Backup and restore option for virtual envronment

[Skumar704]

Hi,

We are running 2 ESXI host having 4 VM each.Running file server,database server etc.Data is  on shared storage HP EVA 6000.

We are looking for some backup and disaster reecovery solution.Not something creating a DR site.

Looking for expert opinion on this.

Regards,

Sushil

[iw123]

VMware data recovery might be worth a look - http://www.vmware.com/products/data-recovery/overview.html

[JimKnopf99]

Hi,

it depend´s on your vmware licensing. If you are able to use vmware data recovery it could be an option for you.

Otherwise veeam could be an solution.

http://www.veeam.com/vm-backup-recovery-replication-software.html?ad=menu

Frank

[Skumar704]

Thanks for your Response.

My overall 8 vm on two hosts are on shared SAN uses 2.5 TB of space.i.e RDM is also used for sql database.

I do not have much space left on my storage.

If i understnad correctly it will be .ovf appliance.

Few questions;

1. How much space it will take to backup the vm/s. 2.5TB.

2. Does this appliance will use the disk of shared storage?Can i think of other separate hardware or storage to run this .ovf?

3. Can it backup phycial server.I do not think so nor physical RDM.

4. What if shared storage fails?

5. How effective are symantec backup exec and Veeam solutions.

Regards,

Sushil

[JimKnopf99]

Hi,

1.

It depends on your Servers. VDR and VEEAM using Deduplication. But it also depends on how long you wan´t to keep your vm´s in backup.

2.

VDR could use shared storage like NFS,iSCSI, FC- or SMB Storage. The storage could rely on an other hardware server. As far as i know, vdr is a vmware appliance. So no hardware. VEEAM could be installed on a hardware server.

3.

VDR could not backup physical RDM. VEEAM should be the same (http://www.veeam.com/blog/rdms-explained-for-veeam-backup-replication.html)

4.

Do you mean the backup shared storage is damaged?

5.

I don´t knwo about symantec but heard a lot of good comments to VEEAM.

Frank

[Skumar704]

sThanks.

I have enterprise plus license of vmware.Do I need to buy the license for VDR?

In line to my previous points;

1. As I have a shared storage of 3.0TB.Out of that 2.5 TB is being utilised by the VM running on hosts and vmdk is mounted on shared storage (I am left with 500GB data on disk.Will it going to take this much backup space i.e 2.5 TB?So i will be running short of space.

I have another question,if how can I backup my esxi host? Is there any tool via which i can back it up or just by command line mentioned in the adminstator guide?

Regards,

Sushil

[JimKnopf99]

Hi,

if you have enterprise plus you do not need to buy the vdr license. It is included. Logon to vmware an download the ovf.

You will be running out of space in future. I am not sure if 500 GB is enough to backup all of your vm´s. It could be, but then you have no free space left for vm´s.

You could build a linux server with enough free space and mount that to your vdr. That is possible. We used that for backup.

You could backup your esxi host with the following command.

http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vcli/vcli41/doc/reference/vicfg-cfgbackup.html

But if you have the enterprise plus license i would recommend using host profiles.

Frank

[Gkeerthy]

For backup there are lot of things to consider, what will be your objective for RTO and RPO ?

the VDR is good for small environments, it has limitations.

Q. What are the maximum number of dedupe destinations and size of each destination?

A. Each VMware Data Recovery appliance can have no more than two dedupe destinations. It is recommended that each dedupe destination be no more than 1 TB in size when using virtual disks. When a destination disk is a CIFS share, it recommended that each dedupe destination be no more than 500 GB in size.

http://www.vmware.com/products/datacenter-virtualization/data-recovery/faq.html

If you want a good backup infrastructure, you need use software like symantec backup exec, veeam, etc, and if you want a LAN free backup solutions go for IBM TSM, EMC Avamar etc.

With veeam or symantec, then use an entry level netapp (it have block level deduplication, so consumes less space) NAS/ISCSI, with a dedicated pnics and Pswithces, it will be good and cost effective solution.

[Skumar704]

Hi,

I do not correctly underastand by dedupe destinations.

Does it means I can't backup more than 1TB of data?Also failed to understand limit in terms of virtual disk and cifs share.

Surely going through deduplication terminology but surly you will help quickly understnading this.

Regards,

Sushil