VCB and Veritas

[jaxislnad]

I have a Veritas 10 backup server. My understanding is that VCB can be added on to an existing backup application, its not its own application. What do I need to do to install it on my Veritas server? I am currently in a full trial of VC and Im trying to get this to work before I pay for it.

[jaxislnad]

I know how to install / configure it. This thread started with the concern that ESXi has no good backup / disaster recovery options in it. I would have to buy ESX and VC for 16,000 bucks, which is unreasonable in a smalller company, at least I think so.

[dconvery]

I believe ESXi costs the same as ESX. The free version does not allow you to use RCLI or VCB.

Here is the official comparison of products -> http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100654...

[madda]

Depending on what documentation you read VCB might or might not be able to backup using VCB.

http://searchvmware.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid179_gci1326038,00.html

The above says that ESXi foundation does include VCB, however I think that the document is getting confused with ESX Foundation as I have not heard of a purchasable version fo ESXi.

http://vmetc.com/2008/08/10/whats-the-difference-between-free-esxi-and-licensed-esxi/

This link above says that backup and recovery as there is no service console, there are some options for backing but doesn't mention VCB.

What we were doing here when we didn't have enough space on the proxy for VCB to work, we did a manual backup of the physical VM by switching off and coping the files off. Then every evening the normal server backup agent backs up the files. So in a DR situation you can use the backed up VM and restore the files from the daily backup into the VM

[jaxislnad]

ESXi is free, there is not cost and it has RCLI builtin. It does not support SSH or VCB.

[madda]

You can purchase ESXi (which is the same as ESX cost) and includes VCB and allows you to manage the ESXi server from a VC

[dconvery]

VCB IS included on foundation version, but VCB only backs up VMs, not the host. As for the RCLI in the free version, yes (technically) RCLI is in it. BUT.. from the KB I just posted "RCLI is limited to read-only access for the free version of VMware ESXi. To enable full functionality of RCLI on a VMware ESXi host, the host must be licensed with VI Foundation, VI Standard, or VI Enterprise."

If you are going to VMworld, check out my breakout session: BC2497 VMware Consolidated Backup - Report from the Trenches

Dave

[jaxislnad]

So the breakdown is this, I keep VM Server going and deal with the overhead, or make a very large investment into ESX.

[madda]

How do you backup the VMs on VMware Server though?

[dconvery]

Don't forget that part of that "overhead" is lack of centralized management, which is coming with VMware Server 2.0. You cannot load a server with lots of RAM because you are limited to what the host OS can "see". Also, security is a concern. If you are planning with staying with the free stuff, I would recommend using a secure build of Linux and running it from there. You can use more RAM on it and scurity is a little better. BUT, if you are not familiar with Linux, then you should stick with Windows and just make sure it is VERY secure.

If you want to use the free version of ESXi, you could just create a doc and follow it for post installation configuration steps. It takes ten minutes to configure. You should have build docs as part of your DR kit anyway.

[jaxislnad]

I use Veritas for a weekly full plus 6 incrementals, then once a week, I have a script that shutsdown the server, defrags, wipes, and shrinks the VM's backups up to a usb drive for offsite, then starts them backup.

[madda]

I am not sure of the scripting support from within ESXi, but this could be an avenue to investigate