Plans for Veeam U4 update / VMware updates / Veeam Licensing questions

[18436572]

We are a VMware environment and we need to deploy upgrades to our VCA Appliance, ESX hosts and of course Veaam. Here is my plan, do I need any corrections before I proceed?

Thank you in advance!

References
• VMware vCenter Server versions https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2143838
• VMware ESXi versions https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2143832
• VMware interop matrix https://www.vmware.com/resources/compat ... solution=2
• Veeam versions veeam-backup-replication-f2/current-version-t9456.html
• Veeam 9.5U4 upgrade guide https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... l?ver=95u4
• Veeam instance calculator https://www.veeam.com/pricing-instance-calculator
• But of course - Update 4 Top issues tracker veeam-backup-replication-f2/top-issues- ... 56669.html

Production Environment
• One VCA virtual Appliance: Version 6.5.0 Build 7119157 / this is vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 U1c.
• Three ESXi hosts: ESXi-6.5.0-20170404001-standard / this is ESXi 6.5.0d. These are Dell PowerEdge R630s with 2 sockets and 10 cores per socket. Each host has 20 cores, three hosts total. Total 6 sockets and 60 cores. Do cores matter anymore?
• 60 Virtual machines, mostly Windows.
• One Windows 2008R2 physical machine, in production, with a paid agent license. To be replaced with a Linux CentOS 7 physical machine. I think the paid agent will transfer with no issues.

Veeam Environment
• One Physical machine - Veeam Backup Server - 2012R2 with VB&R v9.5.0.1536 / this is 9.5 U3.
• Three Physical machines - 2012R2 Repositories (one onsite, two offsite).
• Three virtual proxies (one for each ESXi host), each Server 2012R2 Std.
• Note we do not have any installations of Enterprise Manager or Veeam ONE.

Current Licensing at my.veeam.com
Production licenses (U4)
Veeam Agents - 10 Instances (1 Servers)
Veeam B&R Enterprise Plus – 8 Sockets

Production licenses
VB&R for VMware
Enterprise Plus Basic Support / 9.x / Perpetual / 8 sockets

Agents / Subscription / 1 server


My Upgrade plan

1. Upgrade VCA virtual appliance to vCenter Appliance 6.7 U1b. This is supported per https://www.veeam.com/veeam_backup_9_5_whats_new_wn.pdf
2. Evacuate host #1, upgrade it to ESXi 6.7 U1 (repeat for #2 and #3). Download ISO, import, build baseline, evacuate host#1, remediate. Repeat for host#2 and host#3.
3. Upgrade VB&R server to 9.5 U4. Note we do not have Server 2019 guest VM’s.
4. Veeam licenses – merge (we get 90 days grace period). My wild guess as to what we need is 4 instances (3 VMWare hosts and 1 physical machines). Or maybe its 70 instances. I don't know. After I merge our current perpetual license will I get 8 instances? Maybe its 6? I need clarification please!


I opened a case with Veeam (Case # 03397680) asking (1) when to merge the license (before or after updating to VB&R U4 and (2) if we must make additional purchases. These were not answered.

Per the license calculator I need 70 instances. After merge I get 8 … or maybe 6. WOW! I need to deliver an answer to management ASAP. It looks like this update costs us some big (unplanned) money!

I pounded the drum to get Veeam 2 yrs ago and bought 3 years of licensing. We have not changed our environment any way. It sure looks like this update will cost!

My questions
1. Will I need to purchase additional Veeam licensing due to the Veeam U4 update?
2. Should I merge the Veeam licenses before the U4 update or after?

Thanks all

[Gostev]

Hello!

1. No, actually it's the exact opposite of purchasing additional somehow, this remains the biggest misconception about this release!

Normally, you would just merge your socket and agent license into the new license file that will contain sockets and instances, and keep using your existing licenses. This is what most customers will need to do. Going this route will cover all the same workloads you are protecting today - you wouldn't have to purchase anything extra in any case.

However, in your specific case of a single server agent, it is better to use your socket license only with Update 4. This will automatically give you 6 Enterprise Plus instances included at no cost - while right now, with 1 server license you effectively have only 1 Enterprise Plus instance. So effectively, you will be able to protect all the same VMs, your server, and 5 more servers (or 15 workstations) if needed - at no extra cost.

BTW, this is explained in the Licensing section of the What's New document, not sure if you had a chance to review that one?

2. Usually it is best to do it before the upgrade to have everything ready, since you will keep your old licenses anyway. But again, in your case, it makes more sense to just use your socket license alone going forward.

Thanks!
Anton

[18436572]

Thank you very much Gostev (and/or Anton).

Do you see any issues with the VCA and ESXi versions laid out above?

[Gostev]

Anton Gostev

No, these versions are fine from Veeam support perspective.