Backups for Hyper-V run according to the schedule in the backup plan that is associated with the Hypervisors, VM groups, or VMs. You can also run backup operations on-demand. You can configure a Hyper-V hypervisor to perform IntelliSnap backups. From the snap copy, you can restore full VMs and restore guest files and folders.
Backup Operations
You can perform backups automatically based on the configuration for a hypervisor or VM group, or manually for a VM group or a specific VM.
The first backup of a VM is always a full backup. By default, all subsequent backups are incremental, capturing any changes to VM data since the last backup.
You can recover virtual machine data, even when the most recent backup was incremental.
Backups run based on the following options:
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Initial full backup: When you use Guided setup to set up the Virtualization solution, use the Back up now option to perform a backup for the default VM group.
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Scheduled incremental backups: The backup plan that is assigned to a VM group includes a schedule for ongoing incremental backups. Those backups are performed automatically based on the schedule, without requiring any user action.
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Manual backups: You can perform on-demand backups for a VM group or for a specific VM.
If backups cannot start immediately, the backup jobs are queued.
Note
Starting with Commvault Platform Release 2025E (SP40), Hyper-V and Azure Local environments now provide an enhanced, attachment-free backup option for VHDX disks—eliminating the need to attach disks to the local host. This method can also serve as a reliable alternative if the Hyper-V host becomes inconsistent during VM backup operations. For more information see, Enable Direct VHDX Backups for Hyper-V and Azure Local Without Disk Attachment (KB article).