Backup Solutions on Exchange + Sharepoint on VmWare ESXi 6.5
We are planning to deploy our new DC on Vmware ESXi 6.5 environment, but still not clear of backup solutions for Exchange 2016 and Sharepoint 2016 servers. Basically, our diagram includes 1 DC 2012R2 + 1 MX 2016 + 1 Sharepoint 2016 in a host.
After some research, our plans are:
1. Backup PST file: using Exchange Management shell + CMD + powershell + Task Scheduler, bulk export users' mailboxes once a day into PST files, so we can import those files into Outlook when needed.
2. Backup Exchange server: backup .vmdk and configurations file into NAS device, In case of disaster, we will build a host again, copy back those files into it, then power on the Exchange vm server.
3. Backup Sharepoint: using Imperius (Free) to backup shared files into NAS. Use same procedures as EX server to backup vm server. But not sure how to backup the sites contents?
Wizards, could you please review and advise? I heard about snapshot in vmware but it also recommended that snapshot should not be used for backup purpose? I'm really pleased for any idea or suggestion. Many thanks for your times.
After some research, our plans are:
1. Backup PST file: using Exchange Management shell + CMD + powershell + Task Scheduler, bulk export users' mailboxes once a day into PST files, so we can import those files into Outlook when needed.
2. Backup Exchange server: backup .vmdk and configurations file into NAS device, In case of disaster, we will build a host again, copy back those files into it, then power on the Exchange vm server.
3. Backup Sharepoint: using Imperius (Free) to backup shared files into NAS. Use same procedures as EX server to backup vm server. But not sure how to backup the sites contents?
Wizards, could you please review and advise? I heard about snapshot in vmware but it also recommended that snapshot should not be used for backup purpose? I'm really pleased for any idea or suggestion. Many thanks for your times.
First thing, first.
Never, but never use snapshots as a Backup solution. Snapshots are just a state in time and should be deleted in maximum 48h.
Using snapshots in Exchange Server, or even shared point, really bad idea.
Regarding Backup solutions.
Most of the Virtual Backup solutions these days have some add-ons for Exchange and even Sharepoint. Where you can backup/restore entire VM, just a virtual disk (vmdk), Exchange files or even objects "(like AD account, email accounts etc.).
What is the best solution? It depends on your budget.
Best tool in the market and with more experience and know-how:
Veeam - The only problem is that they are not cheap. But if you have the budget, they I would choose Veeam as my first option.
https://www.veeam.com/vm-advanced-replication.html
https://www.veeam.com/wp-getting-best-availability-microsoft-exchange-veeam.html
Other options:
NAkivo - is also a good tool and they are improving very much, particularly with the last version v7.
https://www.nakivo.com/vmware-backup.html
https://www.nakivo.com/features/instant-object-recovery-for-microsoft-exchange.html
Altaro - Also a good tool and not expensive
http://www.altaro.com/vm-backup/features.php
Vembu - Is not very well know, but for the small/medium environment it works very well and the cheapest of them. Also, they had some improvements in the last version v3.7
So these my proposals for you. There is, of course, more tools in the market, like Unitrends, HPE, but for all I tested and known, those I propose are the ones I prefer quality vs price.
Hope this could help
Jail
Never, but never use snapshots as a Backup solution. Snapshots are just a state in time and should be deleted in maximum 48h.
Using snapshots in Exchange Server, or even shared point, really bad idea.
Regarding Backup solutions.
Most of the Virtual Backup solutions these days have some add-ons for Exchange and even Sharepoint. Where you can backup/restore entire VM, just a virtual disk (vmdk), Exchange files or even objects "(like AD account, email accounts etc.).
What is the best solution? It depends on your budget.
Best tool in the market and with more experience and know-how:
Veeam - The only problem is that they are not cheap. But if you have the budget, they I would choose Veeam as my first option.
https://www.veeam.com/vm-advanced-replication.html
https://www.veeam.com/wp-getting-best-availability-microsoft-exchange-veeam.html
Other options:
NAkivo - is also a good tool and they are improving very much, particularly with the last version v7.
https://www.nakivo.com/vmware-backup.html
https://www.nakivo.com/features/instant-object-recovery-for-microsoft-exchange.html
Altaro - Also a good tool and not expensive
http://www.altaro.com/vm-backup/features.php
Vembu - Is not very well know, but for the small/medium environment it works very well and the cheapest of them. Also, they had some improvements in the last version v3.7
So these my proposals for you. There is, of course, more tools in the market, like Unitrends, HPE, but for all I tested and known, those I propose are the ones I prefer quality vs price.
Hope this could help
Jail
Backup PSTs! - what you in the dark ages....
Have a read of my EE Article of the solutions available.
