Shutdown, copy, start vhdx

Question

I have read a dozen or so scripts to safely shutdown a vhdx, copy it to a local backup drive and restart the vhdx but none of them work, not one. Maybe my scenario is off but here is the foundation: host =MS server 2012 std 64bit, 2 x 128 ssd o/s, 2 x
1Tb data drives (one for backup), I have 2 vhdx's - 1=Active Directory running MS Server 2008 32bit and 2nd  running MS Server 2012 std 64bit for files and a sql express db (probably sql express 2008r2 or 2012). I need a powershell script (or any
other for that matter - have tried combination of ps1 & bat files) that will properly shut down the vhdx's (presently Drive H -Hyper-V), copy them to drive D -Backup and then restart the vhdx's. I would like this to run daily at a prescribed time
or realtime, do not want to merge files so differential out, need a notice or FILO to insure the backup does not utilize more space then what is available (delete previous version would be nice), and possibly send an email upon completion. Expected size of
AD = 60-80Gb, expected size of File/Db backup 400Gb. Size of hd = 1Tb for backup. Is there a way to do this or am I pipe dreaming and should I buy vhdx backup software / program and if so, any recomendations?

Answer 1

Brian, thanks for the response. Here is where I am currently at:
VMStartStop.ps1
# ---------- SCRIPT STARTS HERE--------------
$waitstart = 200
$waitshutdown = 120
if ($args[1] -match "0") {
$inputfile=get-content $args[0]
foreach ($guest in $inputfile) {
write-host "Starting $guest"
$vm = gwmi -namespace root\virtualization -query "select * from msvm_computersystem where elementname='$guest'"
 $result = $vm.requeststatechange(2)
if ($result.returnvalue -match "0") {
start-sleep -s $waitstart
write-host ""
write-host "$guest is started" -foregroundcolor green
write-host ""
else {
write-host ""
write-host "unable to start $guest" -foregroundcolor red
write-host ""
if ($args[1] -match "1") {
$inputfile=get-content $args[0]
foreach ($guest in $inputfile) {
write-host "shutting down $guest"
$vm = gwmi -namespace root\virtualization -query "select * from msvm_computersystem where elementname='$guest'"
 $vmname = $vm.name
$vmshut = gwmi -namespace root\virtualization -query "SELECT * FROM Msvm_ShutdownComponent WHERE SystemName='$vmname'"
 $result = $vmshut.InitiateShutdown("$true","no comment")
if ($result.returnvalue -match "0") {
start-sleep -s $waitshutdown
write-host ""
write-host "no error while shutting down $guest"
write-host "shutdown of $guest completed" -foregroundcolor green
write-host ""}
else {
write-host ""
write-host "unable to shutdown $guest" -foregroundcolor red
write-host ""
else {
write-host "USAGE: to shutdown VMs," -nonewline; write-host ".\managehyperV.ps1 c:\hosts.txt 1" -foregroundcolor yellow
 write-host "USAGE: to start VMs," -nonewline; write-host ".\managehyperV.ps1 c:\hosts.txt 0" -foregroundcolor yellow
# ---------- SCRIPT ENDS HERE--------------
hosts.txt
AD
OasysDB
(have also tried with AD.vhdx, OasysDB.vhdx)
BackupVHDX.bat
This is a simple cmd/batch file that calls Powershell with the VMStartStop.ps1 script file and passes the hosts.txt (list of virtual machines) and a single parameter that instructs the script to shutdown the virtual machine or start it up.
REM Hyper-V Virtual Machine Backup
REM Shutdown virtual machines
%SystemRoot%\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe c:\Powershell\VMStartStop.ps1 c:\Powershell\Hosts.txt 1
REM Copy virtual machines, /Y overwrites the file if it already exists
copy /Y "D:\Virtual Hard Disks\V1\Virtual AD.vhdx" "\\computername\k$\Virtual Servers\V1\Virtual AD.vhdx"
 copy /Y "D:\Virtual Hard Disks\V2\Virtual OasysDB.vhdx" "\\computername\k$\Virtual Servers\V2\Virtual OasysDB.vhdx"
REM Start Up virtual machines
%SystemRoot%\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe c:\Powershell\VMStartStop.ps1 c:\Powershell\Hosts.txt 0
REM Finished!
PowerShell set to: Unrestricted on CurrentUser & LocalMachine
when I run the bat file
in red: c:\Powershell\VMStartStop.ps1 : The Term 'c:\Powershell\VMStartStop.ps1' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program
At line:1 char:1
+ c:\Powershell\VMStartStop.ps1 c:\Powershell\Hosts.txt 1
     + CategoryInfo    :ObjectNotFound: <c:\Powershell\VMStartStop.ps1:String> [],
    CommandNotFoundException
     + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException
I am not a programmer and copied this from a blog, tried to massage it to fit without success. My host is MS Sver 2012std, my Virtuals are AD MS Svr 2008std 32bit, OasysDB MS Svr2012std 64 bit (for file and sql express). names in H:\Hyper-V\Virtual Hard
Disks /AD & OasysDB. I assumed they are .vhdx
I thought the script was / is to shut down the VM. Then copy the VM's over to a D:\ drive (backup)
Lets start here if you are willing as there are more details but one step at a time. If it is just issues with my code, and you are willing to troubleshoot, we can step into each issue / next issue as appears.
Thanks again in advance
Mrb53