Offhost backup from an Eqallogic array, ESXi 4.1

[Geokes]

Hi,

I'm trying to find some documentation on how to create application consistent backups (VSS) of SQL/exchange virtual machines.

Running vSphere 4.1 and ESXi 4.1 on all hosts.

My media server will be connected to the iSCSI network and the Eqallogic HIT (host integration toolkit) will be installed on it.

What exact configuration do I need on the VMs hosting Exchange/SQL/NTFS?

Do I need the Eqallogic ASM/ME or ASM/VE installed in the VM or on the ESXi host?

Since ASM/ME requires  the the in VM Microsoft iSCSI initiator I have to know if its required for backups or not. If not, I can just use the iSCSI software adapter on the ESXi host level.

Any specific links or advice would be appreciated. 

[SaurabhK]

Hello!

The above is possible. All you need to do is, Install the Backup Exec AVVI (Agent for VmWare Virtual Infrastructure) on the media server and use the BE VSS Provider from the Remote Agents on the Virtual Machines.

So, since these are windows 2003 or above machines, they shall have a microsoft VSS provider, also if you have VM WARE tools installed, you will have a VM WARE VSS provider on these guests. When you install the Backup Exec Remote Agent for Windows (which is required for application GRT) it wil install a Backup Exec VSS Provider.

When you run a backup (Regular or Offhost) the BE VSS provider on the guest shall be called for the snapshot operation by default. (It is recommended to not have the VMWARE provider installed)

I also noticed that this is an ESXI, so you will need a V-Storage API license from VMWARE to backup these hosts.

As far as the ISCSI initiator is concerned, please look up the Hardware Compatibilty List for a list of supported devices, I believe that Equallogic is, but would recommend you double check that. Also if it is, all we need is Direct-Access to the device, should appear as a local volume....

Also upgrade to BE 2010 R2 with all patches and upgrade the RAWS on all guests.

Refer to:

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO21769

http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH129645

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO12235

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO23517

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO24116   

Let me know if this helps/answers your query or if you need anything else..

[Geokes]

thanks, I'll go over those links.

The Eqallogic is on the HCL. What is confusing to me is this:

How does the Symantec VSS provider handle vendor specific (Eqallogic in this case) hardware? It has a built in "driver" or the vendor's own provider gets installed in some shape or form?

[teiva-boy]

You will not be using the EQL snaps for vmware backups.  Offhost backup through BE is only supported for Exch/SQL/ and file based backups.

The AVVI option is using vStorage to do vmware (software) based snapshots.

Typically you would use Dell's ASM installed on the machine and use it's VSS tools to command the EQL to take a snap, so that it could be backed up over the SAN.  In the case of a virtual guest, that is not possible unless doing RDM's, and really treating the guest as a physical machine. (Not to mention you need to purchase the ADBO option for BE)

So in your particular config, I would recommend using the AVVI option for all physical vsphere hosts, which covers an unlimited amount of linux and windows guests.  BE would talk to vCenter to make snapshots as needed for backups.

You can still install the ASM tools into your vCenter host for normal snapshots for quicker recoveries using EQL snapshots.  Think of snapshots in a SAN as an augment to traditional backups.  Snapshots are not a backup!

[Geokes]

Snapshots are definitely not a backups, my thinking was:

 - use a single provider to quicly create the application consistent snapshot (EQL/me/ve)

 - backup the snapshot

 - use the backup software to orchestrate/schedule all of the above

I'll have to install the eval version to see how it works. Would you have a link for the latest version?

[Striker_303]

If you mean link to download BE 2010 R2 :

https://www4.symantec.com/Vrt/offer?a_id=91523

[SaurabhK]

How does the Symantec VSS provider handle vendor specific (Eqallogic in this case) hardware? It has a built in "driver" or the vendor's own provider gets installed in some shape or form?

When you backup from a hardware, that uses its own VSS PROVIDER / DRIVER, the snapshot is created using that proprietary framework, Remote Agent for Backup Exec then processes the snapshot data to the media server. You can go ahead with this...

Additionally to what you posted later, Using backup exec, you may backup the VM's over SAN and have the hardware do the snapshot, as aforementioned, it should work but Symantec recommends using the BE VSS PROVIDER as far as possible.

So, i would suggest you install BE and the AVVI agent, then install the remote agents on all the guests. Perform a backup using the "SAN TRANSPORT MODE" testing will determine which provider will be called in by default (I would place my cards for the eqallogic VSS) and "A consistent snapshot of the VM, GRT of all applications on the VM and a backup of all the above components will run as per schedule.

Hope this helps!

Kindly mark as solution if this sum's up your queries.