Configuring new VEEAM Backup Server for direct SAN access

[hursts]

hi,
I have a question regarding Veeam backup server iSCSI configuration (software initiator).

I want to backup a vSphere 4.0U1 cluster through my iSCSI Equallogic SAN using .
I installed Veeam backup 4.1 on a W2K3SP2 server, connected to my iSCSI SAN.
I want to use a vStorage API SAN backup (no VCB installed, I'm full vSphere).

I made the "diskpart disable automount" thing.
In the EQL array, I granted access to the vmfs volumes by the IQN of the Veeam server.

At this point, I'm not sure of what I must do to see safely my volumes on the Veeam Server (it's not possible to have a read only access to the volumes), and the documentation is not really clear about this point.
You understand that I do not want to crash my production vmfs volumes by signing them in Windows !
Can somebody help me on the iSCSI configuration next steps ?

Regards,

SEB

[alien2108]

Hello all!

I just installed Veeam Backup Server and I would like to use the backup over SAN mode. I have my LUN on the backup server (Win2008), but if I try to mount it in Windows Disk Manager I get an option to initialize new disk either with MBR or GUID. I think this is not something I want to do as it might just go and wipe my VMFS SAN disk clean or?

I am using same LUN from all my ESX (Linux) servers without a problem. It's a single VMFS partition.

Am I doing something wrong?

BR

[Gostev]

Alen, you definitely should ot mount your VMFS LUN. Moreover, you should disable automount. See 2nd post in this topic for more information about disabling automount.

[alien2108]

Ups...My mistake...Forgot to configure something on the SAN. I think it is working now as there is no more message about failing back to network.

[Gostev]

Just out of curiosity, what did you forget to configure? This could be useful for future readers.

[alien2108]

I did register LUN on SAN, but forgot to tie Disk to the newly registered link.

I did disable automout. Is this permanent or perishes after reboot?

[Vitaliy S.]

Alen, yes, disable automount is permanent, system reboot doesn't enable it.

[Ritch]

Sebastien Hurst, did you ever get this figured out? I have a similar configuration, and have the same questions. Thanks.

[Spad]

Is there a workable config for SAN connection when Veeam is running in a VM?

[Gostev]

Hello Adam, please elaborate your question, what do you mean by "workable config"?

When Veeam is running in a VM, direct SAN access mode is only possible with iSCSI SAN, and buy leveraging Software iSCSI initiator inside VM. I know about quite a few customers using such deployment.

I would also recommend considering Virtual Appliance processing mode when using virtual Veeam Backup server, this mode requires zero configuration.

[albertwt]

Roman,

You can open a support ticket by emailing us to support@veeam.com. We DO provide full support and assistance in resolving issues for evaluation users also. By the way, as vStorage API is a VCB successor for VMware, why don't you try to use this backup mode as soon as your issue is resolved?

Thank you!

Yes Vitaliy is right, Veeam support staff is very helpful and kind, they help everyone.

Good job Veeam team !

[1-0-1]

Just some quick questions. I am planning on running/testing direct SAN mode with my VEEAM server as a physical server using connected to the virtual enviroment SAN. I will also prepare a disk group directly available for the VEEAM server onto which backups will be stored for tape backup. The plan is then that I will add then the VEEAM server to the ESXi 4.1 LUNs.

1. Is there any danger having a machine access (maybe restrict to read only) to LUNs that are being used by ESXi. Would the additional read not impact performance or cause any other weird issues with the virtual servers on the respective LUNs during a backup session?

2. Will SAN direct backup work in my configuration?

[Vitaliy S.]

1. Is there any danger having a machine access (maybe restrict to read only) to LUNs that are being used by ESXi. Would the additional read not impact performance or cause any other weird issues with the virtual servers on the respective LUNs during a backup session?

The issue might happen when you try to initialize those LUNs as Windows volumes, which is not possible with read-only permissions.

2. Will SAN direct backup work in my configuration?

Yes, if you present all the SAN LUNs according to the instructions described in this topic, then it should work!

[1-0-1]

The issue might happen when you try to initialize those LUNs as Windows volumes, which is not possible with read-only permissions.

Aha - I will have a look around how to enable it. Looked on my AX4-5i quickly could not find anything in that line of read-only mode. Thanks for the help so far.

[NightBird]

As I know, on EMC it's not possible to present a LUN read only to a host.


Boris