B&R direct with ESXi Free

[BruceLee]

Hi,

i would like to setup the following scenario and would like to know if you guys think it's feasible or if there are any caveats. Thanks.
ESXiHOST (physical): ESXi 6.7 free version without VCenter.
Two VMs on this host (2x Server 2016 in LAN)
Two 10G Nics

BACKUPSERVER (physical): Win 10 Pro 64bit with latest B&R
local raid underneath for the backups
tanderberg rdx via USB
Two 10G Nics

Both physical Servers (BACKUPSERVER and ESXiHOST) have the first 10G Nic in LAN subnet to access these servers and also the VMs in LAN subnet from LAN side.
The second 10G Nic of each server is connected without a switch directly to each other on a separate subnet so that the backup runs without a 10G switch.

Thanks a lot for any thoughts and help.

[Andreas Neufert]

Hi Bruce,

thanks for the question. At unlicensed ESXi edition there are some APIs that we need for backup not enabled and you can not use our functionallity against those.
Sometimes it just work as the APIs are available by mistake and later closed at an ESXi update.

Let´s say you have added a ESXi license or the 60 day trial license of ESXi.
If you connect the ESXi host to Veeam with the specific IP address of the VMkernel interface that is connected directly with B&R it should run without issues.

Potentially there are API calls that use the full quliefied domain name of the ESXi host that is reported from it. So if you see any error that say ESXi host not reachable you can create an windows hosts entry for the FQDN and use the "direct connect" ESXi address. You can test this without it and if needed I can help you to add it. Please just ask here for it.

[BruceLee]

HI Andreas,

thanks for your reply. Does your first sentence really mean B&R does NOT work on esxi free?
Can I somehow profit from a mix of B&R and Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows FREE ?
Or is B&R useless in that case?
And is this limitation also appliable on Hyper-V free?
thanks

[Andreas Neufert]

To you first question. Yes this is correct. No VMware backup product can work. As I said if you are lucky there are some VMware ESXi versions that do not prohibit API access and would just work (until the next udpate). But overall it is a clear no. Please see the following blog entry for details: https://www.veeam.com/blog/veeam-and-free-esxi.html

Secnd question, yes this is possible:
http://www.virtualtothecore.com/en/use- ... s-backups/

Hyper-V free edition is fully supported as there are no such API restrictions. https://www.veeam.com/veeam_backup_9_5_ ... tes_rn.pdf

[veremin]

However, the approach described by Luca will only work, if you have a paid license for Veeam Agent for Windows.

Basically, to send backups to backup repository, you need either VB&R or VAW paid license.

Thanks!

[BruceLee]

Thanks a lot. That API limitation is annonying, but it is how it is. Never worked with free versions so far because I always need more features.
In this case I thought I could go for a free one. Guess I'm not now
Still not sure if HyperV or Vmware. I'm used to Vmware but with backup solutions.
Would a VMware vSphere Essentials Kits version cover all to have B&R running without any limitations?
It has just the vSphere Hypervisor and vCenter Server Essentials but without all of these: vMotion, Cross Switch vMotion, High Availability, Data Protection, vShield Endpoint, vSphere Replication

Thanks a lot

[Andreas Neufert]

Any paid version that include ESXi would enable the API.

I heard that some ROBO office licenses are the cheapest ones, but I am not a VMware licensing specialist.

[BruceLee]

thanks a lot for your help. great support. perfect.

[BassTeQ]

Do the veeam products like Backup and Restore not support ESXi Free version?

[BassTeQ]

Think I've found the answer I was looking for; free esxi version doesnt have the backup api exposed, so the only way is to do agent level backups.

[ljbili]

hello,

i want to deploy on my infrastructure Vmware ESXI 6.x FRee edition for hosting some VM, and i need also benefits to Veeam backup & replication Community edition for Backuping my VM and ensur the replication option for that, because the esxi free edition has no supported any HA feature.

please anyone can confirme me those informations about my implementing my virtual infrastructure:


the free version of VEEAM allows backups of Vmware free ?, if yes it's allow to replicat VM?

thank you,

regards.

[Vitaliy S.]

Free edition of vSphere is not supported. Please review this thread for further details.

[Andreas Neufert]

But you can use our Agent free edition or payed editions with it.

[martymcfly]

Hi folks,
I just popped Veeam backup and replication on a server in remote office, started a trial a/c with iland to test and see if backup works ok and linked the account to Veeam software.... all going good so far.... created backup job to backup the dc but fails on "Current vSphere license or ESXi version prohibits the execution of the requested operation"

Our vmware license is full version (to my best understanding) Expires never - Product: VMware vSphere 6 Hypervisor Licensed for 1 physical CPUs (unlimited cores per CPU)

Can anyone advise on further troubleshooting?

TIA

[Vitaliy S.]

Hi Jason,

Our vmware license is full version (to my best understanding) Expires never - Product: VMware vSphere 6 Hypervisor Licensed for 1 physical CPUs (unlimited cores per CPU)

This is a FREE version of ESXi which is not supported due to the unavailability of required APIs for backup job processing. Please see this thread for more info.

Thanks!

[martymcfly]

Magic thanks, just wanted to be clear as am new to vmware coming from the hyper-v camp.

Could anyone advise on a suitable license? I am running one DC vm (needs backup) and two client vm's (dont need backup) and would like to get up into cloud via veeam cloud connect, thanks.

[Andreas Neufert]

If you run today standalone ESXi host without any management, the cheapest license will do it (likely Essentials or ROBO). Please check with your software license reseller.

You could backup as well the VMs with out Agents.

[janindu]

Hi,

I have Veeam Backup and replication 9.5 U4 (Version 9.5.4.2753) and VMware Esxi 6.7 U1 servers. I have Backup jobs configured and running fine from same Esxi host, but when I created a replication Job it fails with error "7/8/2019 11:07:41 AM :: Processing STCN-AD03 Error: Current vSphere license or ESXi version prohibits execution of the requested operation."

Source Esxi host is licenced and destination host runs free version. I read somewhere destination host doesn't need to be licenced. Not sure about it though.

Veeam runs Standerd Edition.

Is there any reason for replication jobs to fail. I knew there was some issue with ESXi 6.7 for veeam and required a registry change as a workaround. I have not made any changes on this B&R server.

[HannesK]

Hello,
merged with the existing topic. ESXi free is not supported.

Best regards,
Hannes

[Andreas Neufert]

Source Esxi host is licenced and destination host runs free version. I read somewhere destination host doesn't need to be licenced. Not sure about it though.

This is correct in case of Veeam own licenses.

[janindu]

What are "Veeam own licenses"?

[Andreas Neufert]

Veeam Replication is part of Veeam Backup & Replication Standard edition or higher and you need to license the source host (socket license) or source VM (instance license).

Community Edition include some instances of Standard licensing.