Trying to install Symantec NetBackup Linux client on ESX server

[cmarkus]

I want to use NBU to take image level backups of my virtuals off an ESX host, but when I try to install the linux client, I'm getting an out of disk space error. The root file system has 63MB free on the ESX server, so I guess the linux client is needing more than that. I don't recall limiting the root volume when building the ESX server, so I'm confused how this can be a supported option to get backups, but there not be enough disk space to install the client. Here is a df off the ESX server:

~ # df

Filesystem 1k-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on

unknown 188332 124464 63868 66% /

unknown 137363456 129307648 8055808 94% /vmfs/volumes/499abf44-e92ec301-9bfe-001ec9b4439d

unknown 10223616 7959552 2264064 78% /vmfs/volumes/49ad041d-3d8415c8-bb4c-001ec9b4439d

unknown 552784 179200 373584 32% /vmfs/volumes/3abb47ef-875ea67c-c948-7bf6ff8d3c38

unknown 48927 1 48926 0% /vmfs/volumes/2e82fc78-22bd7bd6-f09e-9ccc773158c0

unknown 48927 37484 11443 77% /vmfs/volumes/f0227571-d97bc146-4b6a-3f75eda7c544

unknown 4192960 0 4192960 0% /vmfs/volumes/499abf3e-97772688-a4c5-001ec9b4439d

unknown 314572800 243572540 71000260 77% /vmfs/volumes/5b81c97c-c2eccb68

If I try to install to a different file system, it is lacking libraries. Anybody know how to get this done?

thanks,

chris

[dconvery]

You have a much bigger problem than not getting an NBU client installed.... 63MB free sapce is SERIOUSLY low. Check your log files under /var/log also check /var/log/core to see if you have any core dumps. Do you have unneeded programs running on the console? that will cause issues as well.

Once you have fixed your space issues, you may want to take a look at VCB instead of and NBU agent inside of ESX -> http://viops.vmware.com/home/docs/DOC-1392

Dave Convery

VMware vExpert 2009

http://www.dailyhypervisor.com

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

Bill Watterson, "Calvin and Hobbes"

[cmarkus]

Thank you for your response.

I have looked through the logs and see no core dumps (/var/log/core

directory doesn't even exist), and /var/log contains 8 messages.* files

that are reasonably sized ~50mb each.

I'm a bit confused here though. I am using ESX3i, the free version of

ESX, and when I did the install from cd to the host, I do not remember

at any point being able to customize the file system being laid down.

Am I missing something here?

[dconvery]

OOOHHHH!!!!!

ESX and ESXi are VERY different.... You cannot install clients or any software on ESXi. It is not supported.

Dave Convery

VMware vExpert 2009

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

Bill Watterson, "Calvin and Hobbes"

[cmarkus]

I was afraid of that.

Can you make any suggestions for backup solutions for virtuals living on

an ESXi host? I know I can run client, file level backups from the

virtuals themselves, but I was hoping to get image level backups of the

*.vmdk files.

[dconvery]

There are plenty of options: esXpress, Vizioncore vRanger, Veeam Backup. VCB is not part of the license for ESXi free version.

Dave Convery

VMware vExpert 2009

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

Bill Watterson, "Calvin and Hobbes"

[Gostev]

Just wanted to note that Veeam Backup supports ESXi with and without VCB.

[petedr]

Dave thanks for mentioning esXpress although current we do not support 3i. It is our roadmap for support later this year.

Pete@esXpress

www.phdvirtual.com, makers of esXpress

[dconvery]

DOH!!!!!

Thanks Pete.

Dave Convery

VMware vExpert 2009

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

Bill Watterson, "Calvin and Hobbes"

[mtbrookes]

You might consider NetBackup Enterprise Client, which will provide you with the image level backup you require, with no need to install anything on the ESX console, or in the ESX clients, and with no scripting.

As well as image (VMDK) level recovery, you have the option of having the content of the VMDK catlogued in NetBackup, with the ability to do granular restore of individual files, from that same single VMDK backup, and without having to kludge 3rd party tools into your NetBackup / VMWare environment.

This approach does requre VCB, but that's well proven at this stage.