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Contents
Executive overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Intended audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Technology overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Comparative technology overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Three sample configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Configuration #1: Verita NetBackup client intalled inide the VMware service Conole . . . . . . . . 6
Configuration #2a: Verita NetBackup client intalled inide each virtual machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Configuration #2b: PureDik client intalled inide each virtual machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Configuration #3: Verita NetBackup for VMware integrated with VMware Conolidated Backup . . . 10
Implementation and deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Configuration #1: Verita NetBackup client intalled inide the VMware service Conole . . . . . . . 11
Configuration #2a: Verita NetBackup client intalled inide each virtual machine . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Configuration #2b: PureDik client intalled inide each virtual machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Configuration #3: Verita NetBackup for VMware integrated with VMware Conolidated Backup . . . 15
Appendix A: Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Appendix B: Additional resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Appendix C: VMware Backup Proxy sizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2
White Paper: Bet Practice
Veritas NetBackup 6.5 for VMware 3.x
Bet Practice
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Executive overview
VMware virtual infratructure oftware i ued by enterprie large and mall to increae the
efficiency and cot-effectivene of their IT operation. Conidered by Gartner to be a mega-
trend, VMware oftware i making it way into data center of every ize. Recognizing thi trend,
Verita NetBackup ha engineered innovative, award winning data protection olution deigned
pecifically for VMware environment. Thi paper cover bet practice for deigning olution
forand protectingVMware virtual machine.
A innovative a virtual machine technology i, it alo introduce new data protection iue.
I it bet to protect the virtual machine (VM) by backing it up via a NetBackup or PureDik client?
I a NetBackup client inide the service Conole the anwer? What about VMware Conolidated
Backup? The relative advantage and diadvantage of thee three backup configuration will be
dicued in detail in thi document.
Intended audience
A there are many way of uing VMware technology, there are jut a many method available
for protecting thi innovative technology. sytem adminitrator and IT technologit can ue thi
paper to determine one of three recommended olution for protecting virtual machine. Each of
thee technologie ha relative advantage and diadvantage.
Technology overview
Two backup paradigm for VMware environment are dicued in thi document:
On-host backup: Thee technologie involve intalling a NetBackup or PureDik Client inide
each virtual machine or on the EsX service Conole. Thi backup methodology i popular becaue
implementation i eentially the ame a with phyical machine backup. The downide i that
backup activity on one virtual machine may alo impact the performance of every virtual machine
hoted on the EsX server. Thi proce i decribed in configuration #1, #2a, and #2b.
Off-host backups: Thi deign take advantage of the VMware Conolidated Backup (VCB)
technology. Introduced with Virtual Infratructure 3, thi sAN or isCsI baed technology offload
backup proceing from the EsX server to a eparate Backup Proxy erver. NetBackup 6.5.1 add
Granular File Retore from full virtual machine (vmdk) backup, an award winning technology
offered only by NetBackup. Thi technology i decribed in configuration #3.
Verita NetBackup 6.5 for VMware 3.x
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Three sample configurations
Configuration #1: Veritas NetBackup client installed inside the VMware Service Console
Reaonably imple to implement, thi could be conidered an off-hot backup technology in the
ene that no NetBackup oftware i intalled inide the virtual machine (figure 1). Intalling
the NetBackup client inide the service Conole give direct acce to the file that make up
the virtual machine (VM)the vmdk file. Thi method i eaiet to implement if the virtual
machine are powered off. In thi tate, the virtual machine are tatic and unchanging. If the VM
are powered on, additional pre-backup proceing or cripting would be recommended to enure
that the VM are in a conitent tate during backup operation. Implementing thi would involve
uing the EsX server built-in naphot functionality (ee Appendix B).
Figure 1. NetBackup client in Service Console
The relative advantage and diadvantage of thi backup configuration are decribed in the
following ection.
Advantages:
Installationisclear-cut.ANetBackupclientcanbeeasilyinstalledontheVMwareService
Conole. Configuring a NetBackup policy uing thi technology i a traightforward a any
tandard client backup.
EntireVMrestoresaresimple.TheclientinsidetheServiceConsoleprovidesbackupand
retore acce to the VM (vmdk) file.
TheServiceConsoleOScanalsobebackedupusingthismethod.
VM
1
VM
2
VMDKVMDK
ESX Service Console
VMFS
VMDK VMDK
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TheentireVMcanbebackedupbybackingupthevmdkfiles.
