Netbackup 7 API for SAP VM machines

[demo4119]

Backup SAP databases on the VM machine using vstorage api support by Symantec ?

[RiaanBadenhorst]

Hi,

The vstorage API will help you protect the VM O/S only, you still need a NBU client inside the VM to protect the DB with the appropriate agent (oracle or maxdb).

R

[ROFPR]

What Riaan mentioned essentially applies to all database agents. If using vStorage API you still need the client to pick up the databases.

[StefanosM]

I disagree.

If the database is vss aware, you do not have to back it up with agent. Vmware tools will do the job.

You need to backup the database with the agent if the database is not VSS aware (does not have VSS writer).

Is there any document that says that you have to backup all databases with agent?

[RiaanBadenhorst]

Hi,

That is an interesting and valid point, but I've not seen an documentation to say it supported. The method described is how we do it.

We'll see what the rest say

[StefanosM]

well, 
this is a document for backup exec.
http://eval.symantec.com/mktginfo/enterprise/other_resources/b-symc_backup_exec_2010_agent_for_vmw...

Backup Exec 2010’s Agent for VMware natively incorporates VMware’s latest backup technology, vStorage
API’s for Data Protection technology, to help eliminate these challenges while further improving them to
provide faster backups with less overall storage consumption through:
 
  VMware “Ready” certified integration with  VMware vStorage API’s for Data Protection for online backup
of all Guest virtual machines while they are online and running 
  vSphere block-level Incremental and Differential backups that quickly only backup what has changed in
the Guest virtual machine since the last backup that can be optionally deduplicated for increased
storage savings
  Integrated Granular Recovery Technology to provide a single-pass, high-speed, backup of the virtual
machine while providing the ability to recover the entire Guest virtual machine or individual files/folders
within the virtual machine to the original or alternate location
  Improved Microsoft VSS integration for properly protecting applications such as Exchange, SQL, or
Active Directory as part of the entire guest virtual machine with Granular Recovery Technology support
for individual item or database recovery from Exchange, SQL, or Active Directory
 
The easy to use Backup Exec interface can communicate with VMware’s vCenter servers to walk
Administrators through the process of identifying the necessary ESX / vSphere hosts, Groups, and guest
virtual machines for fast and simple backup and recovery.   

[RiaanBadenhorst]

Some more info from a previous post.

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/netbackup-70-and-microsoft-sql-server-running-vm

Seems it is possible with SQL, but there are limitations. Which DB do you use for the SQL back-end?

[StefanosM]

mmmm,

I was aware about the SQL and VSS writer, as I posted, but not for windows 2008 incompatibility. I will check it with my wmware team and get back

[StefanosM]

I found this at the vmware site:

http://www.google.gr/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vmware.com%2Fsuppor...

Look at page 25

in general I see that vss is supported with applications, but you have to check it case by case.

the bigest proble I can see is that:
"Windows 2008 application level quiescing is performed using a hardware snapshot provider. "

 I will check what netbackup teem says, also.