This document explains howto backup virtual machines running on Vmware ESX or Infrastructure server.
Checklist
1. Consider the above picture as our environment.
2. Download and install Vmware Consolidated Backup Proxy.
3. Keep in mind that VCB will be our interface to virtual machines, they’re not directly backed up.
4. Have your SAN configuration set up, and Both NBU master server and Vmware server are at the same LUNs
5. If you’re using newest VCB versions VCB management port is 443, not 902
6. Have your NBU master server installed and configured correctly (Storage devices, Tape drives, robots etc)
Howto
1. Add new Virtual Machine Server:
Media and Device Management -> Credentials -> Virtual Machine Server -> Right Click -> New
2. Fill Vmware server credentials
Add Virtal Machine Server
3. Open NetBackup Management -> Host Properties -> Master Servers window and add a new Virtual Machine Proxy server on Virtual Machines tab. Keep in mind that on this example, VCB proxy and NBU master server are the same server.
Virtual Machine Proxy Servers
4. Under NetBackup Management -> Host Properties -> Client window, Open NBU master server Properties window and expand windows client tab and select client settings. Make sure Incrementals is set to Based on timestamp setting, and Use change journal in incrementals is unchecked.
Client Settings
5. Reboot NBU master server and after restart, make sure the settings are saved and correct.
6. Create a New Policy (Do not use wizard) and select FlashBackup-Windows as Policy Type.
7. Select Perform off-host Backup and Use Virtual Machine Proxy, select the proxy you entered previously.
New Policy
8. Create new schedules according to your needs.
New Schedule
9. Under Clients tab, click New and select your virtual machines from the Virtual Machines List to be backed up.
Clients
10. Click OK and close the window.
11. To test, right click the policy and select Manual Backup and see if anything goes wrong.
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Nice howto, wanted to add something in case someone else might have the same problems.
If you are having an error code 156, check that the vm names didnt change since you configured vm backup policies… and also double check that the names on the clients list can be resolved from the dns or hosts file…
Keep up the good work :)
And I want to see the Vmware Restore howto as well :P
If you suddenly start having an error on your Netbackup Administration console while trying to backup a unix type virtual machine:
snapshot error encountered(156)
And on your Vmware Console you see an error like this:
Creating a quiesced snapshot failed because the (user-supplied) custom pre-freeze script in the virtual machine exited with a non-zero return code
According to vmware this error is about vmware tools on the unix vm not returning a “0″ return code while it should.
Fix:
Just add the following line at the end of VCB_INSTALL_PATH\config\config.js file
NO_QUIESCE=”";
Now you can go to your Netbackup Administration Console and restart your backup.
If your master server is not Windows based, then you need to install an “enterprise client for windows” license.
How to reboot NBU master server on commandLine
Hi,
On windows:
to stop all netbackup services from command line: NetBackup_Installation_PATH\bin\bpdown.exe
to start all netbackup services from command line: NetBackup_Installation_PATH\bin\bpup.exe
Typically:
C:\Program Files\Veritas\NetBackup\bin\bpdown.exe
C:\Program Files\Veritas\NetBackup\bin\bpup.exe
On Un*x:
to stop all netbackup services from command line: NetBackup_Installation_PATH/bin/bpdown
or
/etc/init.d/netbackup stop
to start all netbackup services from command line: NetBackup_Installation_PATH/bin/bpup
or
/etc/init.d/netbackup start
Typically:
/usr/openv/netbackup/bin/bpdown
/usr/openv/netbackup/bin/bpup