Pass through SCSI tape drive from host to Virtual Machine with backup software installed in guest

[a2alpha]

Can I attach an external SCSI tape drive to one of my hosts and then add it as a device on a virtual machine.

I want to use backup exec on a virtual machine rather than having to have a separate physical server to attach the tape drive. I realise that I wouln't be able to vmotion the guest but as its only going to be a backup machine I'm happy with that.

Thanks in advance,

[AndreTheGiant · Accepted solution]

Yes is possible.

I have a Dell TL2000 with a dedicated SAS card and it works (not faster as in a real environment, but works).

You add the SCSI ID of the tape (and the library, if present) to the VM.

Or, if your hardware can support it, use VMDirectPath and give the entire card to the VM.

Andre

[rolohm]

Haven't done this myself but it appears to br very doable. See :

Halfway down the page there's an explanation how to connect it to the VM.

/R

[bulletprooffool]

Hi,

this is do'able, though if I were you I would consider getting a proper backup mechanism in place, the attaching the SCSI drive to this, for backing up images etc (by proper I mean VCB / Veeam etc)

[TimPhillips]

Or you can use VTL decision in VM, and than transfer data from it directly to tape. Try to search it in Google