VDR vs 3rd party product that uses Storage API

[taguila]

My goal is to back up the vmdk files. I understand this can be done with VDR and also with my Symantec Backup Exec 2010 R2. Apparently BU Exec uses the API to access and backup the vmdk files. I have an Advanced vSphere license and VDR is included. I have to purchase an add-on for BU Exec. Cost factors aside, which is the best solution for backing up the vmdk files? I plan to use an available 1.6 TB RAID as the storage location for the vmdk's, but I may also want to backup to tape as well periodically. Environment: Small, 5 VMs, 2 hosts, running FT

[AndreTheGiant]

Welcome to the community.

VDR could be enough for VM backup in small environment.

I suggest to use "small" destination (between 500-1000GB).

Andre

[vmroyale]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

Also consider the operational complexity of having two backup solutions.  When possible, I personally prefer to have a single application and/or process to deal with.

Good Luck!

[taguila]

Thanks. I appreciate the input.

[ldelloca]

Hi,

if you do not have specific needs for database backup or similar (for which you need specific BE agents) I will use VDR or similar (Veeam comes to my mind, but you need to uy it while VDR is included in your license) for all backup procedures, and than use BackupExec only for the Disk-To-Tape operations. In this way you will need only the basic license of BackupExec.

Regards,

Luca.

--

Luca Dell'Oca

http://www.vuemuer.it

[cre8]

Hello Everyone,

I really happy to have such community of high level specialists. I am new person in here and I would like to say big hello .

I have the same question as topic creator.

I have a ENT+ licence that allows me to use VDR and I would like to use it for vmdk backups. I have a IBM TSM tape backup so I'd like to store vmdk backup on a proxy and next to a tape.

Q

1. Is it good enough solution for 200+ VMs env.? It shoud be because its from VMware

2. How to get the best performance during taking a copy of VMs? I think a direct attached disk is better than network share, but how to connect TSM directly to it and grab the backups on a tapes.

Best regards,

cre8

[AndreTheGiant]

1. The number of VM is bigger than the limit of one VDR appliance. You need at least two, but IMHO it's not the best solution in your case (VDR could be good for small/med environment).

2. You can install the agenti in the VDR appliance and backup in this way.

Other people seems that use this method and you can find other posts in the community.

Andre

[cre8]

Andre,

I know about limit 100VMs per VDR I've read documentation for VDR but if it isn't good solution for such enviroment what do you suggest than?

I've tried to avoid to install IBM TSM agents on ESXs. I'm not a backup operator but my work mate who is told me that TSM doesn't have such thing like for example Backup Exec, central console where you can see done and error backups and other messages, you have to check every server TSM Client logs to see errors. So thats why I'd like prefer something more centralized like VDR.

Install agent on VDR should't be a problem, it's a CentOS. This solution sounds quite resonable.

I will do in this way.

VMs >----- inside one chassis ------> VDR (couple SCSI disks ~1TB) >------ through FC network-------> IBM TSM through agent on VDR.

That solution should have the best performance.

What do you think about that?

[AndreTheGiant]

If you need to use TSM, then VDR may be the only solution (another could be VCB, but will be removed in next version).

Just use enough appliance, and destinations (IMHO) smaller that 1 TB.

Andre

[ldelloca]

In this disk-to-disk-to-tape solution, another possibility could be to use TSM only for the disk-to-tap part, and use a third party software for the disk-to-disk part, something better than VDR (can I say Veeam here?). The good about VDR is that is included in the vmware licenses, but its limits are hard sometimes. If you have a 200 VMs environment, in my opinion is a good idea to put some money in a good disk backup.

regards,

Luca.

--

Luca Dell'Oca

http://www.vuemuer.it

[Assign points to a useful answer is a way to say thanks]

[cre8]

Thank you guys for your responses. I stay with vDR for now with two or three instances of VA. I'll install TSM agent on vDR for archiving purpose. maybe once a week I gonna get a full copy of my vDRs and things gonna be cool