Symantec Backup Exec™ 2012 V-Ray Edition

[shamee]

Hi,

Is it possible to manage Symantec Backup Exec V-Ray server using CASO in BE2012?

Regards,

[Siddhant_Saini · Accepted solution]

If you have a server which has a Enterprise Server Option(which includes the Central Administration Server option) installed then you can manage it. 

Or to make your Backup Exec V-Ray edition application work with the CASO option, you'll need to add the Enterprise Server Option(ESO).

[shamee]

Thanks Siddhant. ALso one more question related to this. Suppose i have a Windows 2012 Hyper V at remote location. Can I install Backup Exec V-Ray in a Hyper VM and backup the entire Hyper-V (Host and VMs - Baremetal) to a USB attached Hard Drive?

Regards,

[Siddhant_Saini]

From the Technical Support side, we do not recommend installation of Backup Exec in a Virtual Machine(cause of issues like performance, device detection etc). 

Considering that Backup Exec 2012 still does NOT support installation of it as a Media Server on a Windows Server 2012, you MAY try to install it on a Windows Server 2008 R2 server(as a Virtual Machine) and then exclude the .vhd file which has Backup Exec installed on it while performing the backup of the Host server using Agent for Windows(AWS).

Again, you might want to test it before implementing it --or-- wait for the next release of Backup Exec which would add more support to the Windows environment. 

[shamee]

I am planning to use only removable disk as backup target. in that case is it possible? no need of any tape drives.

[Colin_Weaver]

We do not test pass through of Backup Storage devices into VM's (either Hyper-V or VMware) hence no official support - we know there are intermittent problems with tape passthough ( in VMware ) and believe there may be similar problems with USB passthough.

[shamee]

Can i have some tested configurations? What and all combinations have been tested?

[Colin_Weaver]

We have only tested/certified physical media servers to physical devices - which is just one of the reasons why we do not recommend virtualized media servers - especially as customers that have tried their own configurations have mostly reported problems (intermittent device faults etc)

Whilst not specifically tested we would expect hardware iSCSI targets (presented into an initiator running inside the VM), NAS share targets and disk targets located inside virtual disk files (vhd, vmdk) to work without issue (with exception of possible performance related issues anyway)

From customer reports we would expect random / intermittent issues with USB, Fiber Channel or SCSI passthrough of the backup target device into a virtual machine. This type of configuration is not officially supported and is classified as an Alternative Configuration where a customer might find they can get it to work, however if they have any isues they would have to prove to us that the same issue exists in a physical setup before we will assist with advanced/engineering level support.

[pkh]

You ask the use to use a VM as a media server. Is Symantec going to provide support when things go wrong?

[CraigV]

Technical Support don't recommend the installation of BE on a VM, but you're recommending that the OP install it on Windows Server 2008 R2 as a media server?

Makes no sense...either you guys support it (and then update your TN to reflect that this is no longer an "alternative" configuration), or you are sending the wrong message here.

From personal experience, using BE on a media server does not work! Using VMware vSphere 4.1 an HP StorageWorks MSL2024 G3 LTO3 tape library was presented to a VM...worked well, until issues required restarts of hosts, unnecessary change control etc. This went against what I wanted to do, and it presented a major problem. So to advise the OP to try this shows no real-world experience, plus giving the wrong information.

When, or IF, this doesn't work, can the OP contact you directly to sort out?

Thanks!

[shamee]

Hi Craig,

Here the intention is to reduce the cost of another server. To have the backup in the same server, two arrays (using internal hard disks) are being created and backup is sending to second array. Can we use a VM with BE to use in this setup? Disk based backup is only required here.

Regards,

[CraigV]

Depends on what Symantec's stance is on this. Their 1 TN states a virtual media server is an alternative configuration and any issues would need to be reproduced in a physical environment to get support.

...then there are statements on the forums from employees of late stating they would give more support, to a point.

I would suggest that you contact Symantec directly and get their official stance on this.

Thanks!