tape management and operation

[raven70]

Hello

I found an article about VSphere that explain how to manage tape with command line in order to save and restore files directly on tape, but it mention this commands

mt to manage the tape rewind, erase etc..etc...for example mt /dev/nst0 rewind

and the tar command to write and read file for example tar -czf /dev/nst0 /directory

I tryed it on my ESXi 5 essential but the command mt is not present, there is some other command to use or what I reported above is not possible ?

Thanks

Raven

[aravinds3107]

Are you looking to configure tape device/library to one of your VM's which is running on ESX/ESXi host?

If yes look at this KB

[raven70]

No I'm trying to manage the tape directly with the ESXi command line, like other linux distribution. But I start to think that is not possible......

[nayan007]

Hi,

The article provided is very useful and helpful for me too. It is really good article anf mentoned clearly with steps.

One Platform for All OS 

[VTsukanov · Accepted solution]

Unfortunately, after ESX/ESXi 4.x VMware does not provide support for backup tape drives .

Take a look at vmware kb Configuring vendor-supported tape drives and media changers on ESX/ESXi 4.x and later

In my opinion, the preferred method is to : Select backup solutions which will be able to backup VMware VMs, create VM for this solutions, connect by VMDirect Path your tape device to VM.

[aravinds3107]

It is not possible on ESX/ESXi, Only Option is to configure the device to the VM

[raven70]

Ok thanks.

But in my site I have only one server with an HDD of about 1TB , I made a small partition with ESXi operating system and left the remaing disk space as storage for VMs. On this machine there is attached an IBM LTO2 tape. If I connect the tape to one VM I need another storage ( like a FreeNAS or other network storage ) to park VM files becuse VM can not access to the ESXi disk directly, is that correct ?

Raven

[aravinds3107]

VM's can access the same datastore as your other VM's

You need additional SCSI/PCI card to be configured on the VM to attach the tape device

[raven70]

Ehmmmmmmmmmm just a moment !! :smileyconfused:

I added the tape to the VM without problem.....but now if I launch a restore of a VM files this files will be restored on the VM harddisk. Now how can I get throught these files to the ESXi host ? I need a common storage like a NAS ..... or the VM can access the ESXi file system ???? I think that it can' t do that.....

[aravinds3107]

What do you mean by VM can access the ESXi file system?

Your backup VM will be located on the datastore as other VM's?

Are you trying to a full VM restore or a file level restore?

[raven70]

Oooops sorry I backup on tape the vmdk files not the file inside the virtual disk, so I need to put this files on the ESXi host. If I remember correctly under /vmfs/volumes/datastore... 

[aravinds3107]

What is the backup software product are you using?

Yes VM folder will be located under /vmfs/volumes/datastore

[raven70]

Bacula on a Centos 6 server