VMware VDR Backup

[techie08]

Hi

 

Im using VDR to backup VMs to a share on a physical server and i want to know, In the event that i lose the SAN and all the VMs, How would i do a restore of all the VM's? Would i need to keep a seperate backup of the Vcenter VM and restore this first? then import a new VDR appliance? Do i even need Vcenter to do a complete restore?

 

I know VDR uses VCenter for it it work which is what makes me think would i have to restore the VCentre VM first.

 

VDR also is currently backing up VCenter

 

Many Thanks

[apaton]

If you lost your whole VMware environment you would needed to rebuild in the following order.

 

1. Install ESXi
   
2. Install Windows & Vcenter on a VMguest or Physical Server
   
3. Import VMA
   
4. Configure VMA
   
5. Attach share (cifs I assume), this holds all previous backups
   
6. Restore away!
   

Andy

[BIST]

What Software product are you using as your main backup Solution?

 

The reason I ask is that if you use Symantec Backup Exec they have an option called Backup Exec Virtual infastructure Agent which also backups all the VMware infastructure into your normal backup routine.

 

Another alternative and from customers report is actually better is a product calle Veeam Backup & Replication, this backups your vmware infastructure to disk so that you can back it up in your normal routine.

 

I hope this helps

 

Shaun Dibble

VSP MCP

[Butuz]

Shaun - does Backup Exec Virtual infastructure Agent allow you to back up VM's off Standalone ESXi boxes - i.e free version, no Vcenter/Vsphere licence.

 

Cheers

 

Butuz

[BIST]

Yes, here are all the platforms it supports

 

Platform Support

 vSphere 4.0 and 4i

 VMware ESX/ESXi 3.5

 vCenter 2.5 and 4.0

 All VMware Supported

Storage Infrastructures-

FibreChannel SANs, iSCSI

SANs, NFS, Direct

Attached Storage

 

I hope that helps, it is taken from the linked pdf below

 

http://eval.symantec.com/mktginfo/enterprise/fact_sheets/b-be2010_vmware_virtual_infrastructure_brief.en-us.pdf

 

Shaun Dibble

VSP MCP