How to create a Veeam repository on a VMWare ESXi server (Off-site)?

[Simon_LBC]

Hi am currently migrating my entire business infrastructure from Microsoft Hyper-V to VMware ESXi server (7.x) and everything went pretty smooth except for my off-site backup & replication solution that were previously a Microsoft Hyper-V 2016 server with both a replication job destination and also a backup job repository for data retention. With Microsoft Hyper-V it were super easy to setup, as I defined my Hypervisor as both Replication destination and I created a simple Veeam Repository on the same server for Backup job destination.

But now that this off-site server has been wiped and reinstalled with VMWare EXSi Hypervisor, I was able to easily create a Replication job destination, but now that I want to create my Veeam repository for backup destination, it doesn't look to be an offered option as the "New Repository" wizard is apparently supporting Windows/Linus Server, NAS, NFS and HP/DELL storage.

What would be the best, more performant and free (licence) option to create my Veeam repository on my new off-site VMWare ESXi server like I was doing with my Hyper-V server previously.

Thank you!!

[jorgedlcruz]

Hello Simon,
Well, as it seems to be your off-site place, I would recommend taking a look at Linux Hardened Repository, which you can deploy on top of your ESXi and assign it disk directly from VMware, also you can use Ubuntu or any other distro of your choice we support. The only caveat I can see is that of course, we add this very great piece of technology, which gives you immutability, but in the end, it is inside a VM, meaning the ESXi itself can be compromised.

That would be my recommendation in terms of the most secure thing you can, considering what you described.

The other easy to do, but not as secure, would be just deploying a Windows VM on top of that ESXi, I am assuming you have Microsoft Server licensing. And format the disks as ReFS, to leverage the block-cloning technology, if not required as not doing synthetic, perhaps even Windows Deduplication to maximize the space.

All are good options. Hope this advice helps you.

[Simon_LBC]

Thank your Jorge for these instruction. Howewer something is not perfectly clear in my mind regarding the "Linux Hardened Repository" instructions. Does it actually requires a running Linux VM on my ESXi host or did this use a folder directly into the ESXi filesystem since ESXi is basically a modded Linux system by VMWare?? Based on the Hardened Repo instructions, where am I supposed to create the Repo folder exactly?

[jorgedlcruz]

Hello Simon,
ESXi is a very small, custom, linux distribution. VCSA is based on PhotonOS, but ESXi is not even that. You can not use ESXi, or for that matter VCSA either.

Needs to be one of the supported distros we have in our Helpcenter, under System Requirements.

My favourite is Ubuntu 20.04. Hope it helps

[Simon_LBC]

Thanks again Jorge, now it's crystal clear. I'm gonna use Ubuntu 20.04 as suggested as I am pretty comfortable with this distro me too.