Karim Vaes

This script is handy if you want to backup a (free) ESXi server without console access. You set this script up in a cron of a seperate server, which will initiate the backups. It heavily relies on ghettoVCB, a great tool! If you’re looking for a more professional tool, check out esxpress (~1k / esx host).

#!/bin/bash
# Heavily depend on http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-8760

# Backup Variables
WORK=/root/esx-backup
LOG=/root/esx-backup/logs       # log directory (local)
RTMP=/tmp                       # temp directory (remote)
BACKUPALL=YES                   # YES to backup all VMS, and ignore the "serverlist"

# Mailing Variables
SUBJECT="Myhost- ghettoVCB"
EMAIL="sender@kvaes.be"

cd $WORK

# KILL OFF OLD PROCESSES
for PID in $(ps -ef | grep -v "grep" | grep -v "$$" | grep -i "backup" | awk '{ print $2 }')
do
  KILL=`kill $PID`
done

# START BACKUP

for SERVER in $(ls -l | grep ^d | grep -v logs | awk '{print $8}'); do
        DATE=`date +"%Y%m%d"`
        echo "STARTING - $SERVER" >> $LOG/$DATE-$SERVER.log
        date >> $LOG/$DATE-$SERVER.log
        if [ "$BACKUPALL" = "YES" ] ; then
                GENERATE=`ssh root@$SERVER -C vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms | awk '{ print $2 " " $3 }' | grep -v "Name File" > $SERVER/serverlist`
        fi
        COPY=`scp $SERVER/* root@$SERVER:$RTMP >> $LOG/$DATE-$SERVER.log`
        RIGHTS=`ssh root@$SERVER -C chmod 755 $RTMP/ghettoVCB.sh`
        BACKUP=`ssh root@$SERVER -C $RTMP/ghettoVCB.sh $RTMP/serverlist >> $LOG/$DATE-$SERVER.log`
        echo "ENDED - $SERVER" >> $LOG/$DATE-$SERVER.log
        echo "BACKUP FAILED" > $LOG/latest-$SERVER.log
        grep -v "Clone" $LOG/$DATE-$SERVER.log > $LOG/latest-$SERVER.log
        mailx -s "$SUBJECT" "$EMAIL" < $LOG/latest-$SERVER.log
done

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Disk Investigator is a pretty unique hard drive data retrieval tool that takes a totally different approach than the usual hard drive data recovery tools. What Disk Investigator does is to provide direct access to the raw data sectors of a selected hard drive so that the hard drive’s data can be explored up to the last bit.

More info? Check out ghacks!

Are My Sites Up is a very simple service to help you keep an eye on your sites and warn you if they go down. It is completely free.

You need to know if there are any issues with your own sites or the ones you maintain. The guys at “aremysitesup.com” offer you this service for free! It’s just a small test offcourse, but in most cases this will suffice…

Huddle is a network of secure online workspaces where you and your team, your customers (even your friends) can come together to work on files, plan projects and collaborate on ideas. Each individual workspace contains files, notes, reminders and information on your project. You can even manage multiple ongoing projects across different teams with huddle.

I came across huddle when looking for a collaboration tool. I found it a very decent solution for groups with a flat structure. You can do the most basic file sharing things at a reasonable price (freemium model, with a fair enterprise pricing model).