System and techniques for performing selective snapshot and backup copy operations for individual virtual machines in a shared storage. The system can include a hypervisor configured to create and operate a plurality of virtual machines. The system can also include one or more shared physical computer storage devices communicatively coupled to the hypervisor to store the plurality of virtual machines. A plurality of storage volumes can be provided in the one or more shared physical computer storage devices, each storage volume uniquely corresponding to one of the virtual machines. The system can also include a virtual server agent configured to issue a command to the hypervisor to perform a snapshot or backup copy operation for a selected one of the plurality of virtual machines without performing the operation for any other unselected virtual machine in the one or more shared physical computer storage devices.