Can I backup the vCenter server?

[icebun]

Just wanted to know if I can use veeam to backup the vCenter server itself?

If so what is the recommended method SAN, vStorage API etc.

Thanks.

[Vitaliy S.]

Hi,

In order to backup vCenter running in a VM, you need to add ESX host running this VM as standalone host to Veeam Backup (using IP address), and backup this VM with a separate job.

Additionally, please search the forums and review the discussions in the existing topics about backing up vCenter. Here is one of them:
http://www.veeam.com/forums/viewtopic.p ... ual+center

I will lock the thread to avoid duplicates.

Thanks!

[mensa]

Hello,

as the last post is from 2010 I am asking: Is this still the recommended and only way to backup the vCenter VM?

[Vitaliy S.]

Not really You can backup vCenter Server VM without using this trick. Are you using the appliance or Windows box that hosts your vCenter Server?

[mensa]

I am using the appliance (VM on the same ESXi where also Veeam Backup & Replication is running in a VM).

So can I just add the vCenter VM (and maybe also Veeam VM) into my backup job and everything is fine? Or isn't that a good idea?

[paulkean]

I have two copies of VEEAM v9 on different ESXi hosts. In one case VEEAM co-exists with vCenter (and vSphere) on Win2008. In the other case it co-exists only with vSphere. VMware is v6

Can I replicate/backup the VEEAM/vCenter VM via the VEEAM on the other ESXi host and vice versa

[vClintWyckoff]

There's quite a bit of documentation on the Veeam site for protecting the VCSA Appliance:

1.) Veeam KB 2328
2.) Veeam Technical Whitepaper (August 2017)

In short, it is possible and really very easy. I am going to assume you're using the local Platform Services Controller (PSC) and not an External PSC. Create a Veeam Backup job with your vCenter server with application-aware image processing not enabled, instead turn on VMware Tools Quiesence.

Hope this helps.