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Version: 2.9

Partial Success in VM Backups

The partial success for VM Backup feature improves the fault tolerance and granularity of VM-based backups in Portworx Backup. Prior to this enhancement, any failure during execution rules (PreExec or PostExec) for a single VM would result in the entire backup being marked as failed. This feature introduces per-VM level handling for execution rules and status reporting, enabling partial success in multi-VM backup workflows.

Partial Success of VM backups

  • The VM backups are configured to take file system consistent backup through auto enabled freeze/thaw rules executed at per VM level during per VM volume backup.

  • Isolation of rule execution is per VM to reduce the impact of long freeze/unfreeze cycles

  • Execution rule failures (PreExec/PostExec) are tracked per VM

  • If PreExec rule of a VM Fails or if Volume Backup of that VM fails only that VM is marked failed. The backup continues with other VMs

This feature improves backup resilience and observability by allowing VM-specific success/failure states in multi-VM backup operations. It reduces unnecessary backup failures due to isolated issues and improves rule execution efficiency.

Backup Success Criteria for VM Backups​

The outcome depends on the success or failure of VMs selected for the VM backup. A VM backup is considered:

  • Success: if all VMs selected for the VM backup are successfully backed up.

  • Partial Success: if at least one VM is successfully backed up, even if others fail.

  • Failed: if all VMs selected for the backup are not backed up successfully.