Backup solution for the virtualised world

[localzuk]

That time has arrived here - time to replace our backup solution.

 

We have traditionally stuck to the old "Grandfather-Father-Son" backup regime here, but I reckon it might be time to change.

 

So, here is our setup:

 

We have a Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V cluster, with storage on a Windows Server 2012 over SMB 3.

 

We also store our data on that storage.

 

Our storage comes to 3.4TB of space total at the moment, after de-duplication. We average about 30-50GB of change each night for backup.

 

We also have a 100Mbit leased line out to the net, so cloud backup isn't out of the question - so long as it is safe, secure and relatively local (we won't be backing up outside of the UK). However, we're not a big fan of ongoing costs so cloud backup isn't likely to be the end option.

 

So, what suggestions have you guys and gals got?

 

Also, our new solution needs to last for 5 years minimum.

Edited May 18, 2015 by localzuk

[ForgotMyPassword]

We bought Veeam and have been incredibly happy with that running to our Windows 2012 R2 backup server, it's insanely quick and very easy to use. We then use BackupExec to offsite it to tape but only because I'm yet to look at Veeam doing it.

 

We purchased from www.ict4.co.uk who gave us a lot of pre-sales help and advice before we made the jump and have been very happy.

[clockend25]

Veaam would seem to be the way to go.

 

We use DPM at the minute but it's a complete liability when it comes to reliably backing up de-duped volumes.

[ForgotMyPassword]

Veaam would seem to be the way to go.

 

We use DPM at the minute but it's a complete liability when it comes to reliably backing up de-duped volumes.

 

We had that before (during a stretch where there was no management in place) - when we came to test the backups, not a single one actually worked. Terrifying.

[synaesthesia]

Another big thumbs up for Veaam. It's wonderfully easy and does exactly what it says on the tin.

[localzuk]

Ok, so with Veeam, can someone explain how it works?

 

I would do the initial backup, and then every night it does a differential? What happens if my boss still wants us to continue doing the old "Grandfather-Father-Son" method? Also, how does it handle the non-VM data stored on the storage server?

 

What is the restoration process like?

[PotNoodleTech]

Veeam.

 

Initial backup server in your server room.

Secondary backup server in another building

Tertiary backup server either in another locals school or the cloud.

 

Veeam supports all of this and is fit and forget. I'd say Veeam is probably the most well implemented fit for purpose bit of software since VMware appeared.

[synaesthesia]

Plus you can have *instant recovery* for instance if a file server goes down for whatever reason, you can actually run from the backup server live, so Veaam sort of acts as a temporary hypervisor.

[localzuk]

Veeam.

 

Initial backup server in your server room.

Secondary backup server in another building

Tertiary backup server either in another locals school or the cloud.

 

Veeam supports all of this and is fit and forget. I'd say Veeam is probably the most well implemented fit for purpose bit of software since VMware appeared.

 

Ok, to clarify - as my boss will drag me over coals if I end up going back to her for more stuff after I put in my initial orders.

 

Initial backup - I take it this is a full copy backup, updated nightly?

Secondary - A full copy, and then nightly differentials for however long we want to store them?

 

We don't have another local school to work with over this. So, off-site backup would have to be handled in the same way as we have done for the last 8 years, with removable USB disk drives containing copies of stuff. Is this possible with it?

[Ephelyon]

Veeam will only handle VM data I believe.

 

You could operate a "reverse-incremental" strategy, as we do, whereby the full backup file appears as the latest snapshot in the chain, with previous dates as incrementals in reverse order. Yes, these are differentials and only take the time required for that.

[localzuk]

Veeam will only handle VM data I believe.

 

That's a bit of a show stopper! It'd mean I would have to re-architect my network to back things up using it then, and potentially slow things down, as data would now be passing back and forth over the network before it gets to the person wanting it.

 

You could operate a "reverse-incremental" strategy, as we do, whereby the full backup file appears as the latest snapshot in the chain, with previous dates as incrementals in reverse order. Yes, these are differentials and only take the time required for that.

 

That's an interesting idea.

[LeMarchand]

We don't have another local school to work with over this. So, off-site backup would have to be handled in the same way as we have done for the last 8 years, with removable USB disk drives containing copies of stuff. Is this possible with it?

 

Same situation, so I use USB drives to take off site - works fine.

[localzuk]

Ok, so next question - everyone says "Veeam" but they make various products - which software are we talking about exactly? "Backup & Replication v8 for Hyper-V"? Or would I need more than that?

[zag]

You want Veeam backup and replication 8

 

It should cost about 2k for the license for the whole school for 3 years

 

For virtulization, Veeam is a no brainer these days. So easy to use

Edited May 18, 2015 by zag

[eyetea]

Another thumbs up for Veeam here!

[howartp]

Ok, so with Veeam, can someone explain how it works?

 

I would do the initial backup, and then every night it does a differential? What happens if my boss still wants us to continue doing the old "Grandfather-Father-Son" method? Also, how does it handle the non-VM data stored on the storage server?

 

What is the restoration process like?

