VeeamON - V13 Software Appliance

[mkretzer]

Hello,

one question about the V13 Software Appliance - will it support LVM under the XFS for repos? We need LVM as our storage systems max volume size is 256 TB.

Markus

[Gostev]

Hi, Markus. As with any appliance, don't expect to have much/any flexibility. Software Appliance can use local storage as a built-in repository (we will format Disk 2 with XFS for this purpose), but any other configurations you will need to self-create and self-manage, just like today. Potentially right in the installed appliance (by claiming root access) but you may lose these settings across significant upgrades. Thanks

[mkretzer]

"lose these settings" = lose the filesystem does not sound like something the upgrade process should do.
I really believe LVM is a critical feature for bigger installations - we could do without striping but we can not do without aggregating multiple volumes into one big volume. Many backend storages are somewhat limited when it comes to LUN size.

[Gostev]

Simply "aggregating multiple volumes into one big volume" should work because that's exactly how Hardened Repository ISO works (all found disks other than the first one are LVMed together). @PTide could you confirm Software Appliance ISO does the same (already in beta or planned for later)?

[PTide]

Hi,

Right, in the Software Appliance we create two separate volume groups - one for the JeOS and it resides on the smallest disk found, the second VG combined all the disks that are left and the default repo resides there.

And yes, we plan to add advanced controls for storage management in future.

Thanks!

[mkretzer]

Sounds great for a first release!
Is it possible to use existing volumes from current installations or is everything deleted when doing the setup?

[Gostev]

Everything is deleted.

[mkretzer]

How do you prevent the deletion in a recovery scenario where the OS has to be reinstalled but the data drives are ok?

[PTide]

For that scenario there are two separate grub menu entries:

Reinstall - keeps backups, erases settings, reinstalls the OS.
Rescue - keeps backups and settings, reinstalls the OS.

[mkretzer]

Ok but the default is "install" which means "delete everything"? I hope there will be a nice warning

Can we use the appliance ISO just for a repo server initially or does the central server have to also be installed as a software appliance?

[veremin]

The software appliance is pre-packaged with JEOS (just enough OS), a backup server, and a default hardened repository. It cannot be used solely as a repository. Thanks!

[veremin]

However, along with the release of the software appliance, we will publish additional ISO (currently called JEOS ISO), which can be used to deploy either a proxy server or a Linux hardened repository.

They will also come with a stripped-down operating system, be protected from all sides, and include the minimally necessary set of our components required for the operation of either the proxy or the repository.

With this ISO, you will be able to deploy a separate hardened repository and then add it to the backup server.

[gparker]

Hi, is it true that we cannot do a migration-upgrade from an existing Veeam server to the appliance? Will we have to re-create all backup, backup-copy, replication jobs etc from scratch?

[Mildur]

Hi George,

When the V13 software appliance (V13 on Linux) is released in Q3, it will initially be available for new deployments only. A migration path will be provided in a future version, either together with or after the VDP v13 release in Q4.

VDP v13 will be the first offering to enable upgrades or new deployments of Windows-based backup servers.

An upgrade of your Windows Server backup server to VDP v13 will likely be a requirement for migrating the configuration to Veeam Backup & Replication V13 on Linux.

Best,
Fabian

[saeluiss]

However, along with the release of the software appliance, we will publish additional ISO (currently called JEOS ISO), which can be used to deploy either a proxy server or a Linux hardened repository.

They will also come with a stripped-down operating system, be protected from all sides, and include the minimally necessary set of our components required for the operation of either the proxy or the repository.

With this ISO, you will be able to deploy a separate hardened repository and then add it to the backup server.

Hi Fabian

When using this ISO, how are the OS upgrades and securities updates are going to be handled or applied?

Thanks.

[Gostev]

Automatically.