Backup KVM guest machine config? (the right way)

czezz · 09-13-2018, 03:36 AM

What is the right way to backup kvm guest machine config?
Should it that be over: virsh dumpxml [GuestMachne] > GuestMachne.xml (while the vm is up and running)

OR

copy following from kvm hypervisor (once GuestMachne is down)
/etc/libvirt/qemu/[GuestMachne].xml

OR it does not matter (both are OK/contains this same content)?

jefro · 09-13-2018, 04:11 PM

I get the feeling that the xml could be copied at any stage. Guess I'd have to test that.

Not a lot going on with the config file. Most machines are not that technical. I guess if you have a number of mac addresses and unique stuff that will mean you'd want to save it.

berndbausch · 09-13-2018, 10:58 PM

virsh dumpxml and virsh edit work in all circumstances. Poking around in system files always carries the risk that files might be at unexpected locations.