Using VMware ESX in a Business Continuity Plan

[sbroskey]

I'm looking to setup a Business Continuity Plan using Vmware ESX. I would like to setup an offsite that will duplicate a couple key servers. Does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can do this with ESX? Is it as simple as pushing server snapshots to the offsite location? Any ideas...

Thanks

Scott

[lamw]

Take a look at VMware SRM: http://vmware.com/products/srm/

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

[Texiwill · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Welcome to the forums.

I'm looking to setup a Business Continuity Plan using Vmware ESX. I would like to setup an offsite that will duplicate a couple key servers. Does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can do this with ESX? Is it as simple as pushing server snapshots to the offsite location? Any ideas...

One thing to be aware of is that a snapshot in 'VMware' terms is not a full copy of the disk, It is a file containing block changes to the disk since the snapshot was created. Snapshots aid in making backups of running VMs but allowing the base disk to be copied while the data is written to the snapshot. Then you commit the snapshot.

So one way to do DR/BC is to have a good backup strategy using one of the backup/replication tools available.

THere is:

Veeam Backup w/Replication

Vizioncore vRanger for Backup and vReplicator for Replication

PhD esXpress for backup (use restores for replication)

There is also SRM if your SAN is supported, etc.

So there are many options the question is how 'real time' you need the data. You could also use SAN replication, Double Take, etc.

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009, DABCC Analyst
====
Now Available on Rough-Cuts: 'VMware vSphere(TM) and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment'
Also available 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise'
SearchVMware Pro|Blue Gears|Top Virtualization Security Links|Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast

[AndreTheGiant]

If you don't need "real time" sync, one simple and cheap solution is to use vcbmount to catch the VM and vcbrestore to put it to the recovery host (but you need a stage area), with some simple bash script you can do it directly from the recovery host.

Andrea

[sbroskey]

Ed,

We are currently looking to purchase VReplicator. Thanks for your input I appreciate it....

Scott