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public:vmware [2019/08/16 15:56]
ronnie.chan
public:vmware [2022/11/28 11:11] (current)
kirk.lim Last modified: 2019/08/26 12:03 by ronnie.chan
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 ====== VMware Backup Set ====== ====== VMware Backup Set ======
 +
 +Last modified: 2019/08/26 (Note: Content written for AhsayCBS v7+v8, and may generally apply to latest product release)
  
 AhsayOBM allows you to back up individual Guest virtual machines (VMs) on your VMware hosts with our VMware Backup Set. VMware Guest VM backup module of AhsayOBM provides you with a set of tools to perform hot backup of your running VMs in VMware environment. ​ AhsayOBM allows you to back up individual Guest virtual machines (VMs) on your VMware hosts with our VMware Backup Set. VMware Guest VM backup module of AhsayOBM provides you with a set of tools to perform hot backup of your running VMs in VMware environment. ​
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 When a Run Direct restore is performed, the backup destination is mounted as an NFS datastore from the VMware host, where the VM is run directly from the backup files. ​ When a Run Direct restore is performed, the backup destination is mounted as an NFS datastore from the VMware host, where the VM is run directly from the backup files. ​
  
-{{public:ahsay_wiki_module_vmware_system_architecture_2b.png?640}}+{{public:ahsay_wiki_module_vmware_system_architecture_2.png?800}}
  
 The backup destination can either be the AhsayCBS server or a local drive that can connect with AhsayOBM. Initiating a Run Direct from the AhsayCBS (also known as agentless restore) will trigger a connection directly with the VMWare host (ESXi server and the direction shown in orange indicator below), while initiating the same action on the AhsayOBM requires the connection to route through the OBM (shown in green indication below). ​ The backup destination can either be the AhsayCBS server or a local drive that can connect with AhsayOBM. Initiating a Run Direct from the AhsayCBS (also known as agentless restore) will trigger a connection directly with the VMWare host (ESXi server and the direction shown in orange indicator below), while initiating the same action on the AhsayOBM requires the connection to route through the OBM (shown in green indication below). ​
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 The NFS datastore is dismounted. The NFS datastore is dismounted.
  
-<​WRAP ​prewrap> +<​WRAP ​info>
-<​code>​ +
-NOTE+
 For vCenter VM backup set, provided that the vMotion feature of the vCenter set is working properly, the VM will not be suspended during the data consolidation. For vCenter VM backup set, provided that the vMotion feature of the vCenter set is working properly, the VM will not be suspended during the data consolidation.
-</​code>​ 
 </​WRAP>​ </​WRAP>​
  
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 For backup of virtual machines on vCenter / ESXi servers, make sure the following requirements are met. For backup of virtual machines on vCenter / ESXi servers, make sure the following requirements are met.
  
 +<WRAP indent>
 === ESXi / vCenter Patch Release === === ESXi / vCenter Patch Release ===
 Make sure that the latest supported patch release is installed on the vCenter / ESXi hosts to prevent critical issue, such as [[https://​kb.vmware.com/​kb/​2090639|corruption to change tracking data in certain situation]]. Make sure that the latest supported patch release is installed on the vCenter / ESXi hosts to prevent critical issue, such as [[https://​kb.vmware.com/​kb/​2090639|corruption to change tracking data in certain situation]].
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 [[https://​kb.vmware.com/​s/​article/​2131180]] [[https://​kb.vmware.com/​s/​article/​2131180]]
  
-<​WRAP ​prewrap> +<​WRAP ​info>
-<​code>​ +
-NOTE+
 Ports 443 and 902 are default ports for VMware. Ports 443 and 902 are default ports for VMware.
 If these have been changed from the default in your VMware environment,​ the firewall requirements will change accordingly. If these have been changed from the default in your VMware environment,​ the firewall requirements will change accordingly.
-</​code>​ 
 </​WRAP>​ </​WRAP>​
  
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 VMware Tools are used to quiesce VMs prior to backing them up. To create consistent backup for your VMs on Windows platforms, ensure that VMware Tools are installed, and up-to-date on all VMs to be backup. ​ VMware Tools are used to quiesce VMs prior to backing them up. To create consistent backup for your VMs on Windows platforms, ensure that VMware Tools are installed, and up-to-date on all VMs to be backup. ​
  