Initital backup is one full backup of everything, which it de-dupes as it goes. In theory you only ever need to do this once, though I know some/many users do a new full backup every so often, as everything in the future is essentially seeded from this.

Each night, you do a differential.

Then, say weekly, you tell Veeam to synthesise a new full backup after that night's differential. It takes the original full, then applies all the differentials to it - which should then match your live disks.

You can either have forward or reverse incremental - there's benefits to both - one just makes a new differential file (so to restore to last Wednesday, Veeam essentially restores last weekends synthetic, plus last Monday and Tuesdays's differentials) and one transforms the differential into a full each time it runs, then recreates the differentials in backwards order (so to restore to last Wednesday, Veeam would essentially restore this weekends synthetic, then 'undo' changes made on Friday and Thursday's differentials).

 

We don't have another local school to work with over this. So, off-site backup would have to be handled in the same way as we have done for the last 8 years, with removable USB disk drives containing copies of stuff. Is this possible with it?

Yes, but I haven't completely got my head around it yet - we use tape, but I'm still doing manual tape backups of the backup files; my way is not the right way though. You should be able to tell Veeam to duplicate the backup jobs to USB disk either nightly or weekly.

 

Veeam will only handle VM data I believe.

The core functionality of Veeam will, yes.

 

You can schedule file backups from physical servers, but it doesn't give you all the full features of the VM implementation - I backup our telephone system and one shared folder on a NAS which doesn't change often, but needs to be backed up, using this part of Veeam as long as I know I need to treat it differently.

 

Ok, so next question - everyone says "Veeam" but they make various products - which software are we talking about exactly? "Backup & Replication v8 for Hyper-V"? Or would I need more than that?

We're talking B&R v8, yes.

 

Tape support comes in one of the higher license levels, so make sure you check that out - I'm not sure if the same license is needed for the USB drive support.

 

Peter

[localzuk]

Ok, next question!

 

What edition of Veeam B&R 8 are people generally running? Standard, Enterprise or Enterprise Plus?

 

Also, the socket count I'm figuring is the number of sockets in the Hyper-V nodes? So, 2 x dual CPU nodes = 4 socket licenses?

[Davit2005]

 

Tape support comes in one of the higher license levels, so make sure you check that out - I'm not sure if the same license is needed for the USB drive support.

 

 

To my knowledge all versions have Tape support but it is Partially supported in the lowest license levels. We use Enterprise version and find it does what we need in the tape department i.e. secondary target to tape jobs on backup jobs.

 

I use free version at home, with the latest update 2 this gives powershell facility to schedule VeeamZip jobs via task scheduler.

 

PowerShell

Support in Free Edition. Start-VBRZip cmdlet is now enabled in Veeam Backup™ Free Edition, allowing users to schedule periodic VeeamZIP™ backups using external task schedulers, such as Windows Task Scheduler.

Edited May 18, 2015 by Davit2005

[zag]

Running standard version here, 6 nodes which is 8 VM's in our setup.

[Norphy]

I am going to be a dissenting voice here and not recommend Veeam. We have recently gone through this process ourselves because DPM is such a and just doesn't work with anything ever. We have evaluated several products including Veeam and have eliminated it because it just covers virtual infrastructure.

 

Instead, we have decided to go with with Arcserve Unified Data Protection instead. Like Veeam, it can do image based backups of your VMs but it can also do the same for your physical machines as well. It has inline deduplication. It has the same replication features as Veeam and can restore a physical machine to a VM in a couple of clicks. It has full blown tape support and application aware backups for Exchange, SharePoint, SQL, Oracle and AD.

 

The licensing model is simple, you either pay for it per CPU socket or for the amount of data that you need to back up. It looks like a really good product and I'm looking forward to having backups I can rely upon again.

[howartp]

Ok, next question!

 

What edition of Veeam B&R 8 are people generally running? Standard, Enterprise or Enterprise Plus?

 

Also, the socket count I'm figuring is the number of sockets in the Hyper-V nodes? So, 2 x dual CPU nodes = 4 socket licenses?

I'm running "Veeam Backup Essentials Enterprise 2 socket bundle for VMware", which is on one Backup server with 2x 6cores. It is backing up 3 ESX hosts with 2x 6cores in each.

 

...and I'm looking forward to having backups I can rely upon again.

What's the fun in that??

[localzuk]

Not that much of an issue for us - we don't have any physical machines we'd want or need to back up. Everything is virtualised, except for the general data storage.

 

Tape support isn't an issue - we won't be going back to tapes, no way, no how.

[Davit2005]

 

What edition of Veeam B&R 8 are people generally running? Standard, Enterprise or Enterprise Plus?

 

Enterprise here, 96VM's over 21 hosts. In theory we could lose a few CPU's/hosts as our newer blades are 256GB Ram, this would save us a bit on costs.

[localzuk]

Enterprise here, 96VM's over 21 hosts. In theory we could lose a few CPU's/hosts as our newer blades are 256GB Ram, this would save us a bit on costs.

 

Ok, as this has not been very clear so far - do you license by the hosts that are running VMs? Eg. You are paying for 21 hosts worth of licenses?

[pantscat]

Veeam is licensed per CPU socket.