Hi,

Why are you using VCB? Vstorage integration works great in version 7 and vsphere 4

R

The NBU Vmware guide 7.0 does state that to perform this specific type of backup you need to use VCB. So while its around its possible...

I thought this a bit strange but there is Appendix B which describes what sethu has setup.

From the 7.0 guide

The file-level backup capability described in this appendix requires VMware
VCB. VCB has been replaced by VMware vStorage APIs for Data Protection. Note
that VMware intends to phase out support for VCB.

....

Use the following procedure to make file-based backups of Windows drives, folders,
or files. Requires VCB software on the VMware backup host.

Summary points:

Policy Type = MS-Windows

Backup selection = E:\

Select Perform snapshot backups

Note: try using a mount point on a different drive letter other than C:\mnt

Note: install the latest release of VCB Framework 1.5 U2
http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/datacenter_downloads/vmware_infrastructure_3/3_5

There was a gotcha in the last 12 months about exclude lists for the VMware backup host being applied to the mapped drive letters of a mounted virtual machine volume...might be worth looking into. But this would be after the backup is underway.

I'm not sure what validation is going on underneath...to give you error....

Create some logging directories on the vmware backup host

install_path\NetBackup\logs\bpVMutil {contains messages on Policy configuration and on restore}

install_path\NetBackup\logs\nbproxy {{contains messages on Policy configuration}

Hi Stuart,

I'd still like to know why he is using this specific setup dont you think?

R

Riaan,

Installation of VCB is required acc. to the NBU7+ VMware documentation.

Stuart,

I only have C:\ drive on the system.Its my only partition.Will this be a major problem?

Please reply.

Regards.

Hi Sethu,

I still dont understand, sorry, why you're not just using vstorage. What is forcing you to use VCB?

For VMGuest running on vsphere 4 with NBU 7+ you simply add the vcenter/esx hosts to netbackup master properties, provide the credentials, create a flashbackup for windows policy with ALL_LOCAL_DRIVES and off you go.

You can zone the media server into the same zone as the disk containing the VMDK's, or if you dont want to, it pulls it across the LAN.

R

Riaan.

VCB is required for file-level(individual drives,folders,files) backups of the Virtual machines acc. to the NBU documentation.Yes NBU 7 uses vStorage API's but still installing VCB is of no harm.

Stuart,

I only have C:\ drive on the system.Its my only partition.Will this be a major problem?

Please reply.

Regards.

I can successfully backup the entire VM using ALL_LOCAL_DISKS directive.Now I wish to backup individual drives,files etc.From the NBU GUI on the backup-host I am able to browse the VM system for files and folders.

Unless I give "File Level snapshot using VCB" in the VMware method selecting individual drives and files is not possible in the Backup Selections tab.ALL_LOCAL_DISKS is the only option then.

I had installed VCB just to be on the safe side.

How can I go about it now?The policy validation is still failing

Hi Sethu,

You have to use ALL_LOCAL_DRIVES. This is fine in your situation. It'll backup C, and you can restore individual files (Full Mapped VM).

R

I wish to backup indiavidual files and drives...not all the drives...

Is it possible to back up individual drives and files using the above Off-host back-up set-up..??

Cut and paste from NetBackup 7.0 Vmware Admin Guide

MS-Windows policy

The ALL_LOCAL_DRIVES directive backs up all data files on the virtual machines that are selected on the Clients tab. This directive does not back up the following:

Actually I am backing up my E: drive and also some individual files and folders from the same drive.I tried all the different permutations and combinations in the VMware Method option.The Policy validation fails everytime.

And regarding the C: drive .I am not backing any of the C: drives:Its just my mount location is placed there. C:\mnt

Will this be a issue?

Include only E Drive and try backup; let us know outcome

Tried many,many times...policy validation fails

Tried both the policies:falshbackup-Windows and MS-Windows.same outcome

Check out logs

install_path\NetBackup\logs\bpVMutil {contains messages on Policy configuration and on restore}

Suggest on your backup proxy/backup host create the install_path\NetBackup\logs\bpfis log directory.

This logs issues when validating snapshot client configuration for policies.

I tested this and found what my problem was with a snapshot style policy.

If not much is written in here then increase the debug levels to 5 for General and Verbose setting of the backup host through it's BAR GUI and NetBackup Client Properties > Troubleshooting

@Karthikeyan

install_path\NetBackup\logs\bpVMutil

install_path\NetBackup\logs\nbproxy

Both are absent on my system.EXE files of the same name are present though.

@Stuart:Thanks.Ill try ur recocmendation.

If you wish to backup only selected drive letters, you may be better served installing a NBU client on the VM itself and backing up the data you require that way.

Hi,

Your statement is not completely correct, if you want to use the client inside the vm, you need a STD CLT license per host. Which doesn't cost much, but thats the correct licensing.

R

Thank -you all for the replies.

Yes ,individual drives can be easily backed up with a NBU Client.I have done that too.

But for now its a specific requirement to back-up individual drives or folders using off-host set-up.The NBU documenatation says this is allowed for Windows 2003 Guests too.

From my VMware proxy server using the Back-up selections tab , I can successfully browse my Windows 2003 Guest drives.But the policy during validation fails.Its still not resolved.

One of the paragraph in the NBU 7.0 Release Notes says that file-level backups of VMware Windows guests may fail if they are not on first virtual Hard-disk of the ESX server.My Windows Guest is not on first HD.Can this be a issue?

Help.

Hi Sethu,

1. You mentioned about modify the host file (Work around), can you share the detail to me?
2. Will the VM Guest automatically appears in the > NBU management > Host properties > Clients ?

(I am facing the vStorage backup issue. Using the Evaluate license which I think it has all the bundles)

Thanks

My issue is resolved. BLIB backup issue occurs. After upgraded the VM guest (VM hardware version) to version 7, incremental backup for VM guest works.

Just need to shutdown the VM guest, and perform upgrading via update manager in the VCenter.