Backup problems with vCenter 5.1 and Backup Exec 2012
We have 3 vMWare 4.1 ESXi host machines, we installed a new 5.1 vCenter server over the weekend and attached those same 4.1 ESXi hosts to the new 5.1 server
All that went fine, however, when we went to backup the virtual machines we found that Backup Exec wouldn't see 'vmware' when connecting to the vCenter server.
Turns out BE doesn't currently support 5.1 We contacted Symantec and they said we're out of luck.
I can think of 2 decent options and I'd like your feedback.
1. The old 4.1 vCenter is still sitting here, I can just re-attach the hosts to it and be up and running with backups, I'd like to know if I can do this without downtime (We are running vSphere Standard with the 3 hosts in a cluster using shared storage) Another note, I upgraded vmTools on some of the guest VMs, will they have trouble being returned to a 4.1 vcenter (Not sure if tools depend on ESXi version or vCenter...)
2. Backup Exec sees my individual ESX hosts and I can back up (I ran a test on a low priority VM) Documentation says use vCenter, but would this work as a temporary work around?
Your thoughts please.
All that went fine, however, when we went to backup the virtual machines we found that Backup Exec wouldn't see 'vmware' when connecting to the vCenter server.
Turns out BE doesn't currently support 5.1 We contacted Symantec and they said we're out of luck.
I can think of 2 decent options and I'd like your feedback.
1. The old 4.1 vCenter is still sitting here, I can just re-attach the hosts to it and be up and running with backups, I'd like to know if I can do this without downtime (We are running vSphere Standard with the 3 hosts in a cluster using shared storage) Another note, I upgraded vmTools on some of the guest VMs, will they have trouble being returned to a 4.1 vcenter (Not sure if tools depend on ESXi version or vCenter...)
2. Backup Exec sees my individual ESX hosts and I can back up (I ran a test on a low priority VM) Documentation says use vCenter, but would this work as a temporary work around?
Your thoughts please.
ASKER
Thanks hanccocka,
Being a cluster, and concerned about failover, can you recommend the best method to actually break my cluster, and move my hosts to the old vCenter? I believe I have to be in maintenance mode, and for that I have to shutdown or migrate all my vms....
Being a cluster, and concerned about failover, can you recommend the best method to actually break my cluster, and move my hosts to the old vCenter? I believe I have to be in maintenance mode, and for that I have to shutdown or migrate all my vms....
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ASKER
Gotta love those easy ones right?
thanks for your kind comments, when you have used VMware products for as long as We have, all questions are easy!!!
have later version of vmware tools, no issues, just do not be tempted to upgrade virtual machine hardware, its not compatible!
2. yes, that will work, no issues.