-<​WRAP ​prewrap> +<​WRAP ​info>
-<​code>​ +
-NOTE+
 Quiescing is a process that ensures that the disk data is in a state suitable for backups to reduce the possibility of data corruption upon restore. This is especially important for transactional-based applications running on VMs like MS SQL Server.  ​ Quiescing is a process that ensures that the disk data is in a state suitable for backups to reduce the possibility of data corruption upon restore. This is especially important for transactional-based applications running on VMs like MS SQL Server.  ​
 There are different types of quiescing mechanisms, according to the guest operating systems (e.g. Crash-consistent,​ File-system-consistent and Application-consist quiescing). There are different types of quiescing mechanisms, according to the guest operating systems (e.g. Crash-consistent,​ File-system-consistent and Application-consist quiescing).
-</​code>​ 
 </​WRAP>​ </​WRAP>​
  
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 Refer to this link for information on the supported and compatible virtual machine hardware versions in VMware vSphere: Refer to this link for information on the supported and compatible virtual machine hardware versions in VMware vSphere:
 [[https://​kb.vmware.com/​selfservice/​microsites/​search.do?​language=en_US&​cmd=displayKC&​externalId=2007240|ESXi/​ESX hosts and compatible virtual machine hardware versions list (2007240)]] [[https://​kb.vmware.com/​selfservice/​microsites/​search.do?​language=en_US&​cmd=displayKC&​externalId=2007240|ESXi/​ESX hosts and compatible virtual machine hardware versions list (2007240)]]
 +</​WRAP>​
  
 ==== Backup Client Computer Requirements ==== ==== Backup Client Computer Requirements ====
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 Ensure that the following requirements are met by the Backup Client Computer or the vCenter computer: Ensure that the following requirements are met by the Backup Client Computer or the vCenter computer:
  
 +<WRAP indent>
 === Hardware Requirement === === Hardware Requirement ===
   * Refer to this [[public:​8000_faq:​ahsay_hardware_requirement_list_hrl_for_version_8.1_or_above|Hardware Requirement List]] for the list of hardware requirements for AhsayOBM.   * Refer to this [[public:​8000_faq:​ahsay_hardware_requirement_list_hrl_for_version_8.1_or_above|Hardware Requirement List]] for the list of hardware requirements for AhsayOBM.
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   * To optimize performance of AhsayOBM on Windows, and to avoid conflict with your antivirus software, refer to [[public:​8014_faq:​suggestion_on_antivirus_exclusions|this article]] for the list of processes and directory paths that should be added to all antivirus software white-list / exclusion list.   * To optimize performance of AhsayOBM on Windows, and to avoid conflict with your antivirus software, refer to [[public:​8014_faq:​suggestion_on_antivirus_exclusions|this article]] for the list of processes and directory paths that should be added to all antivirus software white-list / exclusion list.
  
-<​WRAP ​prewrap> +<​WRAP ​info>
-<​code>​ +
-NOTE+
 For AhsayOBM version 8.1 or above, the bJW.exe process is automatically added to Windows Defender exclusion list for Windows 10 and 2016, during installation / upgrade via installer or upgrade via AUA.  For AhsayOBM version 8.1 or above, the bJW.exe process is automatically added to Windows Defender exclusion list for Windows 10 and 2016, during installation / upgrade via installer or upgrade via AUA. 
-</​code>​ 
 </​WRAP>​ </​WRAP>​
  
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 [[https://​kb.vmware.com/​s/​article/​2131180]] [[https://​kb.vmware.com/​s/​article/​2131180]]
  
-<​WRAP ​prewrap> +<​WRAP ​info>
-<​code>​ +
-NOTE+
 Ports 443 and 902 are default ports for VMware. Ports 443 and 902 are default ports for VMware.
 If these have been changed from the default in your VMware environment,​ the firewall requirements will change accordingly. If these have been changed from the default in your VMware environment,​ the firewall requirements will change accordingly.
-</​code>​ 
 </​WRAP>​ </​WRAP>​
  
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 For Backup Client Computer running on Linux operating system platform, Graphical User Interface (GUI) environment (e.g. GOME or KDE) must be installed. For Backup Client Computer running on Linux operating system platform, Graphical User Interface (GUI) environment (e.g. GOME or KDE) must be installed.
  
