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How to Configure a Volume for VM Exports#

The VergeOS NAS supports a volume type specifically for exporting selected virtual machines (VMs). The VM Export volume provides a controlled way to export selected VMs to a NAS volume that can then be synchronized to a remote storage system (e.g. existing NAS appliance) or shared via CIFS or NFS for access by external backup tools or other applications.

This export mechanism can be useful for customers who want to synchronize VergeOS VM snapshots to storage hardware they already own, rather than deploying an additional VergeOS system for backup purposes. While VergeOS recommends using its native replication features for the most efficient and fully integrated protection workflow, the VM Export Volume offers flexibility for environments that need to meet compliance requirements or maintain external portability of their VM data.

The following steps describe how to configure and use a NAS-hosted VM export volume.

Preparing the VMs for Export#

  1. Edit each VM you want to export:
    • Navigate to the VM settings and enable the option for Allow Export.

Setting Up the NAS Service#

To host the VM export volume, you will need a NAS service. Use an existing NAS service or create a new service using the following instructions:

  1. Navigate to NAS > List.

A listing of current NAS services is displayed. You can select an existing service or continue the following instructions to create a new service.

  1. Click New.
  2. Provide Name, Hostname, TimeZone, and Networking for the NAS service.
  3. Click Submit to initialize the NAS service.

Starting the NAS Service#

  1. Select the NAS service from the list.
  2. Click Power On to bring the NAS online and prepare it to host the export volume.

Creating a NAS User#

You’ll need to create a user to access the NAS:

  1. Navigate to NAS > List > double-click the NAS Service to be used.
  2. Click NAS Users > New.
  3. Provide a username and password.
  4. Click Submit to save the new NAS user.

Creating a New Volume for VM Export#

  1. Select NAS > + New Volume from the top menu.
  2. Configure the volume:
    • NAS Service: select the NAS service from above
    • Name: provide a name for the volume, e.g. "VM-export"
    • Filesystem Type: Verge.io VM Export
    • Quiesced: Typically should be selected to provide application-consistent VM snapshots.

Guest Agent must be installed and registered to provide a quiesced VM snapshot.

  • Max exports to store: default=3; determines the maximum number of export instances that will be stored at a time
  • Enable current folder: default=enabled. Exports are contained in folders named according to date/time of the export. With this option enabled, an additional folder named "current" is created to continually contain a branch of the most recent export. This is often helpful to provide an absolute path to retrieve the latest VM snapshots.
  1. Click Submit.

After you click Submit, the export volume’s dashboard opens where you can run operations on it. To access this dashboard later, navigate to NAS > Volumes in the top menu, then double-click the volume in the list.

Running the VM Export (manual start)#

  1. Under Export VMs (mid-page), click the Start button to initiate the VM export process.
  2. Confirm by clicking Yes at the prompt.

Accessing the Exported Data#

You can quickly view the contents of the export volume using the Browse option on the left menu.

To access the exported VM snapshots, set up a CIFS or NFS share for the NAS volume:

Setting up a CIFS Share for the Exported Data#

  1. Create a CIFS Share:

    • Navigate to NAS > CIFS Shares > New.
    • Select the export volume as the target volume.
    • Provide a Share Name and assign the NAS user you created in step 4 to access the share.

  2. Access the Share:

    • Browse to \\IPorDNSnameoftheNAS\CIFSShareYouCreated.
    • Use the NAS user credentials when prompted.

For Windows Users

You may need to edit the Group Policy (GPO) or modify the Windows Registry to connect using the Guest account if Guest mode is enabled.

Setting up an NFS Share for the Exported Data#

Instructions for creating an NFS share can be found here.

Synchronizing Exported Data to an External System#

Exported VM data can be pushed to an external system using a NAS volume sync.

  1. Create a Remote Volume to mount the external volume to the VergeOS NAS (requires standard NFS or CIFS access)
  2. Create a Volume Sync to synchronize data to the Remote Volume. Volume syncs can be started on-demand manually and can also be scheduled using the Start Profile setting.

Automating the VM Export#

You can schedule regular exports by configuring a task and a schedule trigger.

Available Schedules

VergeOS includes multiple pre-installed schedules (e.g., "Daily at midnight"). Refer to the Schedules Guide for instructions on creating custom schedules.

Creating a Scheduled Export Task#

  1. Navigate to the VM Export Volume: NAS > Volumes > double-click the export volume.
  2. Scroll down to the Export VMs section and click the Tasks button.
  3. Click New on the left menu to create a new export task.
  4. Configure the new task fields:
    • Name: provide a descriptive name, e.g. start-vm-export
    • Object Type: VM Export (pre-selected when accessed from the volume)
    • Object: select the export volume (pre-selected when accessed from the volume)
    • Action: Start Export
  5. Click Submit to save the new task.

Assigning a Schedule to the Task#

  1. After submitting, the task detail page opens. Click Schedule Triggers in the left menu.
  2. Click New on the left menu.
  3. Select the desired Schedule from the dropdown list (e.g., "Daily at midnight").
  4. Click Submit to activate the scheduled export.

Configuring Export Settings

Use the Settings button in the Export VMs section to modify export options such as the quiesce setting and maximum exports to store.

By completing these steps, you will have a VM export volume configured to generate exportable snapshots of selected VMs and make them available to third‑party backup solutions or external storage systems.

For most environments, VergeOS’s built‑in snapshot and replication features remain the most efficient and integrated method for protecting and synchronizing VM data between VergeOS systems. The VM Export volume workflow is intended for scenarios where compliance policies, existing storage investments, or portability requirements call for VM data to be maintained outside the primary VergeOS infrastructure. This provides organizations with flexibility and assurance that their VM data can be integrated into broader backup strategies or external storage ecosystems when needed.

Document Information

  • Last Updated: 2026-01-23
  • vergeOS Version: 26.0.2.2