Backup Server accessing VMFS LUNs on SAN

[VirtualTman]

I have a Windows Server 2008 machine that I have connected to our SAN. I want to be able to use ARCServe and the VMware VDDK client on this backup server to backup virtual machine images. So the backup server needs to see all the ESX LUNs.

The problem I have is that I cannot present the LUNs as read-only to this backup server and I don't want this Windows Server to access these LUNs, just be able see the VM's on them to back them up I guess.

Does anyone have any guidelines around Windows Backup Servers and proxies that need SAN connectivity but that they must not actually mount and access the LUNs presented to it? And anyone who has experience with ArcServe and VDDK client, are there any docs for setting this up?

I set 'automount disable' in diskpart on my backup server but after storage presentation, one of the ESX LUNs appeared in Disk Administrator and showed as 'Healthy' - so I immediately unpresented again as I am worried that Windows will try to signature the disks etc.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[idle-jam]

it's meant for that way, as long as the diskpart is setup properly there is nothing you need to worry, else you will just need to do network backup. have a look here: http://blog.vmpros.nl/2009/04/21/vmware-10-steps-to-install-vcb-v15/

[AndreTheGiant]

If you want to use SAN transport mode, this the the only way. The server backup must see the storage LUNs.

Andre

[VirtualTman]

Thanks. Does anybody have any documentation on VMware VDDK client used with ARCServe to backup VM images?

[DSTAVERT]

The VDDK is a developer kit but http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vddk/