VMware HCX Manager: How to Backup a Step-by-Step Guide

In Private, hybrid and multi-cloud environments, VMware HCX plays a critical role in enabling seamless workload mobility. Whether you're running migrations to VCF, VMC on AWS or AVS, backing up your HCX Manager is essential to protect configurations, certificates, and inventory data.

This blog post walks through the backup process for HCX Manager, with best practices for scheduling and SFTP integration.

What Does the HCX Backup Include?

When you generate a backup from the HCX Manager UI, it captures:

• Inventory data

• Configuration files

• Certificates

• System UUID

The backup is packaged as a .tar.gz file, suitable for restoration in case of failure or re-deployment.

Step-by-Step: Backing Up HCX Manager

1. Access the HCX Manager Appliance

• Login to HCX Manager Management Interface, using admin credential:

  https://hcx-manager:9443

• Navigate to Backup Setting

  Administration > Troubleshooting > Backup & Restore

• Configure SFTP Server

  SFTP server setting > Add (Enter your SFTP server details (hostname, port, username, password) > Save

• Set Up Backup Scheduling (Optional but Recommended)

  • Go to the Scheduling tab

  • Click Add

  • Choose Backup Frequency (Daily is recommended)

  • Set the hour and minute for the backup

  • Click Save

    Important: Restoring from backups older than 2 days is not supported due to potential inventory drift.

• Generate Backup Manually (If Needed)

  • Go to the Backup and Restore tab

  • Click Generate

  • Choose:

  • Upload to server (to push to SFTP)

  • Download (to save locally)

  If scheduling is configured, backups will be auto-generated and uploaded at the defined time.

Best Practices

• Daily backups ensure minimal drift and faster recovery.

• Always verify SFTP connectivity before scheduling.

• Store backups in a secure, versioned location with retention policies.

• Document your backup schedule and test restoration periodically.

Why This Matters

Whether you're managing HCX for migrations, DR readiness, or multi-cloud mobility, a reliable backup strategy ensures:

• Faster recovery from appliance failures

• Preservation of critical configurations

• Reduced downtime during re-deployments or upgrades

Final Tip: It’s a small step that can save hours during critical recovery scenarios.