Backup VMs with Passthrough PCIe devices (GPU)

[DJSnels]

I was wondering if there is a method to backup VMWare guests that have a PCIe device passthrough (such as in our case a GPU).
Backing up such VM failes because VMs with passthrough devices cannot be snapshotted. Is there any way to skip the snapshot and backup the VM using VSS only?
I prefere NOT to shut down the guest.

ESX: 5.5
Veeam: 7
Guests: Server 2012R2

[veremin]

Passthrough disks are automatically skipped from processing, since they can't be snapshotted. Do you mean you want to backup VMs on a file level? Thanks.

[dellock6]

To clarify Vladimir, a passthrough device is different from a passthrough disk, VMware calls this DirectPath I/O. In this case it's the graphic processor passed to the VM directly.
Since this process completely by-passed th VMM (virtual machine manager) and let's the guest os use directly the hardware device, I suspect it's a limit that cannot be avoided when calling VADP libraries. Probably some lab tests are needed, but my feeling the problem cannot be avoided (just like for example vmotion is not supported for obvious reasons)

Luca.

[dellock6]

I finally found the answer, sadly for the opener, a VM with DirectPath I/O enabled cannot be saved with VADP libraries:

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/index ... 88613.html

Look at the 3rd bullet point. I'm not even sure it's enough to power off the VM.

Luca.

[lp@albersdruck.de]

I finally found the answer, sadly for the opener, a VM with DirectPath I/O enabled cannot be saved with VADP libraries:

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/index ... 88613.html

Look at the 3rd bullet point. I'm not even sure it's enough to power off the VM.

Luca.

I have a VM with a DirectPath I/O PCIe passthrough (LSI SAS Controller). I can backup the VM without problems as long as it is powered off. Even CBT works.

[dellock6]

Hi Lars, thanks for the additional information, really appreciated.

Luca.

[DJSnels]

Thanks for the replies.
Is there any way to create Veeam backups without the use of snapshots? e.g. Microsoft VSS only?
I don't like using any other software (such as Windows Backup) to backup VM's with passthrough PCI devices.

[dellock6]

Veeam does not supports backups at the guest level, they are always done at the hypervisor level using VADP libraries, and thus VMware snapshots.

[Vitaliy S.]

Is there any way to create Veeam backups without the use of snapshots? e.g. Microsoft VSS only?

No, VM snapshot is still required.

[leedudmish]

Hi All,

We are looking at gpu passthrough for VM's for high end users and have the lab working ok, during setup it did state snapshots are not supported with machines that have a passthrough device.

Can this be confirmed or is this something which veeam can overcome, is there any pre/post scripts whcih could be run to alleviate the issue at all such as shut down the vm, take snapshot, then switch vm back on again after the backup.

The vm's will be running windows 10 and are end user based so we can switch off if necessary?

thanks

Lee

[veremin]

Your post has been merged into existing discussion. Kindly, check the answers provided above.

Additionally, you can try to backup such VMs from the inside, using Veeam Endpoint Backup.

Thanks.

[umenz]

Hi All,

Long time passed, any news about this Topic with VMware 6.5 or 6.7 and Passthrough GPU ?

thanks

Ulrich

[danswartz]

I would dearly love to be able to backup VMs with VMDirectPath devices, but apparently that is a no go. I'd like to pass through 40gbe enet adapter to my 2 win 2012r2 veeam proxies to improve performance, but no luck. I suppose I could install the veeam backup for windows service on those guests?

[foggy]

Yes, you can use Veeam Agent for Windows.

[danswartz]

Thanks. Waiting for new mellanox cards to arrive to try this

[MSc]

Any news on this?

We're trying to add a NVIDIA GPU card (Quadro P2000) via passthrough to a Win2019 server. ESXi is 6.7 U1... still only "Veeam Agent for Windows" as the only backup solution here?

Cheers, Martin

[Gostev]

Yes. Also, the news would come from VMware, not from Veeam - as the limitation is on vSphere side.