, I'd suggest during the initial TM backup the VM should be shut down.

stockholmwolf wrote:

 

NO Backup with TM. As I wrote Manual.

 

Manual backup of what?  The VM itself or files within your virtual machine.  It's still not clear what it is you're trying to accomplish.  A manual backup is just that...manual.  Backup / copy the contents you want...and leave the rest.

stockholmwolf wrote:

 

...Your second suggestion - thanks, but I will not touch TM for pvm backups again because that

cost me days to at least partly rectify the system after that crash...

I was originally thinking that Optimization for Time Machine via automatic snapshots offered by Parallels was a solution in that your large but unchanging Picture Folder would only need backing up once, with snapshots taking care of subsequent VM changes. But in researching further and especially reading this back-and-forth between a Parallels user and Parallels Tech Support, I wouldn't trust TM either, even Parallel's Optimization for it, when the time comes for a Restore.

You still didn't answer the question - are you backing up within Parallels or avoiding TM altogether and doing a manual backup outside of Parallels.

Then do what Templeton Pecksuggests or get some program such as one of these

http://mac-backup-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

- - - -

Your mileage may vary.   Any advice given is based on my experience.   I have purchased shareware/commercial software in any advice given and have no financial interest in any products mentioned.

If you want to backup data from Windows to an external drive you could try SyncToy 2.1. It can give you control of what backs up with both folder and extension filters, copying only new or updated files, or replicating name changes.

tt2

stockholmwolf wrote:

 

But I do not see a solution to exclude this or any other folder from beeing backed up.

That's it.

You don't see it where?  Where are you not seeing it.  You still have failed to provide this pivotal bit of info.

I would like to exclude this huge file from beeing backed up everytime I do a Backup of "Windows7Ultima.pvm".

Then find some backup software that has that functionality and will allow you to do so.  If the PICTURES folder is within Windows, then you'll need a Windows backup solution...but again, that's something else you haven't made clear.

Your .pvm file is a monolithic file to the outside world. You cannot selectively backup bits of it. What you can do however is keep an existing backup of the .pvm and then start backing up new and changed data from inside the VM when it is running, which should be faster than repeatedly backing up the whole state of the VM. You would then be able to restore a working state of the VM and then the current backup of your data should the need arise.

tt2

Yes, storing the data outside of the VM is another approach. You can then back it up independently and access it from your other platform without firing up the VM.

tt2