TheconfigurationsupportsbothLANorSANimplementations.
Disadvantages:
BackupprocessingononeVMimpactsthesystemresourcesavailabletoallremainingVMs
located on the EsX server.
ScriptcreationandmaintenancearelikelyifconsistentbackupsofliveVMsarerequired.
Single(OS-level)filerestorescannotbeperformeddirectlyfromtheNetBackupinterface.
However, ingle file retore can be performed uing VMware created tool uch a mountvm.
exe. see the reource in Appendix B for more information.
Thisconfigurationdoesnotsupportdatabaseorapplicationbackups.
Configuration #2a: Veritas NetBackup client installed inside each virtual machine
Inspiteofthevirtualizationtechnologiesinvolved,VMsarecompleteOSinstallationshostedon
virtualized hardware. Thee intallation can be backed up the uing the ame baic technique a
theirphysicalcounterpartswithaNetBackupclientinsidetheGuestOS(seefigure2).Runninga
NetBackupclientinsidetheVMissupported.StandardOSsupportrulesapply.BackingupaVMin
thi way i eentially like backing up a phyical machine.
Figure 2. NetBackup client in virtual machine
VM
1
VM
2
VMDKVMDK
ESX Service Console
VMFS
VMDK VMDK
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Advantages:
Thisisasimpleandfamiliarimplementation.Traditionally,mostphysicalmachinebackups
have been performed thi way, which make the tranition to VM backup uing thi technology
a traightforward tak.
Singlefilebackupsaresupported.
AllbackedupdataiscorrectlyreferencedintheNetBackupcatalogtotheoriginatingVM.
RestorationdirectlytotheVMissupported.
Incrementalbackupsareeasilyconfigured.
AdvancedbackuptechnologiessuchasSyntheticBackupsaresupported.
Databasebackupsaresupportedaswell.Configurationisassimpleasinstallingand
configuring the appropriate databae agent.
Disadvantages:
Entirevirtualmachine(atOSlevel)restoresaremorecomplex.
FullVM(vmdk)restoresarenotpossible.
ThebackupprocessingloadononeVMwillnegativelyimpactsystemresourcesavailableto
other VM hoted on the ame phyical erver. Backup cheduling hould take thi iue into
account. Resource-intensivebackupsoftenplaceaheavyloadonsharednetworkandCPUresources.
ClientsoftwareinstalledoneachVMneedstobemaintainedandupdated.
TheVMmustbepoweredonforbackupprocessingtooccur.
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Configuration #2b: PureDisk client installed inside each virtual machine
Thi configuration i jut like configuration #2a, except that a PureDik client i ued.
Figure 3. PureDisk client in virtual machine
Advantages:
Thisisasimpleandfamiliarimplementation.Traditionally,mostphysicalmachinebackups
have been performed thi way, which make the tranition to VM backup uing thi technology
a traightforward tak.
Singlefilebackupsaresupported.
Allbacked-updataiscorrectlyreferencedinthePureDiskMetaBase(catalog)totheoriginatingVM.
RestorationdirectlytotheVMissupported.
SQLServerandExchangebackupsaresupportedaswell.Configurationisassimpleas
configuring the appropriate type of backup.
Workswithanystoragetype:SAN,NAS,DAS,oriSCSI.
Disadvantages:
Entirevirtualmachine(atOSlevel)restoresaremorecomplex.
FullVM(vmdk)restoresarenotpossible.
ThebackupprocessingloadononeVMmaynegativelyimpactsystemresourcesavailabletoother
VM hoted on the ame phyical erver. Backup cheduling hould take thi iue into account.
ClientsoftwareinstalledoneachVMneedstobemaintainedandupdated.
TheVMmustbepoweredonforbackupprocessingtooccur.
VM
1
VM
2
VMDKVMDK
ESX Service Console
VMFS
VMDK VMDK
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Configuration #3: Veritas NetBackup for VMware integrated with VMware
Consolidated Backup
NetBackup for VMware provide an alternate client backup technology for virtual machine with
integratedfilerecovercapabilities(seefigure4).UsedinconjunctionwithVMwareConsolidated
Backup (VCB) off-hot data protection technology from VMware, NetBackup 6.5 build on and
ignificantly enhance the VMware olution. Baic VCB integration i included with NetBackup 6.5.
