which repository is better? iscsi lun or smb share

[babakpirouznia]

hello every one

I have Qnap Nas device (ts-863-xu-rp) and i want to use it as repository for my veeam backup.
my qnap has 10G nic and my Esxi hosts too.
which repository is better ? : (performance - security - ransom protection)

1-iscsi lun and add it to veeam backup server as vmdk hdd
or
2-smb share

Thanks

[Gostev]

Hello! Best is iSCSI LUN connected directly to the Veeam server (no additional data transformation layers like VMDK), and the corresponding volume formatted with ReFS. Thanks!

[babakpirouznia]

Thanks @gostev

my Veeam server is vm inside esxi host and if i present iSCSI LUN to veeam server virtual Machin , it should be formatted as as vmfs first.
how to directly connect iSCSI LUN to vm? is this same as a Raw Device?

[Mildur]

You have to use windows iscsi initiator directly in your windows vms to connect to the iscsi target.
No configuration needed on esxi. You don‘t need to format it as a vmfs.

[babakpirouznia]

thanks a lot.

i got it.
after add it as raw disk, how to format it as ReFS in windows?

[Mildur]

After you have configured the iscsi Initiator to connect to your iscsi LUN, the disk will show up in the windows disk manager of your VM.
- diskmgmt.msc

You can format it like a normal local connected disk.

Here is a link with a guide for that:
https://www.sqlshack.com/how-to-configu ... rver-2016/

[leockw]

Hi all,

As I'm trying to change the repository from SMB to iSCSI connection, I have the following questions want to clarify,

1. Is ReFS better than NTFS for the backup purpose? Any side effect on ReFS?
2. Can I using iSCSI connection as offsite repository?
3. How to config the gateway server for this offsite repository iSCSI connection? Is is same as using SMB?

Leo

[Mildur]

1. Is ReFS better than NTFS for the backup purpose? Any side effect on ReFS?

ReFS will allow you to use FastClone. Spaceless and Fast synthetic Fulls are the benefit of this feature.

2. Can I using iSCSI connection as offsite repository?

If you are talking about mounting an iscsi LUN over a WAN connection or a slow and unstable link, then don‘t do it. iSCSI needs a stable connection.

3. How to config the gateway server for this offsite repository iSCSI connection? Is is same as using SMB?

There is no gateway server with iscsi. For iscsi connections, you will use the iscsi initiator. This software is installed on every windows server or client.
If you want to use iscsi and refs, make sure that you use a windows server (2016 or newer) which is located at the same location as your storage. Just google on how to connect a iscsi lun to a windows server. There are many guides out there. It is not veeam specific.

After you connected the iscsi lun to this server, format it with refs 64kb and add it as a windows server backup repository with local disk.

[unsichtbarre]

My $0.02 - I agree with the above posts entirely.

Additional Advice:
Use vmxnet3 as the network adapter type
Configure Jumbo Frames for: vmxnet3, vSwitch carrying iSCSI traffic, physical switches carrying iSCSI traffic, iSCSI SAN
Test Jumbo frames (in Windows) with ping -l 8972 -f <IP of SAN>
Install MPIO in windows
Configure Microsoft iSCSI Initiator but do not "Quick Connect"
Instead, go to: Discovery > Discover Portal and add the target IP's individually (clicking on Advanced to select Initiator and Target manually)
After adding the target IP's, go to: Targets > Select Target > Connect > Advanced (clicking on Advanced to select Initiator and Target manually)
Configure MPIO
Reboot
Format as ReFS 64K

[sysinfma]

According to the docs at https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... ml?ver=110
fast cloning is also available for repos on SMB shares. Is iSCSI still preferrable?

[Mildur]

Hi

Yes, FastClone is also available with SMB. There are few requirements which has to be fullfilled on the NAS side.
Personally, I would always use iSCSI before leveraging the SMB protocol.


Thanks
Fabian

[sysinfma]

Thank you!
So, iSCSI is the way to go locally.

However, what's the best option for remote repos (WAN/VPN)? I've read that iSCSI is not suitable for WAN links, while I didn't see any problems using iSCSI over a WAN connection so far.

[Mildur]

Hi

iSCSI over WAN can work. But it depends on the stability and bandwidth your wan connection has. How fast is your WAN connection between the two sites?

We recommend having a repository/gateway machine at the second location for connecting to the remote storage. Tasks like health check or restores will benefit from a fast and stable connection to the storage.

Thanks
Fabian

[sysinfma]

Same situation here. iSCSI over WAN (just 30 Mbit/s) does work without problems. However, is NFS the safer play compared to iSCSI when a server next to the remote repo is not an option?

[stephen.mintrom]

Ideally, for a remote repository, you should have a Veeam-managed server on the same site, preferably on the same network to communicate to the storage. This way when tasks need to be performed on the repository such as rescans or the creation of synthetic full backups these can be done by the managed server in the remote site instead of over the WAN connection. This applies to all storage options.
Using NFS or iSCSI is up to you.
iSCSI gives you the option of using a Windows repository with ReFS or a Linux repository with correctly configured XFS storage to use FastClone. Spaceless and Fast Synthetic Fulls.