new to vimalin

[gmartine]

I am new to vimalin. I just tried to launch a backup for a W11 PRO VM and I am getting snapshot failed.  Any ideas?

[wila]

Hello,

Welcome.
Sadly the issue with a Windows 11 virtual machine is still as discussed in this thread: Experimental vTPM feature and Vimalin for Windows.

In recap, Windows 11 requires you to use a vTPM and encrypt the VM.
The problem is that VMware never exposed a way to handle this programmatically.
In other words they do not provide automation for basic functionality such as making and removing snapshots when a VM is encrypted and running.

You can still make backups of a Windows 11 VM using Vimalin, but only when it is not running.

Sorry that I don't have a better answer at the moment.
--
Wil

[gmartine]

See attachment

[wila]

See attachment

The VM was running when you tried making this backup?
--
Wil

[gmartine]

See attachment

The VM was running when you tried making this backup?
--
Wil

Yes. The VM was running. My other two VMs (Debian) were running as well and didn't have a problem.

[wila]

Yes. The VM was running. My other two VMs (Debian) were running as well and didn't have a problem.

Then I'm afraid it is as in my initial reply. Windows 11 requires VMware to encrypt the VM because it normally needs a vTPM.
When Vimalin asks VMware Fusion to make a snapshot it fails silently because of the encryption. Without the snapshot Vimalin can't copy the disk files in a reliable way, so Vimalin stops with making the backup as an unreliable backup is not acceptable.

This is a problem that I reported years ago to VMware and as far as I know nothing ever came out of that.
The only workaround for now is to shut the VM down -or suspend the VM- before making a backup.
I am fully aware that this is a big issue, but I haven't found a solution for it so far.
--
Wil

[gmartine]

Yes. The VM was running. My other two VMs (Debian) were running as well and didn't have a problem.

Then I'm afraid it is as in my initial reply. Windows 11 requires VMware to encrypt the VM because it normally needs a vTPM.
When Vimalin asks VMware Fusion to make a snapshot it fails silently because of the encryption. Without the snapshot Vimalin can't copy the disk files in a reliable way, so Vimalin stops with making the backup as an unreliable backup is not acceptable.

This is a problem that I reported years ago to VMware and as far as I know nothing ever came out of that.
The only workaround for now is to shut the VM down -or suspend the VM- before making a backup.
I am fully aware that this is a big issue, but I haven't found a solution for it so far.
--
Wil

It is possible not to encrypt the VM?  This will really kill my automation

[wila]

It is possible not to encrypt the VM?  This will really kill my automation

That used to be possible, but you would probably have to do a fresh install of your Windows 11 VM.
It's been a while since I've last done that and things might (well... almost certainly) have changed since then.
If doing a fresh install of your Windows 11 VM is OK with you then, tomorrow I can try to see what the steps are nowadays.

--
Wil

[gmartine]

It is possible not to encrypt the VM?  This will really kill my automation

That used to be possible, but you would probably have to do a fresh install of your Windows 11 VM.
It's been a while since I've last done that and things might (well... almost certainly) have changed since then.
If doing a fresh install of your Windows 11 VM is OK with you then, tomorrow I can try to see what the steps are nowadays.

--
Wil

Yes. Fresh install is an option as i have only one application running. I am doing a proof of concept and then if this works I will be able to fully automate this part of the workflow.  I just tried suspending the W11 PRO VM and it seems it is going to take about 38 minutes.

---

I found this article

https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/...-on-v.html

[kfpr67]

Hi,

Most certainly do NOT use the autoAddVTPM feature.
It's experimental and I do hope that VMware removed it.. plenty of people lost their data because of that feature.

[gmartine]

It is possible not to encrypt the VM?  This will really kill my automation

That used to be possible, but you would probably have to do a fresh install of your Windows 11 VM.
It's been a while since I've last done that and things might (well... almost certainly) have changed since then.
If doing a fresh install of your Windows 11 VM is OK with you then, tomorrow I can try to see what the steps are nowadays.

--
Wil

Let me know your findings. I really appreciate all your support

[wila]

Hi,

OK.. seems the workaround still works.

So what I did is the following.. first I downloaded the latest ISO disk image for Windows 11 from Microsoft.

The Windows 11 iso is available from here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software.../windows11

and the arm version specifically is here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software...ows11arm64

Then use that to create a new virtual machine from an ISO file.
Just keep the defaults, including the encryption stuff (remember the password, use something easy)

Before starting the VM, click on customize the VM configuration.

