VMware Replication for a Veeam Proxy VM.

[the_mentor]

Hi Everyone,
I have a server that I use as a Veeam proxy and I want to add it to our VMware SRM for DR purposes using VMware replication.

What I'm trying to figure out is if a VM that is used as a veeam proxy in HotAdd mode is supported as a Vmware replication VM.

Thank you !

[Vitaliy S.]

Hello,

Cannot comment on what would happen if VMware replication job is running at the same time Veeam backup job tries to hotadd a virtual disk to this proxy VM, but why not to use Veeam replication job to protect this proxy VM?

Thank you!

[the_mentor]

Vitaliy,

The main reason is that SRM is more robust than Veeam when it comes to orchestrating a recovery.
Especially when it comes to SAN replication etc.
Also SRM is already pre-configured and I don't think the company will want to move out of its current implementation due to all the time that was spent on implementing it.
I guess the safer way is to have a Veeam proxy on a non replicated VM ?

[Vitaliy S.]

Yes, proxy is just a component that you can always re-install in case of a DR situation.

[the_mentor]

The reason I ask about it is not the proxy but VM I installed the proxy on has a DR purpose its run a web front end.

[Vitaliy S.]

Ok, makes sense. If you switch this proxy to a network mode, then you shouldn't have any issues with replicating it via SRM even when Veeam backup/replication job will be running.

[the_mentor]

Vitaliy,
Since the VM I'm backing up is a huge SQL server.
How much of an impact would I see from switching the VM to a network mode?
Since both VMs are on the same network and the same vSwitch I assume that traffic wont go out of the host can you confirm that?

thank you very much for all the help !

[Vitaliy S.]

How much of an impact would I see from switching the VM to a network mode?

I don't expect huge difference when running hotadd vs. network modes on incremental job passes.

Since both VMs are on the same network and the same vSwitch I assume that traffic wont go out of the host can you confirm that?

The traffic will go through network management interface of the ESXi host and then to the backup repository.

[the_mentor]

After changing the backup mode to NBD the full backup seems to take about 6 hours more but for the sake of keeping things simpler I think it is worth it.

Thank you for the suggestion.