Backup VMFS LUN to tape,

[big_vern]

Hi,

We have 9 ESX 3.5 Servers, an HP EVA 8000 SAN and a windows 2003 VCB backup proxy server using arcserve

Is it possible to backup an entire VMFS LUN to tape, we can back up individual using vcb and this works ok but we need to to be able to a backup entire VMFS LUNS to tape?

Is this possible and if so how? I feel sure I'm missing something obvious?

[AndreTheGiant]

Is not possibile backup che entire VMFS, exect at block level if you have SAN snapshot.

In any case is not usefull, becuase the file in VMFS are locked and in use, so you backup is not consistency.

Andrea

[Texiwill]

Hello,

It is much easier to do VCB based backups of your VMs and their related files than to do a block level backup of a VMFS. The later is possible but not recommended while VMs are running as you will basically have a crash consistent backup. Nor could you really restore it very well.... VMware has implemented snapshots to allow backups of VMs while they are running.

That is the approach I would take. If you have OTHER files on the VMFS, then backup the individual files.

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009, DABCC Analyst
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[mike_laspina]

Hi,

While it is possible to backup a vmfs volume from a back end SAN and at the ESX host level it is not a secure way of protecting the VM's without additional steps. You must flush the active disk writes out to the SAN disk using a point in time method before backing up the vmfs volume. Snapshots make it possible but it must be a coordinated function between the VMs and your backup solution. If this is not performed you will most likely see data integrity failures within the backup set.

Regards,

Mike

vExpert 2009

[dconvery · Accepted solution]

You MIGHT be able to get Replication Solutions Manager to script the VM Snapshots before a SAN snapshot. Or you could use a Mirror Clone and back it up that way. But the issue will be reading the VMFS. You could add a "helper" ESX server, but I don't think there is Arcserve software that could be installed in the COS.

The big thing is why do you wantto do this? Is there an issue with VCB? Maybe you could add another VCB proxy if your backup times are suffering. If you go down the path of SAN based backups, make sure you can recover. most likeley, the backup state will only be crash consistent.

Dave Convery

VMware vExpert 2009

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

Bill Watterson, "Calvin and Hobbes"

[big_vern]

Thanks for the replies, Dave was right in that we were running out of a backup window , so we thought of doing a mirror clone but were struggling with how we would get this off onto tape. I think we will go down the route of adding a second VCB proxy server and tape drives.

[dconvery]

WOW!!!! I think I'm getting ESP or something! Either that or I have been doing this BCDR stuff for too long. Maybe nine years is enough? Can I retire and start cutting keys at Home Depot yet? NOPE! Still gotta put two kids through college and one is only in sixth grade....

Dave Convery

VMware vExpert 2009

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

Bill Watterson, "Calvin and Hobbes"

Message was edited by: dconvery: BTW Vern - that was only a guess!