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VMware backup without SAN disk???

aidil_1
Level 3

Hi ALL,

i'm running NBU 7.7.2 on Windows 2012 R2 (1 master server only) with most of the clients are VMware guest.
Master server acted as VMware backup host. Transport type used is NBD.

i'm new to the environment and NBU & still trying to understand how things work.

based on guide for VMware, backup is done off-host to VMware backup host.
to do so, VMware backup host must have direct access to disks hosting VMware guest to perform snapshot.
when performing backup, i can see snapshot (BPFIS) being taken from master server @ VMware backup host.

unfortunately, from master server, i don't see any extra disks attached to it. just local disk.
am i missing something? looking for clarification from expert out there.
thanks in advance

2 ACCEPTED SOLUTIONS

Accepted Solutions

Nicolai
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Does this documentation explain ?

https://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.vddk.pg.doc_50%2FvddkDataStruct.5.5...

A Vmware backup/snapshot is not carried out by a disk array. It is the ESX host creating a delta file of the vmdk, on connected storage. 

Best Regards
Nicolai

 

View solution in original post

Marianne
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Partner    VIP    Accredited Certified

@aidil_1 wrote:

based on guide for VMware, backup is done off-host to VMware backup host.
to do so, VMware backup host must have direct access to disks hosting VMware guest to perform snapshot.
when performing backup, i can see snapshot (BPFIS) being taken from master server @ VMware backup host.


 

@aidil_1 

That is not how it works with current NBU and VMware versions.

Please have another look at chapter 1 of NBU for VMware Admin Guide.

As per Figure 1-1 NetBackup for VMware: components on local network there is no direct access between NBU Backup host and and the VMware datastores. 

The backup host accesses the VMware datastore through the ESX servers.

The process flow is described in point 2 of this TN:
VMware Transport Modes: Best practices and troubleshooting
https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.100030882.html

Hope this helps... 

View solution in original post

3 REPLIES 3

quebek
Moderator
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   VIP    Certified

Hi

With NBD (Network Block Device) you do not need to see LUNs from vmware farm - all traffic is via network. In order to speed up this you could present the LUNs visible to vmware farm also to this box - so then you can use SAN transport more. do to attempt to initialize these disks on NBU server. Please see the NBU admin guide for vmware to know more about it.

Nicolai
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP   

Does this documentation explain ?

https://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.vddk.pg.doc_50%2FvddkDataStruct.5.5...

A Vmware backup/snapshot is not carried out by a disk array. It is the ESX host creating a delta file of the vmdk, on connected storage. 

Best Regards
Nicolai

 

Marianne
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited Certified

@aidil_1 wrote:

based on guide for VMware, backup is done off-host to VMware backup host.
to do so, VMware backup host must have direct access to disks hosting VMware guest to perform snapshot.
when performing backup, i can see snapshot (BPFIS) being taken from master server @ VMware backup host.


 

@aidil_1 

That is not how it works with current NBU and VMware versions.

Please have another look at chapter 1 of NBU for VMware Admin Guide.

As per Figure 1-1 NetBackup for VMware: components on local network there is no direct access between NBU Backup host and and the VMware datastores. 

The backup host accesses the VMware datastore through the ESX servers.

The process flow is described in point 2 of this TN:
VMware Transport Modes: Best practices and troubleshooting
https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.100030882.html

Hope this helps...