Delete the TPM

Change the encryption default and remove it after providing the password.

Now you can start the VM, continue until you are at the screen where you can choose between the various Windows 11 version (Home/Pro)

   

- Select Shift + F10 on the keyboard

- In the presented command prompt window, enter the following:

reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassTPMCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 00000001
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassSecureBootCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 00000001

(Note: type with care, unfortunately you can't copy and paste)
I had problems here inserting a backslash character (\).. and I got around it by holding the "Alt" key and typing 92 on the numeric keypad. This worked for me as I have an external (windows) keyboard attached. Let me know if you also bump into thi and are not able to workaround then I will try on my mac keyboard.
   

- Close the command prompt window

- Select the Win 11 type you wish to install . . . and continue as per normal

This then allowed me to install Windows 11 without encryption and without a (virtual) TPM.

Hope this helps,
--
Wil

[wila]

One more thing..
As this is a very manual way to install things.. I also bumped into the "no driver for the network" issue.
This is easily resolved..

Click on "Install VMware Tools" from the menu. This does not start the install, but it does connect the virtual CD.

Next press SHift+F10 again to get into the command prompt and then go to drive D: followed by running setup.

Like so:
   

Click Next next next Finish in the VMware Tools installer.
When it asks to restart -- choose Yes, just let it restart.

The installer will just go back to the first screen where you can select your country etc.. but now it has a network connection.
--
Wil

[gmartine]

Hi,

OK.. seems the workaround still works.

So what I did is the following.. first I downloaded the latest ISO disk image for Windows 11 from Microsoft.

The Windows 11 iso is available from here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software.../windows11

and the arm version specifically is here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software...ows11arm64

Then use that to create a new virtual machine from an ISO file.
Just keep the defaults, including the encryption stuff (remember the password, use something easy)

Before starting the VM, click on customize the VM configuration.

Delete the TPM

Change the encryption default and remove it after providing the password.

Now you can start the VM, continue until you are at the screen where you can choose between the various Windows 11 version (Home/Pro)



- Select Shift + F10 on the keyboard

- In the presented command prompt window, enter the following:

reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassTPMCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 00000001
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassSecureBootCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 00000001

(Note: type with care, unfortunately you can't copy and paste)
I had problems here inserting a backslash character (\).. and I got around it by holding the "Alt" key and typing 92 on the numeric keypad. This worked for me as I have an external (windows) keyboard attached. Let me know if you also bump into thi and are not able to workaround then I will try on my mac keyboard.


- Close the command prompt window

- Select the Win 11 type you wish to install . . . and continue as per normal

This then allowed me to install Windows 11 without encryption and without a (virtual) TPM.

Hope this helps,
--
Wil

Thanks! Where is this setting exactly?  Delete the TPM

[wila]

From the Virtual Machine menu, choose settings.

The TPM can be deleted if you first select it, it is the "Trusted Platform Module".
See screenshot:
   

PS: I forgot to mention in the first post that I could not download the iso via Safari on macOS, Microsoft validated the download and did not consider me eligible (with some bogus reason).
Eventually I downloaded it via Firefox from a Windows VM. Well.. I got the download link via windows and downloaded it via macOS Safari -the one that was not eligible- anyways.
--
Wil

[gmartine]

From the Virtual Machine menu, choose settings.

The TPM can be deleted if you first select it, it is the "Trusted Platform Module".
See screenshot:


PS: I forgot to mention in the first post that I could not download the iso via Safari on macOS, Microsoft validated the download and did not consider me eligible (with some bogus reason).
Eventually I downloaded it via Firefox from a Windows VM. Well.. I got the download link via windows and downloaded it via macOS Safari -the one that was not eligible- anyways.
--
Wil

The tutorial works perfect. You should make this a sticky in your forums. This fully automate a workflow for W11 machines.  I am now able to backup my VM

[wila]

Hi gmartine,

Glad to hear it worked.

You are correct, this should be made into a proper tutorial, it certainly is good to have some easy step by step guide.
I've made a note to rewrite it as a blog post.

--
Wil

[gmartine]

Hi gmartine,

Glad to hear it worked.

You are correct, this should be made into a proper tutorial, it certainly is good to have some easy step by step guide.
I've made a note to rewrite it as a blog post.

--
Wil

Awesome Will. I really appreciate that.