Transport Mode

[indorsement]

Hi all, we need to increase the backup speed of ESXI 6.5 server using Veeam 9.5 backup to NAS and currently we are using network mode, and speed is only 24mbp/s. We had ESXI 6.5 server, NAS and veeam server all using 1gbps NIC and connected to 1Gigybyte switch for backup. I know the throughput using network mode is the slowest but we cannot upgrade to 10gb switch due to price is too expensive. During further test, when using Virtual appliance mode speed is 50mbp/s but problem is we need to purchase OS license for the Veeam proxy on same ESXI server and also need to allocate resource. I want to ask

1. Our ESXI and NAS both had multiple NIC, and our switch support 802.1ad and LACP, if we connect multiple NIC to the network, will the backup speed increase using same network mode backup??

2. Can we using Direct Storage Access backup mode? Is it means we connect the NAS NIC to ESXI NIC direclty? Need to purchase any additional hardware and what need to to be add/change/setup on the ESXI host?

Any input and recommendation is fully appreciated

Thanks!

[DGrinev]

Hi and welcome to the community!

Can you share the bottleneck stats, it will help to reveal areas for improvement.
1. NICs teaming won't increase backup speed, but you'll be able to run 2 jobs simultaneously via separate NICs.
2. I assume your VMs reside on the local storage of the ESXi, in this case you cannot utilize Direct SAN access mode. You can read very useful information about the Direct SAN mode in the Sticky thread. Thanks!

[indorsement]

Yes, all VM resides on the ESXI server, Below is the log. THANKS.

Job started at 9/27/2017 12:08:32 PM
Building VMs list 0:00:04
VM size: 100.0 GB (8.7 GB used)
Changed block tracking is enabled
Processing 2012srv1 0:08:12
All VMs have been queued for processing
Load: Source 99% > Proxy 34% > Network 3% > Target 0%
Primary bottleneck: Source
Job finished at 9/27/2017 12:17:09 PM


How about if we connect the NAS NIC directly to the ESXI server NIC, and install veeam server on one virtual machine on the same ESXI server. If we doing the backup this way, do you think it will be much faster?? This mode is still operate in network mode, any idea will it work this way?? Thanks.

[DGrinev]

The bottleneck source means the job spent most of the time reading VM data from the source datastore.
I don't think dedicated network connection between ESXi and NAS will speed up the process anyhow, since the issue with the workload on storage.
You should try to install Veeam backup server in the VM, then you can switch to the Hot-add mode this should improve the performance. Thanks!