12 commercial software backup products for VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) you should be evaluating today
If you want a FREE Backup Solution, which does what it says on the tin, then use Unitrends Appliance completely free up to 1TB of storage space!
It's brilliant! There is no reason to purchase anything less, if you backup is less than 1TB!
But all are available for evaluation for 30-60 days, so take your pick...
Do you have a licensed version of ESXi ? this makes a big difference...as you will see if you read my EE Article!
Have a read of my EE Article of the solutions available.
12 commercial software backup products for VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) you should be evaluating today
If you want a FREE Backup Solution, which does what it says on the tin, then use Unitrends Appliance completely free up to 1TB of storage space!
It's brilliant! There is no reason to purchase anything less, if you backup is less than 1TB!
But all are available for evaluation for 30-60 days, so take your pick...
Do you have a licensed version of ESXi ? this makes a big difference...as you will see if you read my EE Article!
Lot of things change since you wrote that Andrew, even the way backups deal with the data, particularly to backup AD objects or Exchange Server.
Even some of those tools are not in the market anymore (or irrelevant), or have been bought by other companies and now are completely different products. Also VDP is out of life by VMware.
If a customer wants Backup Exchange full VM and/or objects professionally, free edition is not the right choice.
Even some of those tools are not in the market anymore (or irrelevant), or have been bought by other companies and now are completely different products. Also VDP is out of life by VMware.
If a customer wants Backup Exchange full VM and/or objects professionally, free edition is not the right choice.
ASKER
Hi, Thank you Luciano and Andrew for your replies. We do not have much budget, I am afraid and the backup data is more than 1 TB. But what are the problems with my proposal? Imperius for Data + Export .PST files for Exchange PST files? Can you please clarify some pros and cons?
Hi,
But do you have Veeam already? Or have a free edition?
First cons I see is that you trying to backup Virtual Machines like we use to backup Physical Servers. That is old procedures, with virtualization we need to adapt to virtual environments, backups included.
How many users/accounts are we talking about regarding Exchange and SharePoint?
But do you have Veeam already? Or have a free edition?
First cons I see is that you trying to backup Virtual Machines like we use to backup Physical Servers. That is old procedures, with virtualization we need to adapt to virtual environments, backups included.
How many users/accounts are we talking about regarding Exchange and SharePoint?
ASKER
Currently we are in testing phase, so no any Backup solution at the moment. Imperius + Backup PST is just an idea. We have about 1000 users in this case. Regarding VMware ESXi, is this similar like VMware workstation? where I always copy VMs folder from a machine to another?
If you have 1000 users you really should have a proper design in place to restore the complete exchange Server and Sharepoint Servers and SQL databases.
If your server gets compromised with Ransomeware which is currently raging through 94 countries as I type and encrypting files
Are you seriously going to restore 1000 PST files as part of your Disaster Recovery ?
Do you have a license for your ESXi Server?
You cannot just copy files off the server well you could but you would need to turn off the servers first
If this Is suitable for your organisation which has no money and 1000 users then turn off all the servers and then you can back them up as per my EE Article
[url="https://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/VMWare/A_12373.html"]Part 10: HOW TO: Backup (Export) and Restore (Import) virtual machines to VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 for FREE[/url]
(this works with all ESXi versions). and will give you a backup.
If your server gets compromised with Ransomeware which is currently raging through 94 countries as I type and encrypting files
Are you seriously going to restore 1000 PST files as part of your Disaster Recovery ?
Do you have a license for your ESXi Server?
You cannot just copy files off the server well you could but you would need to turn off the servers first
If this Is suitable for your organisation which has no money and 1000 users then turn off all the servers and then you can back them up as per my EE Article
[url="https://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/VMWare/A_12373.html"]Part 10: HOW TO: Backup (Export) and Restore (Import) virtual machines to VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 for FREE[/url]
(this works with all ESXi versions). and will give you a backup.
ASKER
Yes, I think we will purchase the license, which package should we purchase?
Do you have a current license for your ESXi server, e.g. have you paid VMware for a license ?
ASKER
Not yet, we are in testing and evaluation phase, so have not paid anything
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ASKER
Many thanks for your times and suggestions.
FYI you can do almost all these using Veeam.
1. Backup PST file: using Exchange Management shell + CMD + powershell + Task Scheduler, bulk export users' mailboxes once a day into PST files, so we can import those files into Outlook when needed.
-->You can recover granular restore using Veeam to restore single email.
2. Backup Exchange server: backup .vmdk and configurations file into NAS device, In case of disaster, we will build a host again, copy back those files into it, then power on the Exchange vm server.
-->You can have a replica of all VMs in a remote host using Veeam.
3. Backup Sharepoint: using Imperius (Free) to backup shared files into NAS. Use same procedures as EX server to backup vm server. But not sure how to backup the sites contents?
-->You have have file level recovery and database level recovery using Veeam