Enhanced Granular File Retore from a vmdk backup i planned for releae in NetBackup 6.5.1.
Figure 4. VMware Consolidated Backup
Advantages:
Tworestoreoptionsfromasinglebackup:singlefilerestoreorentire(vmdklevel)VMrestore.
IntegrationwiththeVMwareConvertertechnologygreatlysimplifiesrestoresofVMs.
Allbacked-updataiscorrectlyreferencedintheNetBackupcatalogtotheoriginatingVM.
BackupimpactonthetargetVMandotherVMshostedonthesamephysicalmachineisminimized.
ThereisnoneedtoinstallNetBackupsoftwareontheVMorinsidetheESXServiceConsole.
IntegrationwithVMwareVirtualCenterprovideseasyvirtualmachinediscovery.
TheconfigurationisDistributedResourceScheduling(DRS)andVMotionaware.
Disadvantages:
TheconfigurationrequiresasharedSANoriSCSIenvironmentandaseparateW2K3ProxyServer.
Live(hot)applicationordatabasebackupsrequireadditionalpre-andpost-backupprocessing
to enure backup data conitency.
GranularfilerestoreiscurrentlylimitedtosupportforWindowsVMs.
VM
ESX
VMDKStaging
area Datastore
Disk
BackupProxy
VMDK
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Implementation and deployment
Configuration #1: Veritas NetBackup client installed inside the VMware Service Console
Installation procedure
There are two major component to intalling thi configuration:
The firt intallation tak i the eaiet a it imply involve intalling a NetBackup client
insidetheRedHatLinuxbasedESXServiceConsole.
The econd tak i technically not requiredbut it i recommended. It involve implementing
a cript to prepare the VM for backup. If the VM i powered on and running, the data in the VM
file (vmdk) file will be in an inconitent tate and changing. The VM (vmdk) file can be backed
up, butbecaue the backup i conidered crah-conitentretore are not aured. To avoid
thi iue, cripting would be required to either hut down the VM or (more commonly) create a
naphot of the VM. NetBackup doe not provide cript for the purpoe.
Configuration
Thi deployment require no pecific hardware configuration. It doe, however, have a few imple
requirement that are imilar to any tandard network backup configuration. For example, theEsX service Conole mut have network acce to the NetBackup Media server and it hotname
mut be reolvable.
Configuring a NetBackup Policy: NetBackup policy configuration i reaonably traightforward,
but a few iue hould be kept in mind:
When defining backup election, do not ue the bae VMFs directory on the EsX server a a
backup election; intead, elect a child folder within the vmf directory. For example, to back up
virtual machine that exit within the datatore1 datatore, you would elect the following path
on the EsX server a the backup path within the Backup selection tab on the NetBackup policy
definition:
/vmf/volume/dattore1
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Restoration procedure
Usingthisprocedure,theVMvmdkfileshavebeensafelybackedup.RestoringtheVMbasedon
thee vmdk file i a two-tep proce. The baic procedure i a follow:
1.UsingtheNetBackupBackupArchiveandRestoreGUI,thevmdkfilesshouldberestoredto
either pace located on the EsX service Conole or an NFs mount that i acceible to the EsX
server.
2.Oncethevmdkfileshavebeenrestored,theymustbereintroducedorregisteredtotheESX
server uing the vcbRetore command. The entire procedure i outlined in the Virtual MachineBackup Guide. see Appendix B for more information.
Hints, tips and best practices
There are everal area where configuring hardware and oftware can greatly enhance the
reliability of VM backup a well a decreae the impact backup have on VM.
Limit the number of imultaneou backup that occur on a datatore. Thi limit the impact
that backup operation have on each datatore and, in-turn, decreae the impact that backup
will have on all VM haring that datatore. Thi can be configured in the policy definition uing
the Limit Job Per Policy attribute (ee figure 5).
Figure 5. NetBackup policy configuration
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Configure (align) NetBackup policie with VMware datatore. To do thi, create each policy
o that every virtual machine defined in a policy reide on the ame datatore.
Configure the policy to limit the number of job that run imultaneouly, thereby limiting the
number of backup operation that occur againt thi datatore.
Configuration #2a: Veritas NetBackup client installed inside each virtual machine
Installation procedure
From an intallation perpective, thi configuration i one of the mot traightforward. A
NetBackup client i imply intalled inide the VM. The intallation procedure for a VM i
essentiallythesameasitwouldbefortheOShostedonaphysical(notvirtual)machine.
