Vmware plugin job on virtual VCB Proxy fails with 'Error: Could not find virtual machine specifie (4047219)

Date: 08/10
Effected NV Version: Any
OS Version: Windows
Plug-in version: Vmware Up to 1.2.1
Application version: n/a

Description: VMware backup on virtual VCB Proxy fails with


Error 2010/08/19 09:51:18 0 Data Plugin VCB-PROXY Output from program 'P:\VCB\vcbMounter.exe'

Error: Could not find virtual machine specified by name:VCB Proxy(VCB-HELPER)
[2010-08-19 09:52:05.283 'vcbMounter' 3012 error] An error occurred, cleaning up...

Because the VCB Proxy is a virtual machine on the same ESX server or shared ESX as the images it is backing up the 'hotadd' transport mode has been selected in the plugin. This transport mode requires there to be
a 'VCB-HELPER' image created along side the VCB-PROXY to assist with adding and removing virtual disks.

This machine can be just a small image created with the same name as the VCB Proxy suffixed with (VCB-HELPER).

-Creating a VCB Helper Virtual Machine:

If you use Consolidated Backup in the Hot�Add mode, you need to create a shadow
virtual machine for Consolidated Backup to use internally. The shadow virtual machine
has the same name as your virtual VCB proxy with the VCB-HELPER suffix added. For
example, if the name of your VCB proxy virtual machine is BackupProxy, the shadow
virtual machine, should be named BackupProxy(VCB-HELPER)."
"When using Consolidated Backup in the Hot�Add mode, the VCB user must have an
ability to perform additional tasks, such as adding and removing virtual disks, on the
VCB proxy and VCB helper virtual machines."

If the VCB Proxy is a virtual machine it is not possible to use the san transport mode as there is no direct physical connection between the VCB Proxy and the SAN. NBD (Network block device) can be used but this would be slower.