Backup using vim-cmd
To ensure that the configuration of the target ESXi host is synchronized with persistent storage, run the following command:
vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/sync_config
To back up ESXi configuration, run this command:
vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/backup_config
The command will produce a link for downloading the configBundle.tgz archive.
Note that you have to replace the asterisk in the provided link with your IP/FQDN. Alternatively, access the backup file in the /scratch/downloads directory, where it is stored as configBundle-HostFQDN.tgz.
Example output
~ # vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/backup_config Bundle can be downloaded at : http://*/downloads/52a0a904-27aa-02ad-a6d9-ad629a51b012/configBundle-ESX2.CORP.LOCAL.tgz
Restore using vim-cmd
Before taking the first step, ensure that the ESXi version, build number, and UUID of the target host match the version, build number, and UUID of the ESXi configuration that needs to be recovered.
Then, connect to the target ESXi host via SSH and put the host into maintenance mode:
esxcli system maintenanceMode set –enable yes
or
vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter
Use an SCP client to copy the archive with the ESXi configuration (configBundle-xxxx.tgz) to the target ESXi host directory.
Rename the configBundle-xxxx.tgz file to configBundle.tgz:
mv /tmp/configBundle-ESX2.CORP.LOCAL.tgz /tmp/configBundle.tgz
Recover the ESXi configuration:
vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/restore_config /tmp/configBundle.tgz
The ESXi host will restart automatically.
Exit the maintenance mode:
esxcli system maintenanceMode set –enable no
or
vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit