Symantec AVVI

[ChrisLopes]

Dear All,

I have a virtual center in a VM.

I have a backup server install on a physicall server using symantec backup exec.

Am I right to say that I should installed the vmware VCB on the backup server instead of virtual center? I run the VCB on the backup server? What should I do next?

Is there a script I need to configure or run.

Can someone guide me on this.

Thanks

[AndreTheGiant]

You have several choices.

The simple way is have VCB and BE on the same server.

Do you have the Agent for VMware or are you using the integration scripts?

Andre

[ChrisLopes]

Dear Andre,

The customer is purchasing the agent for vmware. So is script still needed?

If Vcenter and the backup is different server, where should I installed the VCB?

After installt he VCB, do I need to do anthing besid entering the backup exec serial number for AVVI?

I'm new to AVVI and have read some artciles but don't quite seem to understand becuase on the backup server, when I add the virtual center, it seem that I'm unable to access.

[AndreTheGiant]

The customer is purchasing the agent for vmware. So is script still needed?

No, you configure VCB and VC access directly in BE, then you can choose your VMs.

Be only sure that vSphere is supported (I think yes).

If Vcenter and the backup is different server, where should I installed the VCB?

Where you want. I usual install VCB on the backup server.

PS: if you want to use LAN free mode (SAN transport) you have to give also an access to the SAN.

After installt he VCB, do I need to do anthing besid entering the backup exec serial number for AVVI?

You have to configure the agent (name of VC and VCB host, credential to access VC).

Andre

[ChrisLopes]

Dear Andre,

Am I right to say that I do not need to configure any pre or post script since I'm using AVVI.

The customer have a SAN. Am i right to say that I add the virtual center and after authenticated, I can view the esx server without installing or pushing any agent into the ESX?

Do you know any website that have such implementation Step by step on achieving it.

Thanks for your help.

[AndreTheGiant]

Am I right to say that I do not need to configure any pre or post script since I'm using AVVI.

Right. BE pre and post script are no needed with the agent.

But you may still want to use quiescence scripts into particular VMs like DBSM:

http://blog.ntgconsult.dk/2009/05/vmware-vcb-example-pre-freeze-and-post-thaw-script.html

Am i right to say that I add the virtual center and after authenticated, I can view the esx server without installing or pushing any agent into the ESX?

True.

But if you want to use SAN transport (LAN free) you need to put a HBA into the VCB/Backup machine and make the right zoning/masking.

Andre

[ChrisLopes]

Hi All,

I would like to use a SAN Free backup. Currently, I'm exploring how this can be done.

Environment

1. I have a Vcenter and vsphere 4.0. The vcenter is also a backup server with a total of 600 GB. The total VM to backup on the SAN is about 1.5 GB and the total used space of VM out of 1.5 GB is 1 TB of data

Task Completed

1. Install VCB software on the symantec backup server

2. Symantec AVVI Agent activated

Questions 1

In the backup server, there is a setting called " Enter a path on the proxy to store the temproar files that VCB Creates" e.g d:\Mnt

Sine my backup has only 600 GB of disk space, does this means I cannot get the VM mounted since the total size is 1.5 TB on the VMFS

What is the implication if i did not select the mount d:\mnt as a path in the backup server.?

Question2

In the past, I think there is a Pre- and post script required, can I confirmed that with this new version of backup exec technology, you just create the schedule as per normal.

Lastly, when it comes to testing of recovering the image, can standalone converter perform the job?

MILLION OF THANKS

[AndreTheGiant]

Sine my backup has only 600 GB of disk space, does this means I cannot get the VM mounted since the total size is 1.5 TB on the VMFS

If you make a Image Level backup you need to store temporally the vmdk files...

So if you have 1,5 TB of vmdk files then could you need 1,5 TB of local space if you have a single job for ALL your VMs.

But you can use more jobs for less VMs (in different hours).

In the past, I think there is a Pre- and post script required, can I confirmed that with this new version of backup exec technology, you just create the schedule as per normal.

Right!

Lastly, when it comes to testing of recovering the image, can standalone converter perform the job?

For image level backup yes.

For file level, you use BE agent.

Andre

[ChrisLopes]

Hi Guru,

Let say if m backup disk server do not have enough disk space and there is no mount point specify and in the SYMANTEC backup server there is no HBA Card. With AVVI Agent enabled, will I be able to perform a backup of the image through without mount point specify in the backup server?

In additional, am I right to say that the image backup is a compress vmdk backup which means that if the vm have c:\ 50 GB and d:\ 500 gb but only uses only c:\20 gb and d:\200gb of data, the images backu is 220 GB?

pLEASE

[AndreTheGiant]

With AVVI Agent enabled, will I be able to perform a backup of the image through without mount point specify in the backup server?

I think no.

In additional, am I right to say that the image backup is a compress vmdk backup which means that if the vm have c:\ 50 GB and d:\ 500 gb but only uses only c:\20 gb and d:\200gb of data, the images backu is 220 GB?

Probably more (but less than 550GB) cause is based on "cleaned" blocks, and when you delete a file the space is not "cleaned".

Andre

[ChrisLopes]

Hi,

With symantec AVVI enabled and the transport mode is "SAN", how does the backup know it is a file level backup or image backup assuming there is no backup exec AGENT only with AVVI enabled?

[AndreTheGiant]

Seems that all backup with AVVI (and without backup exec AGENT in VM) are only at image level.

The only option is use GRT-enabled to do a file level restore.

Andre