-<​WRAP ​prewrap> +<​WRAP ​important>
-<​code>​ +
-IMPORTANT+
 Run Direct restore, VDDK backup mode and Granular Restore is not supported for Backup Client Computer on Linux / Mac OS X platforms. Run Direct restore, VDDK backup mode and Granular Restore is not supported for Backup Client Computer on Linux / Mac OS X platforms.
-</​code>​ 
 </​WRAP>​ </​WRAP>​
  
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 **(Total File Size * Delta Ratio) * number of backup destinations = Maximum Free Space Required** **(Total File Size * Delta Ratio) * number of backup destinations = Maximum Free Space Required**
  
-<​WRAP ​prewrap> +<​WRAP ​info>
-<​code>​ +
-NOTE+
 The calculation is based on the current guest VM size, and it does not take into account guest VM growth over time.  It is recommended for fast growing guest VM the maximum free space required should be reviewed on a regular basis to avoid potential backup problems. The calculation is based on the current guest VM size, and it does not take into account guest VM growth over time.  It is recommended for fast growing guest VM the maximum free space required should be reviewed on a regular basis to avoid potential backup problems.
-</​code>​ 
 </​WRAP>​ </​WRAP>​
  
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 === Backup Quota Requirement === === Backup Quota Requirement ===
 Make sure that your AhsayOBM user account has sufficient quota assigned to accommodate the storage for the guest virtual machines. ​ Contact your backup service provider for details. Make sure that your AhsayOBM user account has sufficient quota assigned to accommodate the storage for the guest virtual machines. ​ Contact your backup service provider for details.
 +</​WRAP>​
  
 ==== Run Direct Requirements ==== ==== Run Direct Requirements ====
 Run Direct is a feature that helps reduce disruption and downtime of your production VMs. To utilize the Run Direct feature, ensure that the following requirements are met: Run Direct is a feature that helps reduce disruption and downtime of your production VMs. To utilize the Run Direct feature, ensure that the following requirements are met:
  
 +<WRAP indent>
 === VDDK Backup Mode === === VDDK Backup Mode ===
 Run Direct restore is only supported for virtual machine that is backed up in VDDK mode (Virtual Disk Development Kit) for ESX/ESXi and vCenter setup. With VDDK mode, the backup speed is enhanced because the generation of the delta file of the VM are performed directly by the ESX/ESXi or vCenter itself. For being able to backup in VDDK mode, AhsayOBM must be installed on a supported Windows operating system platform. Run Direct restore is only supported for virtual machine that is backed up in VDDK mode (Virtual Disk Development Kit) for ESX/ESXi and vCenter setup. With VDDK mode, the backup speed is enhanced because the generation of the delta file of the VM are performed directly by the ESX/ESXi or vCenter itself. For being able to backup in VDDK mode, AhsayOBM must be installed on a supported Windows operating system platform.
  
 +<WRAP indent>
 == License Requirement == == License Requirement ==
 The VMware vSphere Storage APIs, which are essential for VDDK backup mode, are included with the VMware vSphere Enterprise Standard, Enterprise and Enterprise Plus Edition. Ensure that the license requirement is met. The VMware vSphere Storage APIs, which are essential for VDDK backup mode, are included with the VMware vSphere Enterprise Standard, Enterprise and Enterprise Plus Edition. Ensure that the license requirement is met.
  
-<​WRAP ​prewrap> +<​WRAP ​info>
-<​code>​ +
-NOTE+
 For VM on free version of ESXi without a Run Direct backup destination,​ backup will be performed in non-VDDK mode.  For VM on free version of ESXi without a Run Direct backup destination,​ backup will be performed in non-VDDK mode. 
 For VM on free version of ESXi with a Run Direct backup destination,​ the following error message would be returned during a backup: For VM on free version of ESXi with a Run Direct backup destination,​ the following error message would be returned during a backup:
 ”Skip backing up Virtual Machine “name"​. Reason = "Run Direct is only support to VDDK backup mode"​”. ”Skip backing up Virtual Machine “name"​. Reason = "Run Direct is only support to VDDK backup mode"​”.
-</​code>​ 
 </​WRAP>​ </​WRAP>​
  
