Forum Discussion

BackupExecAdmin's avatar
BackupExecAdmin
Level 3
2 months ago

Nutanix backup with NBU

Hi All,

 

First time performing an integration of a Nutanix cluster to NBU and was wondering how does it work ? In other backup vendors, you have to install a VM inside the cluster to work as a proxy, which then mounts the VM Disks to be backed up and sends the backup data to MediaServer equivalent.

 

In NBU documentation, I see that you need a "Backup Host" but it is not specified if it has to be implemented inside the cluster. If not, how the backup process works ? How VMs disks are mounted ? An overall architecture on how it works would be nice.

Also, what has to be configured in the Netbackup Web UI ? Other vendors tend to use PRISM Central, while in NBU doc I see that you have to connect to the Nutanix Cluster (No mention of PRISM).

Thanks in advance for any guidance provided.

  • tcsimerson's avatar
    tcsimerson
    2 months ago

    NetBackup doesn't require the use of an extra, proxy VM in the cluster (why add more load on the cluster?).  We use the AHV APIs to process backups through the already existing control VM that runs on each node in the cluster.

    The backup host can be any system that has NetBackup installed in it and you are correct the media server can be a backup host.  This is the host that will communicate with the AHV cluster and Prism Central (which you will want to configure in NBU).

    Finally, the preferred transport method is to use iSCSI (which you will need to enable on the backup host).  If iSCSI is not configured, NBU will default to NFS.

  • tcsimerson's avatar
    tcsimerson
    Level 3
    2 months ago

    NetBackup doesn't require the use of an extra, proxy VM in the cluster (why add more load on the cluster?).  We use the AHV APIs to process backups through the already existing control VM that runs on each node in the cluster.

    The backup host can be any system that has NetBackup installed in it and you are correct the media server can be a backup host.  This is the host that will communicate with the AHV cluster and Prism Central (which you will want to configure in NBU).

    Finally, the preferred transport method is to use iSCSI (which you will need to enable on the backup host).  If iSCSI is not configured, NBU will default to NFS.

  • kiyan's avatar
    kiyan
    Level 6
    2 months ago

    hi, 

    I suggest you post only in one location, to eliminate duplicate posts.
    what is the hypervisor (AHV, vmware, hyper-v) you have on top of Nutanix.
    Backup host will usually be your Netbackup media server.but again it could be also your master server, or you can install the media server on top of a VM and keep that VM as backup host (VMware, hot-add).

     

    • BackupExecAdmin's avatar
      BackupExecAdmin
      Level 3
      2 months ago

      Hi Kiyan,

       

      Actually it is all AHV based cluster, with Netbackup Flex Appliance.

       

      In this case, the "Backup Host" could be the MediaServer, right ? If that is the case, how the backup process is working ? I've come across iSCSI and NFS protocols in the documentation. What are those used for ?

      As with other backup providers, you need to install proxy VMs inside the Nutanix cluster to be able to perform the backup, while the proxy will have the Nutanix Plug-In installed to perform the agentless backup. It seems that NBU has a completely different approach to Nutanix backup. As compared to others, you do not need to install anything inside the Nutanix environment.

       

      Kind regards.