Software for Backing up vSphere 6 Fault Tolerant Machines

This is not a specific issue with VMware vSphere 6.0, VMware FT virtual machines have always had this issue, because you CANNOT VMware Snapshot a virtual machine, and because many of the backup products use this function, they cannot be used. (It's been since VMware vSphere 4.x). It is one of the caveats to be aware of when using VMware FT.

We use two techniques:-

1. SAN Snapshots, where the VMs on a SAN are SAN Snapshotted, where the backups are crash consistent.

2. Install and Agent in the VM, and backup like the old fashioned method, like a physical machine with an Agent in the OS.

This is what the VMware Knowledge base states:-

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1016619

@Andrew

That's not what I've read, vSphere 6 does allow for  snapshot on FT machines.  I think the vendors need to catch up with VAAI

http://www.vmwarearena.com/2015/02/vsphere-6-0-whats-new-in-vmware-fault-tolerance-ft.html

http://vinfrastructure.it/2015/02/vmware-vsphere-6-the-new-ft-feature/

My understanding is that VADP will do FT backups only if triggered by VADP.  Taking individual snapshots is still not supported. Haven't tested yet.

That's what we read as well, but still not working for us, hence why use other techniques!

Any difference between standard or advanced version?  Perhaps standard VDP doesn't support it

We are using Advanced.

I would say that using agent based backup is the best bet then.  Either that or image based backups if SAN snapshots not available.

@Paul

In fact VDP, is now longer Standard or Advanced in vSphere 6.0, it's just VDP!

Advanced features are now in the "standard product".

Sweet, about to deploy entire datacenter on Veeam

Hi guys, a new patch for Veeam has this supported! Thanks for all your answers :)

Thanks Andrew much appreciated!

Just make sure you test and test again, before production.