Veeam Proxy questions

[emcclure78]

Hello,

My apologies if this has been asked, but I couldn't find anything on a search here or on google. I am setting up an off-host veeam proxy for Hyper-V. It's running on Windows Server 2012. From what I've gathered, it has access to the first repository, which is also a Windows Server 2012 machine. However I noticed I have to go \\repository\e$\backups to get to the share. From reading the instructions I need to make sure the LocalSystem account of the off-host backup proxy must have read access permissions on the Microsoft SMB3 file share. How do I verify that exactly?

The other question I have is how does the proxy work/can it work with a Linux Hardened Repository? I haven't found anything yet, unless I'm using the wrong search terms. I'm a bit of a noob at these things and trying to figure them out on the fly. Thanks in advance.

[HannesK]

Hello,

I am setting up an off-host veeam proxy for Hyper-V

I recommend on-host proxy. It's not worth the hassle, especially with old Windows 2012.

However I noticed I have to go \\repository\e$\backups to get to the share

independent from the off-host proxy, that sounds wrong. E$ sounds like Windows: the recommendation is to use a Windows native repository. Windows has better stability and performance and option for REFS integration with modern Windows (well, REFS also works via SMB3, but it's still ugly). LocalSystem / Computer account is irrelevant with SMB, because only username / password must match.

The other question I have is how does the proxy work/can it work with a Linux Hardened Repository?

same like any other proxy. ports are described in helpcenter here. Helpcenter has a picture of off-host proxy setup traffic flow in general.

Best regards,
Hannes

[emcclure78]

Hi Hannes,

Thanks for the reply. I have a feeling I might be confused about the on-host/off-host thing, so I'm hoping I can get that clarified here.

The physical host we have for the off-host has the 3 services installed (Veeam Installer service, Veeam Data Mover and Veeam Hyper-V Integration Service). There's nothing else on the host, other than the OS(which is why I thought this was an off-host setup), which is Server 2012 and I'd like to just upgrade as they plan on upgrading by the end of the year/beginning of next year. The server isn't in use at the moment, so I don't see any reason to not upgrade, especially if it doesn't conflict with Veeam B&R being on Server 2012.

So would an on-host proxy have Veeam B&R full components installed, or just those 3 mentioned above? I thought I understood what an off-host/on-host proxy is, but I feel like I don't. Is an off-host proxy basically a physical Hyper-V server that has those 3 components installed and the on-host would be the proxy service installed on the main Veeam B&R server?

I just want to make sure I understand what I'm working on. I need to login to the backup server, but it's in use by a couple other people. I want to verify the native repository. From what I remember, the backup repository is on another machine, and Veeam shows it as E:\Backups. Is that a Windows native repository?

Thanks again, I'm really new to this part of the configuration and am just trying to sort it all out and take note for future reference.

[HannesK]

Hello,
the on-host proxy gets automatically installed when you add the Hyper-V hosts / cluster. It just works. No need to configure anything.

Is an off-host proxy basically a physical Hyper-V server that has those 3 components installed

yes. Off-Host proxy is described here

on-host would be the proxy service installed on the main Veeam B&R server?

no. that's directly on the Hyper-V hosts. Please use that, especially with Server 2012 which is known to cause many issues with off-host proxies (issues on the Microsoft and storage driver side)

Repository: in the end the "type" in "backup infrastructure" -> "backup repositories" should be "Windows"

[emcclure78]

Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it.

Ok so from what I've gathered from looking at our Veeam B&R server the proxy has been configured as an off-host proxy. It's not listed in Out of Date or Unavailable for the Backup Proxies in Veeam B&R, so I would assume that it is working. I recall my co-workers telling me that someone else set this up, but from what they know, it never got finished. Is there a way to test this? From what you're telling me as well, it would be best to upgrade the OS to something newer. Is there any difference in performance/issues/etc between Server 2016, Server 2019 or Server 2022? If not, what would be the best one to upgrade to?

Sorry for so many questions. Just really want to get this ironed out and setup properly so it runs right for the future.

[HannesK]

at that point, I can only repeat: please use on-host proxy.

apologies, but I don't want to support that setup further. Hyper-V architecture changed massively with Server 2016 compared to 2012. Whether off-host proxy works, depends highly on Windows version, Windows patch level, hardware VSS provider, storage vendor and patch level of the storage. The forum search gives an idea of problems that can occur. I'm sorry, I cannot help with that project.

setup properly so it runs right for the future.

the question which Windows version to use is probably more suitable in a Windows forum. I would at least use something that has "mainstream support"