Configuration
For tandard file backup, the client configuration in the VM i the ame configuration procedure
a for a phyical machine. simply follow the intallation intruction provided with the client.
Configuring a NetBackup Policy: Baic NetBackup client policy configuration hould be modified
to take into account the phyical layout of the EsX server, the VM targeted for backup, and the
datatore or datatore that the VM reide on.
Restoration procedure
Oneadvantageofthisconfigurationisthatrestorescaneasilybeandaretypicallydirected
toward the original VM. The previouly intalled NetBackup client make thi proce exactly the
ame a if the retore were occurring to a phyical hot.
Hints, tips and best practices
Thi backup configuration i an on-hot tyle of backup. Accordingly, backup activitie on a ingle
VM can create a ignificant amount of load on the parent EsX serverand, therefore, indirectlyimpact every other VM that i alo hoted on the EsX server. Backup policie hould be defined to
limit the number of imultaneou backup job that are running on each phyical EsX server.
NetBackup include synthetic Backup technology that can be ued to minimize or eliminate
full backup. If only incremental backup are performed, only the data that ha changed ince the
previousbackupiscopiedtotheNetBackupMediaServer,whichsignificantlydecreasestheI/O
aociated with backup and the amount of backup network traffic.
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OnWindowshosts,theWindowsChangeJournalcanalsobeimplementedtoreducethe
backup impact that occur during incremental backup.
Thi backup technique lend itelf very well to databae backup. Configuring a databae
backup in a VM i eentially the ame a configuring the ame databae backup on a phyical
machine. Thi technique can implify and enhance VM databae backup, often providing
incremental capabilitie and retore directly to the VM.
Limit the number of imultaneou backup that occur on a datatore. Thi limit the impact
that backup operation have on each datatore and, in turn, decreae the impact that backup
will have on all VM haring that datatore. Thi can be configured in the policy definition uing
the limit job per policy attribute (ee figure 5).
Configure (align) NetBackup policie with VMware datatore. To do thi, create each policy
o that every virtual machine defined in a policy reide on the ame datatore.
Configuration #2b: PureDisk client installed inside each virtual machine
Installation procedure
From an intallation perpective, thi configuration i one of the mot traightforward. A PureDik
client i imply intalled inide the VM. The intallation procedure for a VM i eentially the ameasitwouldbefortheOShostedonaphysical(notvirtual)machine.
Configuration
Client configuration in the VM i the ame configuration procedure a for a phyical machine.
simply follow the intallation intruction provided with the client.
Configuring a PureDisk policy: Baic PureDik client policy and dataelection configuration
hould be modified to take into account the phyical layout of the EsX server, the VM targeted
for backup, and the datatore or datatore that the VM reide on.
Restoration procedure
Oneadvantageofthisconfigurationisthatrestorescaneasilybeandtypicallyaredirected
toward the original VM. The previouly intalled PureDik client make thi proce exactly the
ame a if the retore were occurring to a phyical hot.
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1. Enure that the hardware (epecially the sAN) i configured properly. The datatore where the
target vmdk file exit mut be viible and acceible to both the EsX server and the Backup
Proxy. VMware alo ha pecific hardware and configuration requirement. An important
component of reliable VCB backup i a properly configured sAN environment. VMware sAN
requirement can be found in the VMware sAN Configuration Guide, located at:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_an_guide.pdf
2. OntheBackupProxy,installthesupportedversionoftheVMwareConsolidatedBackupFramework.
The intallation of thi VMware component require no pecific configuration tak.
3. Intall the NetBackup component of choice (Mater, Media, or Client) on the VMware Backup Proxy.
A you can ee, once the hardware i intalled and properly configured, the oftware
intallation procedure i traightforward.
Configuration
Thi backup method entail two primary configuration tak: configuration of the two VMware
Conolidated Backup component within NetBackup. Thoe component are:
The Virtual Center Serveror optionally the individual EsX server, if no Virtual Center server i ued VMware Backup Proxythe component where the VMware image are mounted and backed
Both of thee entitie are defined within the NetBackup Admin Conole. Conult the
NetBackup for VMware Configuration Guide (ee Appendix B).
Configuring a NetBackup policy: A NetBackup for VMware policy can be created either manually
or with the help of the NetBackup naphot wizard. With NetBackup 6.5, integration with either
the EsX server or the Virtual Center server provide implified virtual machine dicovery.