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   * The VM must be hardware version 7 or later.   * The VM must be hardware version 7 or later.
   * The VM must have zero (0) snapshots when CBT is enabled.   * The VM must have zero (0) snapshots when CBT is enabled.
-  * The virtual disk must be located on a VMFS volume backed by SAN, iSCSI, local disk, or a NFS volume. \\ <​WRAP ​prewrap>​ +  * The virtual disk must be located on a VMFS volume backed by SAN, iSCSI, local disk, or a NFS volume. \\ <​WRAP ​info> NOTE 
-<code> NOTE +For virtual disk on VMFS, the initial backup (e.g. full file backup) will be of size similar to used size; while for virtual disk on NFS, the initial backup will be of the provisioned size.
-For virtual disk on VMFS, the initial backup (e.g. full file backup) will be of size similar to used size; while for virtual disk on NFS, the initial backup will be of the provisioned size. </​code>​+
 </​WRAP>​ </​WRAP>​
   * RDM (Raw Device Mapping) in physical compatibility mode is not supported.   * RDM (Raw Device Mapping) in physical compatibility mode is not supported.
-  * The virtual disk must not be in Independent Mode (Persistent or Nonpersistent). \\ <​WRAP ​prewrap> +  * The virtual disk must not be in Independent Mode (Persistent or Nonpersistent). \\ <​WRAP ​info
-<​code>​ NOTE +Once the backup job executed on a VM with change block tracking option enabled by the VDDK, please do not turn off this option in the VM for consequent backup jobs. If you need to disable this option, you are suggested to create a new backup set with this option disabled. </​WRAP>​
-Once the backup job executed on a VM with change block tracking option enabled by the VDDK, please do not turn off this option in the VM for consequent backup jobs. If you need to disable this option, you are suggested to create a new backup set with this option disabled. ​</​code>​</​WRAP>​+
  
 == VMware Snapshot == == VMware Snapshot ==
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 This is due to the percent-encoding specified in the URL standard is not supported for ESXi based HTTP(S) file access. To resolve the issue, please rename the corresponding file to avoid special characters. For instructions on renaming a virtual machine, please refer to the following knowledge base article from VMware: https://​kb.vmware.com/​s/​article/​2031763 This is due to the percent-encoding specified in the URL standard is not supported for ESXi based HTTP(S) file access. To resolve the issue, please rename the corresponding file to avoid special characters. For instructions on renaming a virtual machine, please refer to the following knowledge base article from VMware: https://​kb.vmware.com/​s/​article/​2031763
 +</​WRAP>​
  
 === Backup Destination === === Backup Destination ===
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   - Enter the login credentials of an account with sufficient permission.   - Enter the login credentials of an account with sufficient permission.
   - Restart the service afterward.   - Restart the service afterward.
 +
 +</​WRAP>​
  
