A VM Consistent Backup captures all the virtual machine disks simultaneously and backs up the data to storage targets to create a transactional-consistent backup. This option for can be used for Windows and Linux virtual machines, and for guest operating systems that have applications other than the SQL Server.
Application-aware full backup is an extension of VM full backup. For virtual machines with a SQL application installed, select this type to quiesce the application to perform the SQL database and transaction log backup. When this type is selected, Windows account credentials need to be provided for the virtual machine.
Credentials can be provided at the policy level and at the virtual machine asset level. When the credentials are provided at both the policy level and the virtual machine asset level, the virtual machine asset credentials override the policy credentials for that virtual machine. These credentials are required because Data Manager interacts with the guest virtual machines to install the Microsoft application agent and quiesce the application for performing application-consistent backups.
The agent also enables the application administrator to perform self-service restores by using the native Microsoft SQL Studio Management interface.
Exclusion
Select this type if there are virtual machine assets within the protection policy that needs to be excluded from data protection operations.
