Virtualise Master and Media Servers?
Hi Everyone,
I am investigating the redesign of the current backup environment as my company inherited it when we won the contract.
Just wondering if anyone has their backup enviornment completely virtulised on VMware? We are currently running ESX 4.1
I will be using Netbackup 7.1.0.1 We are using a Dell Tape Library, basic staging disks (presented from the SAN), Deduplication and we want to start using Netbackup to backup VM's with the API's.
So I guess there are a few things I would like to know,
1. Is it a good idea to have everything in VMware? If not, what would you virtualise and what would you have physical?
2. Would you configure the basic staging disks as vmdk's or RDM's?
3. Are there issues presenting the Tape Library to a VM?
4. Is there anything else I haven't considered that I need to?
Comments
Virtualize the master, but not the media servers
The NBU master can be virtualized without too much trouble. The media servers can be vurtualized but only if they use disk storage units, not tape. Tape libraries/drives don't virtualize. Be sure to go through the NBU virtualization docs:
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH127089
In addition to Ron's
In addition to Ron's excellent post - only disk storage is supported on NBU media servers. Details in the doc that Ron posted.
Supporting Storage Foundation and VCS on Unix and Windows as well as NetBackup on Unix and Windows.
Handy NBU links
(guessing not, then)
Can the virtualized master have tape storage unit?
good Will backing-up
A virtualised master cannot
A virtualised master cannot have a tape unit attached.
Master/Media NBU7.1.0.3 on W2k8 - VMware, SQL and Exchange agents, MSDP
OCA 7.1.0.3 on W2k8R2
PureDisk 6.6.1.2 + EEB20
Hmmmm, After posting my
Hmmmm, After posting my preivous answer I got to thinking, I'm now not sure my previous answer was correct. I am not sure if this is supported with Netbackup...
http://www.virtualizationteam.com/virtualization-v...
<edit>
Finally managed to open the link in Ron's post. There are limited tape options that appear to be supported (see pg4 of the said doc)
Master/Media NBU7.1.0.3 on W2k8 - VMware, SQL and Exchange agents, MSDP
OCA 7.1.0.3 on W2k8R2
PureDisk 6.6.1.2 + EEB20
Virtualized Environments with Tape
The main reason that Netbackup cannot support physical tape media in a virtualized environment is due to VMWare still not supporting it on their side. The day they can configure it in a non-passthrough manner and its supported by VMWare, I am sure Symantec will release the support subsequently.
-Austin Lazanowski
"Backups are always too expensive until you needed them."
Thanks everyone, I'll take a
Thanks everyone,
I'll take a look at the article Ron mentioned, it seems to have the kind of information I am after.
Read these articles the other
Read these articles the other day. Additional information for your research.
Configuring tape drives and media changers on ESX/ESXi 4.x and ESXi 5.x
Configuring HP StorageWorks D2D & VLS virtual tape libraries on ESX 4.x (Partner Support)
Tip: Get overview/document your NBU environment. Run 'nbsu' and review the output.
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