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VMware with granular backup

Edyxx
Level 5

Hello All,

I have a question how Backup Exec creates a snapshot of a VM before backing up the VM.

I have VM with 4 hard disks.

-100 GB

-512 GB

150 GB

-150 GB

There are on 3 different data stores.

When Backup Exec creates the snapshot, is a snapshot taken of each disk before starting the backup process or does Backup Exec creates a snaphot of first disk, backup it and creates the next snapshot?

How about the additional space on the datastore needed for the snapshot. Will Backup Exec need the same amount of space for the snapshot as the disk space is?

Thanks,

Edy

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions

Colin_Weaver
Moderator
Moderator
Employee Accredited Certified

Yep - should have mention that, typically wherever the .vmx file is located is where all of the snapshots are created irrespective of what datastore the source .vmdk is located.

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4 REPLIES 4

Colin_Weaver
Moderator
Moderator
Employee Accredited Certified

As you mention Datastores I guess you are using VMware and not Hyper-V

 

With regards the snaphot process - Backup Exec requests that VMware snapshots the whole VM. We in effect do the same thing that happens if you use the VMware vSpeher Client Snapshot Manager to snapshot a whole VM  (with quiesce enabled). 

VMware itself is then responsonsible for managing how the snapshots are created including when vmdk files owned by the VM are held in different datatstores.

Note if you have database inside the VM (such as Exchange or MSSQL) then VMware tools issues a VSS request inside the VM guest operating system to make sure that the database data is consistent.

 

Also if multiple VMs are in one backup job, each VM is snapped as we reach that VM in order (they are not all snapshotted at the start of the job)

ZeRoC00L
Level 6
Partner Accredited
A snapshot will be created on the same datastore as the disk is located. In your case on 3 different datastores. The additional required space depends on how much data is changed on the disks during the snapshot, as all changes are written to the snapshot file. When the snapshot is removed these changes are commited in the original disks. If there are not much changes, the extra required space is very limited.

Colin_Weaver
Moderator
Moderator
Employee Accredited Certified

Yep - should have mention that, typically wherever the .vmx file is located is where all of the snapshots are created irrespective of what datastore the source .vmdk is located.

Edyxx
Level 5
Hi, Thanks for your answers. This was very helpful. Yes it is with VMware. Thanks, Edy