5 Ways Smart vSphere Backups May Surprise You

vForum Series

Mario Marquez System Engineer

What do we usually ask of our backups?

Do we only ask simple things?● Keep us safe● Let us restore files● Satisfy auditors● Protect against errors● Meet retention requirements

Other things we want from backups● Lower our storage requirements● We want something that just works!● Keep our jobs!

What is the natural choice?

It seems natural to do backups the same way as always● Agent-based backups● Same tools as physical systems● Tired list of features, complicated to “Get it all”● Cumbersome processes, slow restores

Is this the right decision for vSphere environments?● Maybe, maybe not● What are the protection requirements?

Platform capabilities vSphere can’t be beat

Why do backups differently?

VMware vSphere gives an incredible platform to work with for virtualization.● Rich set of APIs● Many different types of storage are supported● Competitively very mature, features purpose built for VMs

Tools not designed for this platform may miss out We’ll show how your backups may do things you didn’t

think were possible● Specifically, tools such as Veeam Backup & Replication

Surprise #1 – Instant VM Recovery

Allows VMs to run directly from a backup Can get to a usable state in merely minutes

VM Application

(production)

Production Virtual Machine

running from production storage

Production Virtual Machine

vSphere

Veeam Backup

Backup file for virtual machine

Backup of Virtual Machinerunning from the backup file

VM

Application

(vPower)

Surprise #2 – Quick Migration

The Instant VM Recovery trick is nice, but….. I don’t have Storage vMotion…

No problem!● The right backup tool can

accommodate that as well.

One example is Veeam Quick Migration

Surprise #3 – Replication failback

What is replication?● An inventoried and runnable virtual machine on an ESX(i) host● Same site or different site

Is replication the missing link for a DR strategy?● Need backups, need backup files off-site, need separate domains of

failure between entire stack

The failover is the easy part● But what about returning to the production resource?● Especially without a wholesale re-transfer?

Replication failback (continued)

The winning combination is to be able to have options with the replicated VM● Permanent failover, Undo failover, Failback

Taking the differences only, efficient use of storage and bandwidth resources

Why is a smart failback important?

Disaster may be corrected on primary site Storage resources at replicated site Intelligently use (presumably) limited bandwidth Granular control of individual VMs may be desired

Surprise #4 – Multiple Replication Points

Another benefit of replication for a solid DR strategy● Recover from multiple points in time based on replication iteration

Surprise #5 – A virtual lab

We know how to clone VMs BUT, a sophisticated backup

tool can allow us to access the VMs within the backup file.

Reduce disk storage requirements (only changes)● Keep backup read-only!● Isolated from production network!

Did you know?

The right backup tool for vSphere could do ALL of this? In Veeam Backup & Replication, these features are

included at no additional cost. Legacy tools may not be designed to do all that you

need, let alone all that want now that you know what is possible!

But, none of this would be possible without a superior platform: VMware vSphere

Questions?

For more information, contact Veeam!Email: rick.vanover@veeam.comTwitter: @RickVanover

Demos: http://vee.am/demos

Easy to use evaluation program!

Follow @Veeam on Twitter

Veeam blog: www.veeam.com/blog

Veeam Forums: www.veeam.com/forums