Best backup method

[RVickers]

What is the best backup method for backing up vm's?

Currently using vcbMounter, but it evidently will not overwrite itself, so I cant use it to do scheduled backups. is there a good way to get a scheduled backup to run?

[cheeko · Accepted solution]

Personally i prefer esXpress cause of stability and speed.

Some people use esxRanger or free scripts (vmbk.pl or VISBU -> http://www.wmware.com/community/message.jspa?messageID=659924).

[RParker]

oh yeah baby! I second that!

esXpress is really good software. I hate doing backups, but esXpress makes it so easy...

And with the \[xNOW] tagging, users can do their own backups... it's sweet!

[WilliamH]

Another thumbs up for esXpress.

I like its speed and compression options.

[RParker]

As cheeko said, your best solution is esXpress.

Backup Ranger Pro is the more popular, but Vizion Core software is flaky. they have good design, but their software crashes and it's rather large.

I tried several backups, and we even have netbackup, and with VCB, that was ok, but esXpress makes backups a snap.

For one thing their software is cheaper than the rest, they only charge per server, not per CPU, you could easily spend $2,000 on Ranger Pro on a Quad / Dual Core. vs $700.00 for esXpress, but the price isn't important when you consider the investment.

esXpress installs in.. oh, 10 seconds. No, that isn't joke. It requires 2 RPM's, both can be installed very quickly, and then you run a quick command line to start the daemon.

The backup software actually runs FROM a VM (which to me was the selling point). You can manage it much easier, and all the configuration is in the VM. You don't need to run the command line anymore, once the daemon is running (but you can if you want).

It is very fast, and the fastest of ALL ESX Backup solutions I tried (and I tried 6). Backup Ranger was fast, but since it's dependent on network traffic, this could alter your backup window.

esXpress is on the ESX server, and it does backup via Fibre (or FTP), or both (at the same time).

I highly recommend it.

[mbanusife]

Has anyone done successful restores?

What about restores of VMs that have vmdks in different LUNs?

Also, how well does esXpress deal with Vmware snapshots??

[conradsia]

Yes, Yes, and Xpress won't backup a vm with a snapshot.

[RVickers]

Thanks for the responses everyone, I'll give esXpress a shot.

[RParker]

Well that is fixed in the next release. . . . .

[RParker]

esXpress can restore to the original location, or an alternate location.

This is painless.

Snapshot are not supported. . . . yet. The next release will support snapshots.

They also have a centralized version that you can manage the entire ESX cluster, just like VI does, so you manage the backups across the ESX, from one place, which is nice.

[mbanusife]

Thanks for the speedy responses!!!

[Bastien_P]

Would have to give a good word for Esxranger.

EsXpress pretty good also .. so if your happy with your try and everything works fine.. stick with it.

But ranger is pretty good. Simple and clean interface, no client on the ESX server and a integration with VCB and a good compression of the vmdk. You just have to install it on a windows machine .

Tested restore with it, no problem at all.

Nway let's only say that its certainly another good option.

[kix1979]

As cheeko said, your best solution is esXpress.

Backup Ranger Pro is the more popular, but Vizion

Core software is flaky. they have good design, but

their software crashes and it's rather large.

Interesting opinion, but I don't think it crashes that much considering there are so many people using int.

esXpress is on the ESX server, and it does backup via

Fibre (or FTP), or both (at the same time).

esXpress can backup over the SAN infrastructure to another LUN that is not zoned or formatted for an ESX host?

[WilliamH]

>esXpress can backup over the SAN infrastructure to another LUN that is not zoned or formatted for an ESX host?

VMFS only if memory serves me correctly

[kix1979]

I agree with you. I just don't like misleading posts about fibre-channel, which is why the VCB framework is around.

[WilliamH]

Ahh...Silly me. I wasn't reading between the lines.

[petedr]

Correct about vmfs. Currently esxpress can back up to vmfs and network targets ( ftp or ssh ). It can send backups to vmfs and to a network target at the same time or just individually to either. It also support rollover network targets. For example if ftp target 1 fails it can rollover to ftp target 2 and so on.

[CDRippe]

You know what they say about opinions

C. D. Rippe

[kix1979]

I thought that was assuming?

[petedr]

the esxpress new 3.1 Beta now does handle backing up VMs with snapshots.