VMware Backups

Jay · 5 May 2011 at 01:19

Hi Guys,

We have 3 Virtual VM's with 2TB drives each. (presented from the SAN) . They are setup as independent persistent so not subject to snapshots.

I back all the other VM Guest's up with Backup Exec 2010 R2 via the SAN (presenting all the LUNs to the backup server over the fabric - backup around 5,000Mb/sec)

However, obviously i cannot use this method to backup the 3x2TB independent/persistent drives because it cannot snapshot. Using the normal Backup Exec agent is too slow (maxes at ~400Mb/min)

What other options do I have?

As I see it, 1. use the de duplication function of backup exec 2010 R2 or 2. Install backup exec 2010 R2 on the 3 VM's and use the SSO option to share the physical tape library? 3. Increase the size of the LUNS to 4TB each so they can be snappable (waste of space!)

Seaniboy · 5 May 2011 at 21:42

Look at Veeam buddy, extremely powerful bit of software.

Skidilliplop · 6 May 2011 at 23:13

Does your SAN not support volume snapping of LUNs? Most do these days.

Backing up VMs from the inside out isn't the most elegant way to do it.

aspirin · 7 May 2011 at 10:00

I'm with Seaniboy. We use Veeam which comes in at about £450.00 per physical CPU.

m4cc45 · 7 May 2011 at 14:27

Also use Veeam. The compression is excellent as is the reliability. Speeds pretty good to especially after the first backup!

M.

Terrier_Jimlad · 8 May 2011 at 00:21

using vRanger to backup 121 VMs off of 9 ESX Hosts - works a treat

Zaf · 8 May 2011 at 02:06

If we make any changes to our VM's during the day (Before nightly backup runs BackupExec 2010) we use Visbu not sure how it will handle 2TB though

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/73147

Lanz · 11 May 2011 at 12:39

I have a question about backups.

We have an esxi 4.1 cluster, and we are using Commvault 9 to back up the VM's using a proxy, the agent uses VADP.

Problem is its very slow, looking at the nic on the proxy, the backups never go over about 1.5MB/s, a test restore went ok, as that restored at about 60MB/s.

Does a backup proxy have to be a decent spec? (multiple vCPUs etc?)

kippermitten · 12 May 2011 at 10:50

How about use the vDR appliance from vmware? Do you need to get these machines to tape or would just disk suffice? If the latter, vDR all the way, its free!

Skidilliplop · 16 May 2011 at 21:54

kippermitten said:
How about use the vDR appliance from vmware? Do you need to get these machines to tape or would just disk suffice? If the latter, vDR all the way, its free!

It's not free, it's included in your vSphere license for standard upwards.

So you already paid for it

you just didn't have any choice in the matter.