Forum Discussion

Inti's avatar
Inti
Level 4
10 years ago

GRT-Enabled Backups on GPT-Partitioned VMware-VMDKs

Hi,

 

I just run into the Issue, that GRT-Enabled Backups via AVVI on GPT-Partitioned VMDKs in VMware fail with an exception and are not supported as stated in the SCL.

Does anyone know the technical background of this limitation and if there might be a chance to get this feature later on with another ServicePack ?

I wonder because it seems to be possible with Micsoroft Hyper-V based VMs (according to the SCL: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH217478&key=15047&basecat=COMPATIBILITY_LIST&actp=LIST ).

The problem is, that 2TB+ Volumes are getting more common even for smaller customers and doing agent level backups in VMs prevent me from doing SAN-based backups, which are way faster especially with FC. Switching off GRT is also not an option as this is one of the most basic backup features and about 75% of my restore jobs are single-file or directory based restores on file servers.

Source: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH69498&actp=search&viewlocale=en_US&searchid=1415000582760

 

Regards,

 

inti

2014
Agent for VMware Virtual Infrastructure
Agents
Backing Up
Backup and Recovery
Backup Exec
Features
Virtualization
Windows Server (2003-2008)
  • Colin_Weaver's avatar
    Colin_Weaver
    10 years ago

    If you check the BE 15 readme document http://www.symantec.com/docs/DOC8201

    You will find that in the section called "What's new in Backup Exec 15 agents and options" we clearly state that we now support "File/folder-level GRT and application-level GRT backups and restores of virtual machines that have GPT partitioned disks"

    As such GPT should allow GRT capability for both applications and file systems.

    Any customers having issues with GPT disks during VMware backups needs to log a support case, and if for some reason they are advised of lack of support quote the readme provided above.

20 Replies

Sort By
  • xadox's avatar
    xadox
    Level 5
    10 years ago

    My damn support case is open since 27.04.2015. Still waiting for some kind of feedback!
    Heavy bad support!

  • VJware's avatar
    VJware
    Level 6
    10 years ago

    A function named vixMntapi (which is part of the VDDK) is used by BE and afaik it's a limitation of this function when it comes to GPT dynamic disks as it doesn't support them. Apart from disabling GRT, the other option is to run a remote agent based backup of the VM instead (i.e back it up as a physical machine rather than a virtual one)

  • Inti's avatar
    Inti
    Level 4
    10 years ago

    Very interesting hint !

    It seems like there is a bugfix for this issue in VDDK  5.5.1: https://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vddk/vddk-551-releasenotes.html .

    Although it just mentiones Windows 2012 VMs and the customer uses Windows 2008 R2 on the fileserver there seems to be hope.

    Having a look at the Install-Directories of Backup Exec 2014 SP1, the VDDK is to be found in the ..\VMware\VixDiskLib Subfolder and currently build 1422937 is used, which is VDDK 5.1.2 (https://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vddk/vddk-512-releasenotes.html).

    I do not like the option to backup the VM like a physical machine as I can't do SAN-based backups this way (as I mentioned before).

    I think I'll go with MBR for the time beeing as the server is not yet in production and migrate later on to a separate GPT Volume once it becomes necessairy.
     

    Regards,

    inti

     

  • Colin_Weaver's avatar
    Colin_Weaver
    Moderator
    10 years ago

    Unconfirmed / Subject to change etc: GRT of GPT disks in  a VMware VM should be in the next full version of Backup Exec to be released

  • Colin_Weaver's avatar
    Colin_Weaver
    Moderator
    10 years ago

    You will probably have to post this question in the NetBackup forum.

     

    I did have a quick chat with a NetBackup colleague and he thinks they use a different mount mechanism to get at data inside the vmdk, however the GPT limitation remains documented on page 210 of

    http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=doc6478

    Unfortunately the contact I used was unaware of this limitation and hence could not confirm any future plans with regards to NBU and GPT support

  • Inti's avatar
    Inti
    Level 4
    10 years ago

    Has someone tried to manually update the VDDK on the BackupExec Server ?

  • Ben_L_'s avatar
    Ben_L_
    Level 6
    10 years ago

    Yes and it doesn't work. :)

    The VDDK is built into the program, not installed separately. Trying to update it manually just breaks things.

  • xadox's avatar
    xadox
    Level 5
    10 years ago

    Is this now possible with Backup Exec 2015?

    Edit:
    Since SCL it should be working. I hope it does not requere vSphere 6.0.