SeveralNetBackupforVMwarepolicyattributesarespecifictoVMwarebackups.Optimal
backup performance can be achieved if thee attribute are correctly applied. The attribute and
their recommended etting are a follow:
ClientdefinitionsThi policy attribute i probably the ingle mot important policy etting
in VMware environment. When client are added to a policy, it i recommended that they
be aligned with the torage or datatore on which thee VM reide. For example, if you have
40 VM configured on two datatore and 20 VM reide on each datatore, two policie could
be created. Each policy would be aligned with the 20 VM that are intalled on the aociated
datatore. Thi technique would allow for direct control over how many imultaneou backup
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and ubequent VCB naphot that could be created at any given time. Thi would alo allow
the backup adminitrator to limit that impact that naphot and redo creation and deletion
wouldhaveoneachindividualdatastore,improvingbackupreliabilityandminimizingI/O
contention. Thi policy definition recommendation can be extended for every VM client/
datatore relationhip in the environment.
Snapshot mount pointThisisdefinedwithintheSnapshotMethodOptionsportionofthe
policydefinition(seefigure7).Onlyonesnapshotmountpointcanbedefinedperpolicybut
multiple policy definition can be ued to take advantage of multiple naphot mount point.While the ize of thi mount point mut be at leat a large a the total number of imultaneou
VMbackups,theI/Operformanceofthismountpointisanimportantconsiderationaswell.
When the FullVM backup technology i ued, the VM vmdk file are copied to thi mount point.
ThemoreI/Ocapacitythismountpointhas,thefasterthevmdkfilescanbecopiedtothis
mount point and the quicker the VM naphot can be releaed. Thi limit the amount of time
that the naphot exit, which in turn limit that amount of redo log creationand all of thi
managestheI/Oimpactthatbackupoperationshaveonthedatastore.
Figure 7
LimitjobsperpolicyThi policy attribute can be ued to limit the number of imultaneou
naphot that occur on each datatore. Different torage environment can upport a varying
number of imultaneou backup. The recommended number of imultaneou job that are
configured for each policy/datatore combination will depend on the quality of the torage
infratructure involved. Bet practice would dictate that thi number hould be kept in the low
singledigits.Onetechniquefordeterminingthemaximumnumberofsimultaneoussupportable
VM
ESX
VMDKStaging
area Datastore
Disk
BA
BackupProxy
VMDK
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naphot i to run tet backup, gradually increaing the limit job per policy attribute until
policycreationanddeletionnolongerreliablyoccuroruntiltheI/OimpactontheVMs
aociated with the datatore begin to have a negative impact on the performance of the
aociated VM.
Restoration procedure
Single file restoresNetBackup for VMware doe not require that a NetBackup client be intalled
inide either the VM or inide the VMware service Conole. For thi reaon, direct retore tothe VM are not poible unle a NetBackup client i intalled inide the VM. Alternatively, an
alternate client retore can be performed to a Window hare, and the retored file may be
acceed and tranferred to the VM through thi hare.
FullVM restoresEntire VM retore can be manually performed by retoring the vmdk file to
a taging area and then moving and regitering the vmdk file to the target EsX server uing the
VMware command vcbRetore.exe. Automatic VM retore can be performed by directing FullVM
retore to a VMware Converter server. The Converter server automatically retore the VM to the
pecified EsX server and regiter the VM.
Hints, tips, and best practices
The ucce of VCB naphot creation and deletion can be directly attributed to two thing:
TheamountofI/OoccurringontheVMdatastoreduringsnapshotcreation
ThecorrectdesignoftheI/Osubstructureassociatedwitheachdatastore
To avoid naphot-aociated iue, backup hould be cheduled during time of relatively
lowI/OactivityontheVM.Reducingthenumberofsimultaneousbackups(and,inturn,VCB
naphot) can help with thi, a well. Thi can be done via the limit job per policy attribute
withinthepolicydefinition.ForcorrectI/Odesignandimplementation,consulttheVMware
documentation lited in Appendix B.
Group VM in a policy with a ingle datatore. In other word, align NetBackup policie with
each datatore. Thi allow you to manually iolate and control the amount of backup-related
I/Othatoccursperdatastorewhich,inturn,limitstheimpactthatbackupI/Ohasonthetarget
VM.
