janhoedt
asked on
VMWare ESXi: backup of data on vm with raw mappings to usb disk attached to server?
Hi,
I have this HP NL 40-server. On it a vm (Windows 2012 R2) with 3 SATA disks in RAID.
Now I'd like to backup the data on this RAID-volume. Which is the most effective way to do this? There are 4 slots in the server, so I could add a 4th SATA disk to backup to but I'd prefer to extend my raid to it.
I have the option to add an usb controller to the vm. The idea is to attach an external usb drive to the hp nl40 and make backups to it.
Can that be done? If not, what would be a good alternative?
J.
I have this HP NL 40-server. On it a vm (Windows 2012 R2) with 3 SATA disks in RAID.
Now I'd like to backup the data on this RAID-volume. Which is the most effective way to do this? There are 4 slots in the server, so I could add a 4th SATA disk to backup to but I'd prefer to extend my raid to it.
I have the option to add an usb controller to the vm. The idea is to attach an external usb drive to the hp nl40 and make backups to it.
Can that be done? If not, what would be a good alternative?
J.
ASKER
Apparently it can be done:
http://technodrone.blogspot.com/2011/09/connecting-usb-device-to-esxi-50-vm.html
However, practically: can I use NTFS (would be most practical) and how can I optimize speed (will run backups at night of course).
http://technodrone.blogspot.com/2011/09/connecting-usb-device-to-esxi-50-vm.html
However, practically: can I use NTFS (would be most practical) and how can I optimize speed (will run backups at night of course).
ASKER
Clarification: I'm not looking for a way to backup the vm's, but the data on the raw mappings (raid on Windows vm).
The only way to backup the data on the RAW disks, is through Windows.
In this case I would run a Windows Backup to a Network device, much quicker than USB!
In this case I would run a Windows Backup to a Network device, much quicker than USB!
ASKER
Ok, thanks. I know. That was my goal indeed. Goal = have a backup on an external disk which I can plugin to a laptop/pc to recover data if needed.
My optons:
*backup via usb to external disk attached to physical server, you wouldn't advise to do that, right?
*add a 4th disk to my physical server, use raw mapping and backup to that => in this case I'm afraid I might messup the raw data when I plugin the disk into another server => don't prefer this option
*add a 4th disk to my physical server as datastore and add a vmdk which I attach to the backupserver => might have performance loss(?) but when I plugin the disk into another esxi, I can mount it and recover?
J.
My optons:
*backup via usb to external disk attached to physical server, you wouldn't advise to do that, right?
*add a 4th disk to my physical server, use raw mapping and backup to that => in this case I'm afraid I might messup the raw data when I plugin the disk into another server => don't prefer this option
*add a 4th disk to my physical server as datastore and add a vmdk which I attach to the backupserver => might have performance loss(?) but when I plugin the disk into another esxi, I can mount it and recover?
J.
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ASKER
When I remap this sata disk into another esxi, I can do this without loss, right?
ASKER
What backup solution (free) would you advise these days?
Standard Backup application, which backs-up at the block level is recommended.
e.g. Veeam Backup and Replication.
other's I'd recommend...
other Backup Products to consider also
AppAssure
http://www.appassure.com/ - Number 1 Backup and VMs and Cloud
Unitrends
http://www.unitrends.com/ - a good vRecovery Backup Appliance.
Symantec Backup Exec V-Ray Edition
http://www.symantec.com/backup-exec-vray-edition - Unmatched backup and recovery designed for virtual and physical environments
VM Explorer
http://www.trilead.com/ - Simply, cost effective and it works.
Acronis Backup & Recovery® 11 Virtual Edition
http://www.acronis.com/virtualization/ - simple but effective
StorageCraft ShadowProtect Server
http://www.storagecraft.com/ - amazing but can be expensive
NAKIVO Backup & Replication for VMware
http://www.nakivo.com/ - current testing proves very postiive
vBackup - in Beta
http://www.thinware.net/Products/vBackup/tabid/202/Default.aspx