VMWare backup solutions

[Jumper]

Hi Guys,,

 

I was wondering what solutions any of you guys are using to backup VMware server. We currently use backup exec and backup in the region of 2Tb, So what i am really asking is do you know of any better solutions ?

 

Cheers

Edited November 11, 2010 by Jumper

[jamesreedersmith]

Only 2gb do you mean 2tb?

[Jumper]

Only 2gb do you mean 2tb?

 

Well spotted that man and original post edited.

[Norphy]

Are you installing the BackupExec clients on the virtual machines or are you backing up the hosts directly?

[Jumper]

Are you installing the BackupExec clients on the virtual machines or are you backing up the hosts directly?

 

The backup exec clients are installed on the virtual machines presently. We are looking at Veeam as one possible solution.

[Norphy]

Can you clarify which VMware you're using? Is it the free VMware server or is it ESX/vSphere?

[Jumper]

Can you clarify which VMware you're using? Is it the free VMware server or is it ESX/vSphere?

 

My bad should of given more info in the OP, we are using VSphere and ESXi currently

[Norphy]

In that case, you could use the built-in consolidated backup routines that comes with vSphere and/or use a backup application which can take advantage of it. We use Commvault Simpana here and I'm in the process of using it and Consolidated Backup to back things up here at the moment.

 

Commvault is an extremely good backup package in itself, it knocks spots off Backup Exec

[Avalon]

we were in a similar boat.

 

we had BackupExec installed on every physical server before virtualizing. We are now running vSphere 4 with three ESXi hosts.

 

We went for vRanger Pro which works really well. Connects into vCenter (if you are running that) or individual esx hosts and allows you to either backup your entire infrastructure or specific VM's within it

[ChrisH]

I am Using MS DPM and installing the client on VMs. It's not the best solution for VMs like Veeam but it does allow a lot of scope for synchronisation and recovery points as well as easy bare metal recovery. Plus it costs something like £10 per server on a schools agreement so it's a winner on price.

[Theblacksheep]

The commercial VM backup software is very, very overpriced. We use VMwareVDR1.2 and DPM2010.

[Jumper]

Thanks for the replies, gives me a few other options to look at.

[Sylv3r]

We will probably go down the Veeam route when we virtualise next year.

[Jumper]

We will probably go down the Veeam route when we virtualise next year.

 

We have just been doing some testing with Veeam and it is looking very good. It will do 90% of what we need.

[andyrite]

BackupExec with the Vmware Agent here.

[Guest salan]

Well we had a DR situation last week (shock wave from a gas explosion next door trashed the disks).

what we have found is that a lot of these solutions that 'say' they provide DR. Do not.

So how many of you have ACTUALLY tested with a full DR senario your backup solutions?

We have used Backup exec and VMDR.

Both failed and needed systems to be rebuilt. Meaning we were down for days not hours as had been thought.

We are now re evaluting our backup solutions.

Alan

[Jumper]

Well we had a DR situation last week (shock wave from a gas explosion next door trashed the disks).

what we have found is that a lot of these solutions that 'say' they provide DR. Do not.

So how many of you have ACTUALLY tested with a full DR senario your backup solutions?

We have used Backup exec and VMDR.

Both failed and needed systems to be rebuilt. Meaning we were down for days not hours as had been thought.

We are now re evaluting our backup solutions.

Alan

 

We simulated a disaster recovery using backup exec and it was shockingly bad. This is one of the reasons we are looking at other packages.

[oxide54]

probably the main reason I'm upgrading to 2008 R2.

 

we're using DPM and getting a server back up is easier with "bare metal" restore. still not a one step process though. and gonna take a long time for 40+ vm's

[Ashm]

Veeam gets my vote, and the education pricing isn't half bad.

[squeeky]

I just have a script that pauses my VM and backs everything up then starts them again. Its a bodge job but it works perfectly every night

[ssiruuk2]

If your using ESX/i then another recommendation for Veeam.

[sister_annex]

+1 for Veeam - saved my bacon more than once

[Pon]

Hi, my company also planning to buy ESXi server and will use install VM, i am planning that use which backup software for backup vmdk files then use backup exec to backup tape. i dont want to use Symantec agent, can you give me good advice for use which freeware to backup vmdk files?

 

Thanks,

[squeeky]

@ Pon you cant easily backup the vmdk whilst the VM is live unless you use a proper vmware backup solution. However you can pause the vm via script and then backup the files eg at night

[Pon]

at first, thanks Squeeky, i know that i need to do backup at night, and i saw some posts who uses esXpress that can backup vmdk files.