What's a good backup strategy/solution with VMware involved?
Trying to get a backup solution in place for someone that has the following setup:
1. On Premise Dell server running VMware.
2. Single VM running Windows Server 2011 SBS Standard Edition
3. They are using Exchange, but not SQL Server or Sharepoint at this time (SQL is being used for the standard SBS things though like WSUS).
4. Have approx ten stations where we'd like to backup data files (not looking to do any type of full recovery here).
I haven't had to deal with VM's directly before and I'm not sure what a good backup strategy would be. Do I:
1. Backup at just the host OS level.
2. Backup at the host and guest OS levels.
3. Backup at the guest level only and re-install VM Ware on a new server should this one die
Stations I basically know how to deal with, which will be some type of file copy either via backup software or simple scripts onto the server, then backup from there. My main concern is the server itself.
I'm leaning towards #3, but I'm not sure if backup software is available to snapshot a volume, but also have the capability to reach into a VM and do a granular recovery of specific files or objects (such as a single mailbox). #2 seems like overkill.
So any thoughts or suggestions on strategy and backup software?
Jim.
1. On Premise Dell server running VMware.
2. Single VM running Windows Server 2011 SBS Standard Edition
3. They are using Exchange, but not SQL Server or Sharepoint at this time (SQL is being used for the standard SBS things though like WSUS).
4. Have approx ten stations where we'd like to backup data files (not looking to do any type of full recovery here).
I haven't had to deal with VM's directly before and I'm not sure what a good backup strategy would be. Do I:
1. Backup at just the host OS level.
2. Backup at the host and guest OS levels.
3. Backup at the guest level only and re-install VM Ware on a new server should this one die
Stations I basically know how to deal with, which will be some type of file copy either via backup software or simple scripts onto the server, then backup from there. My main concern is the server itself.
I'm leaning towards #3, but I'm not sure if backup software is available to snapshot a volume, but also have the capability to reach into a VM and do a granular recovery of specific files or objects (such as a single mailbox). #2 seems like overkill.
So any thoughts or suggestions on strategy and backup software?
Jim.
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<<Take advantage of using a VM aware backup technology, and backup to a NAS (network storage, no USB here please!). >>
Reason on the USB? One of the considerations is they want an off-site backup and of course their not going to walk out the door with a NAS under an arm. On-line backup is not an option BTW as they have a limited 1.5 mb/sec connection for the office and that's the best they can get. I haven't cleaned up all the junk lying around yet, but I'm thinking the 400-800GB range for a full backup of everything.
<<I would recommend Veeam Backup and Replication or a similar technology which uses Agentless technology from within the OS, which is old fashioned, slow and not VM efficient
>>
Still unclear as to the actual mechanics of the way I would want to backup; is this something that backs up at the host level and allows you to restore individual files in the guest OS? Their on a RAID at least, so an entire drive failure is really not a major concern and I'm not looking to simply do complete volume restores.
I've got calls in both to Symantec and Dell, but each have numerous products all of which sound basically the same. I've already been bitten once in the past getting backup software that I thought would do one thing and did something else entirely, so I want to be sure I understand exactly how it should function.
Jim.
Reason on the USB? One of the considerations is they want an off-site backup and of course their not going to walk out the door with a NAS under an arm. On-line backup is not an option BTW as they have a limited 1.5 mb/sec connection for the office and that's the best they can get. I haven't cleaned up all the junk lying around yet, but I'm thinking the 400-800GB range for a full backup of everything.
<<I would recommend Veeam Backup and Replication or a similar technology which uses Agentless technology from within the OS, which is old fashioned, slow and not VM efficient
>>
Still unclear as to the actual mechanics of the way I would want to backup; is this something that backs up at the host level and allows you to restore individual files in the guest OS? Their on a RAID at least, so an entire drive failure is really not a major concern and I'm not looking to simply do complete volume restores.
I've got calls in both to Symantec and Dell, but each have numerous products all of which sound basically the same. I've already been bitten once in the past getting backup software that I thought would do one thing and did something else entirely, so I want to be sure I understand exactly how it should function.
Jim.
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<<(you can get NAS/USB External hard disks in one box, see Western Digital World book, which are small and portable!)>>
I'm just living in the past<g>....I always think of NAS as something else, which is a fair sized enclosure with a CPU, memory, and some type of OS. I'm still not used to xTB drives in a book sized enclosure<g>
<<Ask away...>>
No need, that cleared things up nicely. Thanks.
Jim.
I'm just living in the past<g>....I always think of NAS as something else, which is a fair sized enclosure with a CPU, memory, and some type of OS. I'm still not used to xTB drives in a book sized enclosure<g>
<<Ask away...>>
No need, that cleared things up nicely. Thanks.
Jim.
Jim
No problems...
Always around somewhere, you'll have my email!
Andy
No problems...
Always around somewhere, you'll have my email!
Andy
I would recommend Veeam Backup and Replication or a similar technology which uses Agentless technology from within the OS, which is old fashioned, slow and not VM efficient
Veeam is the world leader in Virtual Backup solutions, but there are many which are now catching up.
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
Take advantage of using a VM aware backup technology, and backup to a NAS (network storage, no USB here please!).