Build an immutable backup repository - article series

[johannesk]

ok, but will there be a linux installation ISO made available by Veeam for VHR setup similar to the one Rick did for the mentioned demo?

[Gostev]

Time will tell but this is not something Veeam R&D is actively working on at this time.

[mkaec]

I think the ask is if Veeam could provide something similar. People who are using VAL on their hardened repositories don't want all those features that make it a beast. They just don't want to be SOL if something goes sideways with the repository.

[robg]

I agree, it should be an ISO, boot it on something and answer a few prompts.

[Regnor]

In general the setup of a Veeam Hardened Repository isn't that complicated. Especially if you've done it once and documented all necessary commands, you can easily replicate it.

During a disaster there shouldn't be a need to rebuild the VHR, except you've lost the hardware but this would also mean there's no repository/backup left.
But anyways you could still only do the basic steps and reconnect the VHR back to Veeam in that case. Just make sure you don't open any holes during the setup which an attacker could exploit.

[robg]

"isn't that complicated" is a matter of perspective.. Compared to the rest of Veeam, which is clicking through wizards, it's a lot more complicated. Why not look at it from that standpoint. People want turnkey simplicity.

That would definitely be a competitive edge. And please don't do silly things like the vCenter linux appliance, not make it rely on self-signed certificates that expire in 5 years, if a restore is needed on year 6

[jazzoberoi]

+1 for ISO appliance which can be installed on a physical machine.
A few user led projects are already floating around, along with one from Starwinds.. so it is certainly possible to do by Veeam

[mkaec]

It's complicated enough that people are writing detailed guides about how to do it. That's a good point that if the repository OS is damaged the event probably didn't also take out production VMs. But that's not guaranteed to be the case.

[Gustav]

In general the setup of a Veeam Hardened Repository isn't that complicated. Especially if you've done it once and documented all necessary commands, you can easily replicate it.

Perhaps for a skilled Linux admin. But for a Windows admin like me with little knowledge about Linux, the statement will read:

In general, the setup of a Veeam Hardened Repository is quite complicated. However, if you've done it once and documented all necessary commands, you can easily replicate it.

That's exactly what my article series addresses.

[Nick-SAC]

+1 For a Veeam supplied ISO...

[TheWaterbug]

I am following this guided tour right now, on a decommissioned Western Digital Sentinel DX4000 box, and it's very well-written. Thank you!

It could use a few minor updates, as the current version of Ubuntu is 24.04.1, vs. the Ubuntu 20.04 that the guide was written against, and there are a few additional questions to be answered during setup.

I am running into a few issues. Is the correct thread to discuss? Or is there another?

[TheWaterbug]

^^ Never mind. I just downloaded the Immutable Repository ISO, and I'm going to go that route instead, since it's supported.