The VMware Backup Proxy can be configured a a NetBackup Mater, Media, or Client. We
recommend that the Backup Proxy be configured a a media erver. The Backup Proxy i a natural
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focalpointforbackup-relatedI/O.BackupProxyaccesstoVMfilesistypicallymadethrougha
fat Fibre or isCsI connection. In mot configuration, it make the mot ene to avoid uing only
a NetBackup client to end VM backup data through the networka low, hared reource.
TheuseofmultipleBackupProxyserversissupportedwithNetBackup.OnceasingleBackup
Proxy i aturated with backup proceing (ee Appendix C), another Backup Proxy can be added
to increae backup throughput capacity.
OnceaVCBsnapshotiscreated,dataistransferredfromtheVMdatastoretotheBackup
Proxy mount point. The completion peed of the naphot proce can be ignificantly enhanced
if care i made to enure that the data path from the datatore to the naphot mount point i a
fat a poible. The naphot mount point hould be configured over a many dedicated pindle
a poible. The vcbMounter.exe command can be ued to perform naphot creation and tranfer
performance tet. Thi can be done by invoking the vcbMounter.exe command from the Backup
Proxy. For example, if you wanted to tet the naphot throughput rate of a VM named vm100.
verita.com to a Backup Proxy named proxy1.verita.com, you would run the vcbmounter.exe
command from the Backup Proxy a follow:
vcbMounter.exe -h ex1.verita.com u root -p foobar -a ipaddr:vm100.verita.com\-r d:\mnt\
vm100.verita.com-FullVM-t fullvm
Where the following VCB component are defined:
EsX server = ex1.verita.com
Root uer on ex1.verita.com = root
Root paword = foobar
Virtual Machine = vm100.verita.com
Mount point on Backup Proxy = d:\mnt\vm100.verita.com-FullVM
Multiple mount point (ued to tage VCB naphot) can be defined and ued on the Backup
Proxy erver (ee figure 8). Properly configured, additional VCB mount point can increae data
backupthroughputontheBackupProxybyusingadditionalstagingareastoextendI/Ocapacity.
NewstagingmountpointsthataredefinedshouldbecreatedonseparateanddedicatedI/O
channels,isolatingI/OtrafficfromothermountpointsthatexistonagivenBackupProxy.
Each mount point (ued to tage VCB naphot) hould be a eparate file ytem created
on a dedicated sCsI or Fibre Channel bu. However, if the mount point hare pace with other
file or data, the mount point file ytem hould be defragmented at regular interval, promoting
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Verita NetBackup 6.5 for VMware 3.x
VMware Consolidated Backup FrameworkAn off-hot backup API created by VMware, deigned
to offload backup proceing from the EsX server.
VMware ToolsIntalled inide each virtual machine, VMware Tool enhance virtual machine
performance and add additional backup-related functionality.
Appendix B. Additional resources
Storage/SAN Compatibility Guide For ESX Server 3.x. A critical component for making ure that
the sAN environment i configured with upported equipment; it will help enure that VCB tyle
backup are a reliable a poible:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_an_guide.pdf
I/O Compatibility Guide For ESX Server 3.x. Provide pecific hardware and driver compatibility
information for EsX 3.x:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_io_guide.pdf
SAN Configuration Guide. Provide baic configuration information related to Fibre environment:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_30_20_an_cfg.pdf
Consolidated Backup in VMware Infrastructure 3. An introduction to the VCB technology:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_conolidated_backup.pdf
Virtual Machine Backup Guide. A VMware created paper that dicue everal facet of virtual
machine backup including VCB:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_301_201_vm_backup.pdf
Veritas NetBackup Backup Planning and Performance Tuning Guide. Provide ignificant detail
related to NetBackup Media server (and, in turn, the Backup Proxy):
http://upport.verita.com/doc/281842
Veritas NetBackup for VMware Configuration. Decribe how to configure NetBackup for
VMware virtual machine backup with or without a Virtual Infratructure environment:
http://entupport.ymantec.com/doc/289771
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Appendix C. VMware Backup Proxy sizing
During VCB backup, the Backup Proxy erver perform a ignificant amount of backup
proceing. Proper izing of the Backup Proxy erver can help enure maximum backup
performance of the virtual machine environment. Accurately characterizing the capacity of the
Backup Proxy can be broken down into three main area:
1. VCB data pathThi i the entire data path that the VCB-created data will follow during the
backup lifecycle. During the firt phae of the backup proce, the vmdk file are tranferred
from the EsX server datatore to the VCB taging area for a FullVM tyle backup. Thi occur afollow (ee figure 7):
A.After the naphot creation, virtual machine data flow occur between the EsX datatore
and the Backup Proxy. Both isCsI and Fibre Channel technologie are upported for thi
connection.
