VMware ESXi Backup

[Butuz]

Although there are alot of hardware restrictions for ESXi, most normal workstations wont work nor will many old server.

Luckily our RM Xeons can have ESXi....

Are you sure? I have not come across any.

I have my test ESXi server running on a crappy 3 year old RM P4 3.6 single core Workstation with 2 gig ram?

Butuz

[Butuz]

There are a few reasons why I dont want to have the main datastore on the storage server:

• The server is Windows and has 3rd party software loaded. I don't want to start a big debate, but with a much lower footprint and no extra software, ESXi will be more stable.
• We sometimes need to reboot it for updates, etc. This would mean having to shut down our VM server as well.
• It only has SATA disks, whereas our VM server has SAS disks.

I have found a script, which I run to snap the VMs and backup the snaps. But for most of the critical servers I have installed Backup Exec agents because of specific software, i.e. SQL server.

David

Agree with you - the iSCSI server needs to be a dedicated appliance to VMWare rather than a standard Windows server with an add on iSCSI initiator. Much much more reliable. Agree about SATA/SAS too, I would only use SATA disks for back up use or testing, I would stick to SAS disks for a production server.

Butuz

[Butuz]

And if your iSCSI storage server fails...

--
David Hicks

Then it's no different to if your local storage had failed. Except that your local storage is tied in to the physical server's raid card, wheras the iSCSI storage is not tied to any server. A big benefit in my eyes.

It's the HDD's that are 99% most likely to fail, as long as your using good reliable SAS drives (not Deathstar's) and are using Raid 5 with hotspare you should get 99%+ uptime.

You want to be using "enterprise" class hardware if your virtualising your whole network - anything by HP/DELL/IBM/Adaptec should be ultra fast and reliable. If your basing your SAN on some kind of Buffalo or Netgear jobby then I guess you'd better prepare for downtime?

My thinking exactly. I'm guessing it wouldn't be as risky if we had a propper iSCSI SAN, as they generally have redundant PSUs, controllers, etc. and are more appliance based with less to go wrong right?

Thanks,
David

Yep. Redundant PSU, Redundant interface's, redundant hard drives. Couple that with a same day on site warranty and you should be laughing.

[Theblacksheep]

Are you sure? I have not come across any.

I have my test ESXi server running on a crappy 3 year old RM P4 3.6 single core Workstation with 2 gig ram?

Heres the ESXi hardware compatability guide:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi35_systems_guide.pdf

Still, if you've got it working on the P4, thats quality!

[Butuz]

Heres the ESXi hardware compatability guide:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi35_systems_guide.pdf

Still, if you've got it working on the P4, thats quality!

Ah - I never read the hardware compatibility guide so I guess the guide doesnt apply

Have you tried the latest version?

ESXi 3.5 seems to install on any workstation I try it on, it also doesnt sem bothered what storage you use, SATA, SAS, SCSI, etc.

I tried an older version quite a long time ago and it was very restricted it would only run on SCSI drives etc.

Butuz

[Sandman]

ESXi 3.5 seems to install on any workstation I try it on, it also doesnt sem bothered what storage you use, SATA, SAS, SCSI, etc.

Agree. Never had any issues here

[OverWorked]

Does EsXpress backup EXSi 4? I've looked on the website but can't see that it does.

[JamieM]

Hi David

Here is another suggestion for you, I been using lately a mirrored iSCSI target call StarWind, it covers ESXi and every fig else, cheek it
Firs I suggest test the trial starwindsoftware.com/starwind-enterprise-server

[mrmace69]

Hello. This tool is also free and it will backup ESXi.

Veeam FastSCP 3.0 for VMware ESX / ESXi - VMware file Management.

[albertwt]

Yes, you can use VCB (VMWare Consolidated Backup) with Backup Exec 12.5 assuming you get the VMWare vSphere 4 Essentials license which comes with the following:

1. vCenter Mgmt Server 4
2. 3x ESX(i) licenses

[midus]

Hi David

Here is another suggestion for you, I been using lately a mirrored iSCSI target call StarWind, it covers ESXi and every fig else, cheek it
Firs I suggest test the trial starwindsoftware.com/starwind-enterprise-server

I've used StarWind and the performance isn't all that great.

[Sandman]

esXpress is now in version 4 (re-named PHD Virtual backup for VMware). We also have an ESXi solution on our roadmap with beta coming in September.

We'll also be at VMworld this year so if any of you are going drop by booth #115.

Feel free to message me also for more info.

[CC1010]

A good cheap pay product is either vRanger or Veeam

Back up exec just see the virtual machine as a whole vmdk file where as vranger will break it down and allow file level restore etc.

[DMcCoy]

A good cheap pay product is either vRanger or Veeam

Back up exec just see the virtual machine as a whole vmdk file where as vranger will break it down and allow file level restore etc.

Backup Exec will allow granular restore for a number of OS/Apps as long as the relevant agent is installed on the virtual machine. VMware server licenses include Windows agents for all the VMs iirc.

[Sandman]

PHD Virtual Backup for ESXi, ESX, and Citrix Xenserver (formerly esXpress) is now on version 5.1 as of yesterday.

You can download free trials of they solution here: http://www.phdvirtual.com/solutions

Please feel free to msg me if you have any questions, or would like an online demo!