Netbackup 7.0.1 and VMware

[hanskniep]

We are currently setting up the VMware/Netbackup environment and the admin guide states that "for a more effecient backup, the Netbackup media server and the VMware backup host should be installed on the same host".

We plan to setup using the Vcenter server and currently have the Netbackup client loaded on it. 

1. Is it common place to install the media server software on the Vcenter server?

2. Or, is it common to install Vcenter on the media server?

3. By doing this, what is more effecient?

4. Is there a disadvantage to just installing the client on the Vcenter server?

Thanks...

[Mark_Solutions]

Hi

It makes no real difference where your vCenter server is and the "VMWare Backup Host" just communicates with it via the network and not a huge amount goes on really.

It is a confusing term in the guides but basically the "VMWare Backup Host" is either a NetBAckup Client or Media Server that communicates with the vCentre to obtain the configuration information and. preferably, also has access to the LUNS of the datastores via the SAN so that it can backup the hosts at high speed via the San.

It is preferable to be a Media Server in as much as otherwise all data has to pass through this "host" and then be passed to the Media Server, so if it is one and the same it removes the network component during the backup.

So, to answer you question it makes very little diffrence where the vCenter goes - it iis the access to the datastores that really makes the difference

[Mark_Solutions]

One other thing that ocurred to me ....

It is nice to keep your backup servers as just that so if you have a tape drive changed or something like that you never have an issue rebooting them.

If your Media Server was also your vCenter server then thay may cause you an issues when it comes to reboots - so my advice is to keep it seperate

Hope this helps

[RiaanBadenhorst]

Mark is 100% correct. Its all about the data path.

[hanskniep]

Our Vcenter server is not SAN attached and I deduct this is not an optimal backup host.

Our media servers are SAN attached and would be an ideal Backup host.  So, what do I need to do to make this the VMware backup host? 

[Mark_Solutions · Accepted solution]

First read through the NetBackup VMWare guide in the DOCS folder of your installation source media, then briefly:

1. Add the vCenter server into the Credentials - VMWare backup hosts section in the admin console

2. Add the Media Server to the VMWare Access Hosts in the Master Server Host Properties

2. Do the diskpart automount disable and automount scrub on the Media Server then reboot it

3. Zone the datastore LUNS to the Media Server

4. Create your policy with the snapshot option of "san"

5. Try it out

There is obviously a bit more to it than this so do go through the guide

[hanskniep]

Thanks!