esxRanger is a product from VizionCore that allows you to create backups of a virtual machine's vmdk file while it is running. You run the product from a Windows machine which makes it very easy. Check some of the screenshots below:
The product can be used entirely from the GUI or command line.
We did some tests with the product and it works as advertised. We only had one issue: the rights to the restored vmx file were not properly set. The root user did not have execute rights on the file, which prevented us from opening a remote console.
There are built-in scripts and other free scripts on the net that can do the same thing but using those requires a bit more knowledge. The advantage of VizionCore (over free tools from the net) is of course that there is a support structure behind it which makes it more suitable for enterprise use.
