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Virtualise Master and Media Servers?

Dan33
Level 3

Hi Everyone,

I am investigating the redesign of the current backup environment as my company inherited it when we won the contract.

Just wondering if anyone has their backup enviornment completely virtulised on VMware? We are currently running ESX 4.1

 

I will be using Netbackup 7.1.0.1 We are using a Dell Tape Library, basic staging disks (presented from the SAN), Deduplication and we want to start using Netbackup to backup VM's with the API's.

 

So I guess there are a few things I would like to know,

1. Is it a good idea to have everything in VMware? If not, what would you virtualise and what would you have physical?

2. Would you configure the basic staging disks as vmdk's or RDM's?

3. Are there issues presenting the Tape Library to a VM?

4. Is there anything else I haven't considered that I need to?

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions

RonCaplinger
Level 6

The NBU master can be virtualized without too much trouble.  The media servers can be vurtualized but only if they use disk storage units, not tape.  Tape libraries/drives don't virtualize.  Be sure to go through the NBU virtualization docs:

http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH127089

View solution in original post

8 REPLIES 8

RonCaplinger
Level 6

The NBU master can be virtualized without too much trouble.  The media servers can be vurtualized but only if they use disk storage units, not tape.  Tape libraries/drives don't virtualize.  Be sure to go through the NBU virtualization docs:

http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH127089

Marianne
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited Certified

In addition to Ron's excellent post - only disk storage is supported on NBU media servers. Details in the doc that Ron posted.

Will_Restore
Level 6

Can the virtualized master have tape storage unit?

Lee_C
Level 5

A virtualised master cannot have a tape unit attached.

 

Lee_C
Level 5

Hmmmm,  After posting my preivous answer I got to thinking, I'm now not sure my previous answer was correct.  I am not sure if this is supported with Netbackup...

http://www.virtualizationteam.com/virtualization-vmware/vsphere-virtualization-vmware/adding-tape-librarydrive-to-vm-running-over-esxesxi-4.html

 

<edit>

Finally managed to open the link in Ron's post.  There are limited tape options that appear to be supported (see pg4 of the said doc)

austin_lazanows
Level 4
Certified

The main reason that Netbackup cannot support physical tape media in a virtualized environment is due to VMWare still not supporting it on their side. The day they can configure it in a non-passthrough manner and its supported by VMWare, I am sure Symantec will release the support subsequently.

Dan33
Level 3

Thanks everyone,

I'll take a look at the article Ron mentioned, it seems to have the kind of information I am after.

Anonymous
Not applicable