Backing up over FC SAN vs IP (BackupExec w/ VMware agent)

[jmmorrell]

Data layout:

2 x 800GB LUN FC zoned to 3 ESX hosts for VM datastore

1 x 2TB LUN FC zoned to Backup Exec server for Backup-to-Disk target

VCenter is using local storage and IP connectivity to communicate w/ ESX cluster

Currently we are backing up via ethernet/IP. I want to backup over my FC SAN.

According to Symantec I need to zone the 2 x 800GB to the backup exec server. Once I zone those 800GB luns that is a VMFS datastore, if windows takes control (eg: disk management > initialize) I will lose all my VM data. Is there a way to securly zone the VM datastore w/o risking dataloss.

My concern is if someone goes into disk management NOT KNOWING and gets automatically prompted "do you want to initialize the new disks".

Has anyone run into a situation like this?

NOTE: The VCenter has no FC connectivity

[vmmeup · Accepted solution]

You should not present your VMFS luns to a windows machines without having VCB installed. VCB acts like a proxy and prevents the windows server from potentially destroying your data.

Sid Smith-----

VCP, VTSP, CCNA, CCA(Xen Server), MCTS Hyper-V & SCVMM08

• Don't forget to award points for correct and helpful answers.

[AntonVZhbankov]

Someone not knowing should not have administrator rights on this server.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[sbeaver]

If you are using just Windows Server then you need to use diskpart to make sure that automount is disabled BEFORE you present the LUNS. I think you should look at VMware VCB to do what you are looking for.

Steve Beaver

VMware Communities User Moderator

VMware vExpert 2009

====

Co-Author of "VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center"

(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach

Come check out my blog: www.theVirtualBlackHole.com

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*Virtualization is a journey, not a project.*

[jmmorrell]

VCB is installed on the Backup Exec server. Once re-zoning the LUNs do I need to do anything to prevent any data loss (settings on VCB, etc.) or is the protection automatically enabled?

[sbeaver]

Before installing VCB and connecting the proxy host to the SAN you should disable automount via diskpart(cmd, diskpart, automount disable, automount scrub).

[jmmorrell]

does disabling automount affect anything else w/ disk management?

[sbeaver]

The only thing it effects is automount. If you add any drives to the server you will have to mount and configure yourself. FYI this is the default setting of Windows Advanced Server or Windows Enterprise Server

[jmmorrell]

Does it matter that the VCB/Backup Exec server are using Multipathing?

[dconvery]

If you are using an active/passive array, you really need multipathing so the array doesn't complain. Check out my VCB guide on VI:OPS -> http://viops.vmware.com/home/docs/DOC-1392

While you are there, check the Availability section, there are a couple of guides for BE and VCB.

Dave Convery

VMware vExpert 2009

http://www.dailyhypervisor.com

Careful. We don't want to learn from this.

Bill Watterson, "Calvin and Hobbes"

[jmmorrell]

does it matter that VCB was installed prior to disabling automount?

do i need to reinstall VCB?

[dconvery]

Not really. It DOES matter if you attach LUNs with VMs or RDMs before disabling it. You can accidentally re-initialize a disk.

Dave Convery

VMware vExpert 2009

Careful. We don't want to learn from this.

Bill Watterson, "Calvin and Hobbes"

[sbeaver]

does it matter that VCB was installed prior to disabling automount? No it does not

do I need to reinstall VCB? No not necessary