Recommendations for backing up a virtual environment
Hello everybody
I'm evaluating Backup Exec 2012 as our new backup software and I wonder, what would be the best way to backup our virtual environment.
We have one vCenter Server and about 15 servers (all windows 2008 R2) which need to be backed up. As far as I understand Backup Exec there are two ways of backing them up, I wonder what the recommendations are.
One way is to do a backup of the virtual machine via vCenter Server, either with GRT enabled or disbaled, depending on the servers profile. The other was is to backup the vm via the agent, so it would look like a physical machine.
What exactly are the advantages or disadvantages of either way? What would be recommded for a virtual machine running Exchange 2010 or one running SQL Databases or one being a Fileserver?
I understand that this is also a question of licenses but since we are reconfiguring our whole backup situation, buying a few extra licenses should not be a big problem.
Thanks in advance and merry belated christmas!
nwickord
Hello nwickord,
yes. If you have 4 VMs running SQL then legally you should have 4 App/Database license keys for backing database.
The Agent for VMware is based on formula Number of license key equal to number of ESX host. So even if you are managing 5 ESX servers with 1 VC you would still require 5 Agent for VMware licenses.
I would not completely rely on the results of the tool. You can refer to the BE 2012 licensing guide.
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH178479 : How Agents and Options are Licensed in Symantec Backup Exec 2012 (Portfolio Licensing Guide)
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH178483 : Backup Exec 2012 Licensing - Getting Started
Regards,
-Sush...