 ==== Non-VDDK Backup Mode Requirements ==== ==== Non-VDDK Backup Mode Requirements ====
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   * Independent Disk (Persistent or Non-persistent)   * Independent Disk (Persistent or Non-persistent)
   * Independent disk can only be backed up if the VM is shutdown during a backup. ​ If the VM is started up during the backup, all independent disks selected for backup cannot be backed up.   * Independent disk can only be backed up if the VM is shutdown during a backup. ​ If the VM is started up during the backup, all independent disks selected for backup cannot be backed up.
 +
 +----
 +
 +===== Best Practices and Recommendations =====
 +Please consider the following recommendations for running VMware backup:
 +
 +==== Use the latest version of AhsayOBM ====
 +Install the latest version of AhsayOBM on the staging machine or Backup Client Computer for backup of VM hosted on a VMware ESX/ESXi server, or on the vCenter server. ​
 +
 +Always stay up-to-date when newer version of AhsayOBM is released. To get our latest product and company news through email, please subscribe to our newsletter: https://​www.ahsay.com/​jsp/​en/​contact/​ahsay-contact.jsp
 +
 +==== Install AhsayOBM on a physical staging machine ====
 +For best backup and restore performance,​ it is highly recommended that AhsayOBM is installed on a server grade staging machine or backup client computer with sufficient memory and processing power. As guest VM can be very large, during backups and restore this may involve the compression & encryption of large amounts of data, which can be very resource intensive.
 +
 +==== VMware Tools ==== 
 +Make sure the latest version of VMware Tools is installed on each guest VM selected for backup. VMware Tools is used by AhsayOBM to quiesce the guest VMs prior to backing them up to create consistent backup for your VMs. 
 +
 +Quiescing is a process that ensures that the disk data is in a state suitable for backups to reduce the possibility of data corruption upon restore. This is especially important for transaction-based applications running on VMs like MS SQL Server, MS Exchange etc. There are different types of quiescing mechanisms, according to the guest operating systems (e.g. Crash-consistent,​ File-system-consistent and Application-consistent quiescing). ​
 +
 +==== Do not use a guest VM as a staging machine ====
 +Although installing AhsayOBM on a guest VM as a staging machine is possible, the backup and restore will work as on a physical staging machine. This setup is actually inefficient and can lead to possible performance bottlenecks on the VMware host server, as in a VMware host the virtualization layer separates guest VM OS layer and the VMware host physical hardware layer. ​
 +As the guest VM operating system does not have direct access to physical hardware where the data resides, a backup agent installed inside the guest VM must go through the virtualization layer to access the guest virtual machine data. 
 +
 +==== Use the VDDK backup mode / CBT feature ====
 +The CBT (Change Block Tracking) feature, which is required for backup in VDDK mode, is supported by VM host with VMware Essentials License (or other paid licenses). The CBT feature, which is utilized for tracking changes of data blocks since the last backup can be done quickly and directly on the VM host. Therefore, the performance of incremental backups is much faster with VDDK backup mode.
 +
 +Another advantage of VDDK mode is the amount of data backed up is relatively smaller. The used data size of the guest VM is backed up instead of the provisioned size, so the storage cost of these backups will be less.
 +
 +==== Proper use of Temporary Directory ====
 +The temporary directory of a VMware VM backup set is set to a local volume, and not to a network volume (e.g. to improve I/O performance).  ​
 +However, the temporary directory should not be set to the system volume (e.g. where the operating system is installed). ​
 +Refer to this article for {{public:​5247_faq:​tips_on_how_to_setup_the_temporary_directory_for_your_backup_set|how to setup the temporary directory}} for your VMware backup set.
 +
 +==== Plan your backup schedules carefully to minimize any performance impact on the VMware host ====
 +To avoid concentrated disk I/O on the VMware host datastores which will have a negative performance impact on the guest VMs residing on these datastores, you should schedule your backups to limit the number of concurrent VM backups on a host and shared datastores. Hosts typically share the same datastores in virtual environments,​ and bottlenecks caused by too many simultaneous VM backups on a single datastore will affect all hosts that have VMs running on that datastore.
 +
 +==== Backup the guest VMs to more than one destination ====
 +To provide maximum data protection and recovery flexibility you should consider to store your guest VM backups in multiple backup destinations,​ ideally both onsite and offsite locations. Onsite locations on local or network drives will enable very quick recovery even for large guest VMs. While offsite locations will ensure that if there is a site outage, the guest can be restored from another location.
 +
 +==== Proper Java memory allocation ====
 +Consider to increase the Java memory allocation setting for AhsayOBM (Java heap space) if you are using non-VDDK backup mode. If you are using non-VDDK mode and or Granular restore, it is recommended to increase the Java heap size space to at least 2GB or above for optimal performance. Refer to this KB article for {{8011_faq:​how_to_modify_the_java_heap_size_of_ahsayobc|how to modify Java heap size}} for your AhsayOBM client.
 +
 +==== Backup whole VM ====
 +It is highly recommended to backup the whole VM instead of individual disk for backup of virtual machine with snapshot. ​
 +
 +==== Routine recovery test ====
 +Consider to perform routine recovery test to ensure your backup is setup and performed properly. ​
 +
 +==== Disable the memory snapshot or quiesce guest options ====
 +Consider to disable the memory snapshot or quiesce guest options when taking snapshot for VMware VM backup, to shorten the time required for the process.
 +  * Snapshot the virtual machine'​s memory
 +  * Quiesce guest file system (Needs VMware Tools installed)
 +
 +----
 +
 +===== Granular Restore Technology =====
 +AhsayOBM [[public:​granular_restore|granular restore technology]] enables the recovery of individual files from a guest VM without booting up or restoring the whole guest VM first. [[public:​granular_restore|Click here]] to read the details.
 +
 +<WRAP important>​
 +Granular Restore requires an additional OpenDirect / Granular Restore add-on module license to work. Contact your backup service provider for further details.
 +</​WRAP>​
 +
 +
 +----
 +
  
 ===== Documentation ===== ===== Documentation =====
public/vmware.1565942163.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/08/16 15:56 by ronnie.chan

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