Host-based backup of VMware vSphere VMs.
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DanielG
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Hardware Snapshots - clarification

Post by DanielG »

Hey guys,

It is my first experience with the storage snapshots, so please be gentle :)

My environment:
Veeam B&R V8 Patch1 - installed on a physical box (also target storage).
ESXi/vSphere V5.1
3PAR 7200 with snapshot license (source storage). Snapshot CPG is configured on a test Virtual Volume (LUN).

All 3 devices can see each other through FC and I can see the LUNs in Windows disk manager. I add 3PAR to the Veeam and can manually create storage snapshots, see VMs under the snapshots and run Veeam Explorer and restore data. This part works fine.

Now, I create a backup job and add a VM that is located on my test VV (LUN). "Use storage snapshot" is enabled on the job.
The job kicks out, performance are great, finishes without an error, but I think it is not using the storage snapshots and I can't figure it out. :)

This is what I see:

:: Getting VM info from vSphere
:: Preparing guest for hot backup
:: Creating snapshot
:: Releasing guest
:: Saving [3par01-SANDBOX1-FC] TEST-DC2008/TEST-DC2008.vmx
:: Saving [3par01-SANDBOX1-FC] TEST-DC2008/TEST-DC2008.vmxf
:: Saving [3par01-SANDBOX1-FC] TEST-DC2008/TEST-DC2008.nvram
:: Using backup proxy Veeam-Proxy.local for disk Hard disk 1 [san]
:: Hard disk 1 (40.0 GB) 38.0 GB read at 214 MB/s [CBT]
:: Removing VM snapshot
:: Finalizing
:: Truncating transaction logs
:: Processing finished at 2015-03-05 2:38:42 PM

My understanding that it should create a VMware snapshot, then create a hardware snapshot, then remove the VMware snapshot and continue using the hardware snapshot. Veeam will display something like "Using hardware snapshot" and I should see the hardware snapshot in the 3PAR console (I don't see it).

What am I missing here?

Thanks,
Daniel
Vitaliy S.
VP, Product Management
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Re: Hardware Snapshots - clarification

Post by Vitaliy S. »

Hi Daniel,

Do you see SAN snapshot being created (in the 3PAR management console) when backup job is running?

Thanks!
DanielG
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Re: Hardware Snapshots - clarification

Post by DanielG »

Nope, I don't see SAN snapshots. If I manually create them through Veeam, then I see them on 3PAR as well.
Vitaliy S.
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Re: Hardware Snapshots - clarification

Post by Vitaliy S. »

Yes, it seems like Direct SAN mode is used, instead of storage snapshots. Can you please tell me if you've added proxy server to the 3PAR access list?
User Guide wrote:The VMware backup proxy must have access to LUNS with VM data and must be able to read data from these LUNs. To allow access for a VMware backup proxy, you must create an initiator group on the 3PAR/NetApp storage system. The initiator group must contain WWN of the VMware backup proxy.
DanielG
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Re: Hardware Snapshots - clarification

Post by DanielG »

Yes, the Veeam proxy is added to the 3PAR access list (Hosts list).
Vitaliy S.
VP, Product Management
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Re: Hardware Snapshots - clarification

Post by Vitaliy S. »

In this case I would suggest contacting our technical team to verify your setup over the remote WebEx session, as everything seems to be properly configured.
DanielG
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Re: Hardware Snapshots - clarification

Post by DanielG »

Thanks Vitaliy, I will open a ticket.
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