B.Data i then tranferred from the Backup Proxy to a dik taging area where backup
proceing occur.
Keep in mind that both data path (A and B) decribed above are ued during the initial
copy of the vmdk file. The throughput of the entire data path decribed here i an importantcomponent when determining backup performance. The actual vmdk backup doe not begin
until the entire file copy proce (from the datatore to the taging area) ha been completed.
2. Veritas NetBackup data pathWith VCB backup, the entire backup proce i not over until
the proce of writing data to the NetBackup torage unit i complete. Thi i why the path
from the VCB taging area to the NetBackup torage unit hould be a deign concern.
OncethevmdkfilesarecopiedtotheBackupProxy,thenextstepisforthemtobebackedup
by NetBackup. The Backup Proxy can be a NetBackup Mater, Media, or Client. To maximize
backup throughput, the Backup Proxy hould be configured a a Mater or Media erver o
thatclientdataiswrittendirectlytoaDSUortape(seefigure8)andnotfirstsentoverthe
networktypically a relatively lower tranfer medium than torage directly attached to the
NetBackup Media erver.
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Verita NetBackup 6.5 for VMware 3.x
Figure 8
3. Backup Proxy sizingThe VCB backup proce offload backup proceing from the EsX
server to the Backup Proxy. Thi mean that pecial care hould be taken to enure that the
BackupProxyhasenoughsystemresourcestosupporttheamountofI/Othatwillberequired
of it.
Here are ome baic guideline that hould be followed when deigning the Backup Proxy:
BackupProxyServerI/OperformanceisgenerallymoreimportantthanCPUperformance.
CPU,I/O,andmemoryexpandabilityshouldalsobeaconsiderationwhenchoosingaserver. SizetheCPUtosupport10MHzofCPUavailableper1MB/secondofdatathroughputinand
out of the Backup Proxy.
TheinternalbusoftheBackupProxyshouldbefastenoughtosupporttheI/Odevices
connectedtoit.IfmultipleI/Oportsareused,asystemwithmultipleinternalbusesshould
beconsideredtosupporttheadditionalI/O.
More NetBackup-pecific izing information can be found in the NetBackup Backup Planning
and Performance Tuning Guide that can be found here:
http://upport.verita.com/doc/281842
The VCB naphot mount point (taging area) hould be ized uing the following equation:
MountPointSize(GB)=(NUM_VM)(AVG_SIZE)
Where:
NUM_VM= Larget number of VM to backed up imultaneouly
AVG_SIZE= Average ize of the larget VM to be backed up imultaneouly.
Backup
Proxy
Stagingarea
Disk
Disk or tape
storage unit
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For example, if five VM are to be backed up imultaneouly, take the five larget VM in the
environment, calculate their average ize, and ue that number a (AVG_SIZE) in thi equation.
Keep in mind that the VCB naphot area i only a temporary taging area and i reued a VM
backup are proceed. While an extremely mall taging area can create a backup bottleneck
in the VCB backup proce, if the Backup Proxy taging area i deigned large enough to
upport a nominal amount of VM during the backup proce, the taging area ize hould not
impede backup performance.
I/Othroughputisanotherperformancemetricthatshouldbeconsideredwhensizingthe
Backup Proxy. For example, a 2 Gb Fibre connection hould be able to tranfer either VCB
naphot or backup data at a nominal tranfer rate of 140 MB/econd. Additional izing
information can be found in the Verita NetBackup Backup Planning and Performance Tuning
Guide (ee Appendix B).
ConclusionOverallbackupperformanceofeachBackupProxywillbedefinedbytheslowest
component of the entire backup data path. Thee component are:
BackupProxysystemresources:CPU,internalbus,RAM
VCBsnapshotcreationtime SizeofthestagingarealocatedontheBackupProxy
I/OperformanceofdatapathbetweenESXdatastoreandBackupProxystagingarea
DatapathbetweenBackupProxystagingareaandtheNetBackupstorageunit
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