Configuring virtual network - backup VM using separate network

[DRM]

I'm a little out of my depth and would like some advice.

My goal is to backup my virtual machines on Host 1 to Host 2 using a different network to my public facing network.

On Host 1 I have 3 VMs on the vSwitch network which use a 100mb card.

I also have a separate gigabit NIC on Host 1  which is connected via a physical switch to Host 2.

This is how I configured the networking on Host 1.

On Host 2 I have the following config; one of the VM's is running vcenter and VEEAM.

I can't seem to find a way to have Host 2 backup VM's from Host 1 using the 1000 mb/s network.

I understand that part of this question is VEEAM related; however I also want some confirmation that I have configured my networking correctly within vSphere.

What am I missing?

[chriswahl]

You have nothing attached to the 1 GbE network card, just an empty port group. Until there is something in that port group - either a vmk interface or perhaps a virtual machine - there is no way for your backup software to use that 1 GbE interface. That's the root cause of your issue. :smileyhappy:

I would imagine the folks at Veeam could better describe your specific backup scenario to use the 1 GbE interface. I assume it wants to talk with your ESXi host, which means you'd need a vmk interface on the 1 GbE port group, and likely need to dual-home the Veeam VM onto that port group as well. Likely, this will result in creating an additional L3 network for those two entities to talk on.

[DRM]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the help - that makes sense. I've been battling this for a while.

The Veeam guys have told me this is a VMWare issue - so I've tried that avenue.

Are you saying I need to add another VMKernel port like this: obviously with an internal IP address rather than what I have shown?

Or does the configuration need to use a port group like this?

vmnic0 and vmnic1 are on completely isolated btw - vmnic1 is on a private switch - not sure if that is pertinent.

Any help would be appreciated.

[chriswahl]

I think you'll need to dual home the Veeam VM onto both vmnics, and have vmkernel interfaces on the 1 GbE interface that Veeam can use to talk to the hosts (to grab backups). I'll also see if Rick or Luca could jump on this thread for further assistance.