vSphere Re-install

[UT2015]

Hi,

we are currently using B+R9U2 with vSphere 6.0U2.

When B+R9.5U1 is released, we plan to upgrade B+R to 9.5U1 and vSphere to 6.5. Because of several reasons we want to do a clean install of vSphere 6.5.

We are using Backup Essentials Enterprise license, which is only able to handle one vCenter server. We had to to a reinstall of our vCenter server in the past, which meant that we had to throw away all of our backups and had to clean up the Veeam database to make Veeam handle the "new" vCenter server.

Isn't it possible to change the vCenter server in B+R without losing all backups?

Regards,
UT2015

[PTide]

Hi,

It is possible, however you'll need to map all of your new jobs to the old chains. Another drawback is that the first run will perform full disk rescan for each job as CBT is not kept in case you change vCenter.

Thank you.

[UT2015]

Hi,

what does that exactly mean? What are the steps to do?

- remove old vCenter from B+R
- add new vCenter to B+R
- edit existing job (to disk) and add new vCenter under "virtual machines to backup"
- anything more?

Regards,
UT2015

[PTide]

Please check this tool - it's been designed specifically for vCenter migration case.

Thank you.

[UT2015]

I tried to use that tool. In the first step (prepareformigration) there are already errors reported (Error: Column 'object_name' does not belong to table . See log for more Details). Does anybody know where those logs are?

Since some days on the linked site one sentence was added: "VMware vSphere 6.5 isn't supported yet!".

So currently there is no solution to install new vCenter 6.5 without losing all backups?

Regards,
UT2015

[UT2015]

I can answer the first question myself: The logfile "VeeamVmMigratorUtil.log" is located in ProgramData\Veeam\Backup. But the logfile states the same message as before plus "Got 0 VMs on host vCenterName", "Got 0 VMs on host esx1", ... So it seems the utility does not find any VMs to prepare. Very strange.

If it is not possible to use that tool and we are reinstalling vCenter, Veeam will of course only know the new vCenter. What if we want to restore anything from old (full) backups? Is that possible, even if that old vCenter is not available anymore? Are we able to restore a VM from old backup to the new vCenter?

Best regards,
UT2015

[Pat490]

Support/Developement is working on a new version of the tool!
vmware-vsphere-f24/veeam-9-5-and-vcente ... 40316.html

[foggy]

Are we able to restore a VM from old backup to the new vCenter?

Yes, sure, backups themselves are not dependent on the vCenter, you can restore them anywhere. Restored VMs will get their new IDs on registering in VI.