Comments on: VMware Consolidated Backup http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/ Moo - Development, Trouble-shooting and Random thoughts... Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:41:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: AJ http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-2436 AJ Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:26:59 +0000 http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-2436 We have a very large VMware infrastructure and we went with a company called STORServer. They have a VCB agent that backs up VCB to TSM without any work involved. It is very easy gui for me to use and it works perfect. They have a demo you can test out, we did, then bought it! www.storserver.com, I recommend it highly. Andy We have a very large VMware infrastructure and we went with a company called STORServer. They have a VCB agent that backs up VCB to TSM without any work involved. It is very easy gui for me to use and it works perfect. They have a demo you can test out, we did, then bought it! http://www.storserver.com, I recommend it highly.

Andy

]]> By: Jorj http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-2433 Jorj Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:19:01 +0000 http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-2433 Hello All , I am very new on VMware , we are using ESX 3.5 ,OS version of VCB proxy is Win 2003 server . I want to configure the VCB with TSM . So if anybody had worked on this and can provide me document How can I implement this in my exisiting environment. TSM server verison is 5.5 and as the backup client. Thanks........... Jorj Hello All ,

I am very new on VMware , we are using ESX 3.5 ,OS version of VCB proxy is Win 2003 server .
I want to configure the VCB with TSM . So if anybody had worked on this and can provide me document
How can I implement this in my exisiting environment.
TSM server verison is 5.5 and as the backup client.

Thanks……….. Jorj

]]> By: Craig Borysowich http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-1614 Craig Borysowich Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:43:09 +0000 http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-1614 Has anyone seen any issues with running VCB on the same server as VC? Has anyone seen any issues with running VCB on the same server as VC?

]]> By: Barrett Sprague http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-675 Barrett Sprague Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:44:03 +0000 http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-675 thanks, but could you help me for the problem. But I encounter problems when running the these commands. The ESX host use the local SCSI disk as the storage and I run this commands in the ESX Host Service Console. I run the commands : [root@localhost root]# vcbMounter -h localhost -u root -p 123456 -a moref:16 -r /var/log/backup [2007-03-29 23:01:46.488 ‘App’ 3076452480 info] Current working directory: /root [2007-03-29 23:01:46.548 ‘BaseLibs’ 4570032 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/ [2007-03-29 23:01:46.898 ‘vcbMounter’ 3076452480 error] Error: FindHostByName: Cannot search for empty hostname. [root@localhost root]# vcbMounter -h localhost -u root -p 123456 -a ipaddr:16.157.66.85 -r /var/log/backup [2007-03-29 23:10:57.962 ‘App’ 3076444288 info] Current working directory: /root [2007-03-29 23:10:58.019 ‘BaseLibs’ 6642608 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/ [2007-03-29 23:10:58.585 ‘vcbMounter’ 3076444288 error] Error: FindHostByName: Cannot search for empty hostname. --------------------------- Sounds like a name resolution issue. I would check to make sure that DNS is properly configured on the Service Console, specifically the Domain and the “Look for hosts in the following domains” sections. -Barrett <b>johnf: I don't have access to VMware to test anymore but I'm pretty sure the vcb stuff requires you to have a fibre SAN. You probably want to use something like vmbu for local backups</b> thanks, but could you help me for the problem.
But I encounter problems when running the these commands.
The ESX host use the local SCSI disk as the storage and I run this commands in the ESX Host Service Console.

I run the commands :
[root@localhost root]# vcbMounter -h localhost -u root -p 123456 -a moref:16 -r /var/log/backup
[2007-03-29 23:01:46.488 ‘App’ 3076452480 info] Current working directory: /root
[2007-03-29 23:01:46.548 ‘BaseLibs’ 4570032 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/

[2007-03-29 23:01:46.898 ‘vcbMounter’ 3076452480 error] Error: FindHostByName: Cannot search for empty hostname.
[root@localhost root]# vcbMounter -h localhost -u root -p 123456 -a ipaddr:16.157.66.85 -r /var/log/backup
[2007-03-29 23:10:57.962 ‘App’ 3076444288 info] Current working directory: /root
[2007-03-29 23:10:58.019 ‘BaseLibs’ 6642608 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/

[2007-03-29 23:10:58.585 ‘vcbMounter’ 3076444288 error] Error: FindHostByName: Cannot search for empty hostname.

—————————
Sounds like a name resolution issue. I would check to make sure that DNS is properly configured on the Service Console, specifically the Domain and the “Look for hosts in the following domains” sections.

-Barrett

johnf: I don’t have access to VMware to test anymore but I’m pretty sure the vcb stuff requires you to have a fibre SAN. You probably want to use something like vmbu for local backups

]]> By: Fred http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-461 Fred Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:52:42 +0000 http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-461 thanks, but could you help me for the problem. But I encounter problems when running the these commands. The ESX host use the local SCSI disk as the storage and I run this commands in the ESX Host Service Console. I run the commands : [root@localhost root]# vcbMounter -h localhost -u root -p 123456 -a moref:16 -r /var/log/backup [2007-03-29 23:01:46.488 'App' 3076452480 info] Current working directory: /root [2007-03-29 23:01:46.548 'BaseLibs' 4570032 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/ [2007-03-29 23:01:46.898 'vcbMounter' 3076452480 error] Error: FindHostByName: Cannot search for empty hostname. [root@localhost root]# vcbMounter -h localhost -u root -p 123456 -a ipaddr:16.157.66.85 -r /var/log/backup [2007-03-29 23:10:57.962 'App' 3076444288 info] Current working directory: /root [2007-03-29 23:10:58.019 'BaseLibs' 6642608 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/ [2007-03-29 23:10:58.585 'vcbMounter' 3076444288 error] Error: FindHostByName: Cannot search for empty hostname. <strong>Johnf: I don't have access to any ESX boxes so I can't test this. It's possibly a licensing issue. I'm not sure you can use VCB without a VC.</strong> thanks, but could you help me for the problem.
But I encounter problems when running the these commands.
The ESX host use the local SCSI disk as the storage and I run this commands in the ESX Host Service Console.

I run the commands :
[root@localhost root]# vcbMounter -h localhost -u root -p 123456 -a moref:16 -r /var/log/backup
[2007-03-29 23:01:46.488 'App' 3076452480 info] Current working directory: /root
[2007-03-29 23:01:46.548 'BaseLibs' 4570032 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/

[2007-03-29 23:01:46.898 'vcbMounter' 3076452480 error] Error: FindHostByName: Cannot search for empty hostname.
[root@localhost root]# vcbMounter -h localhost -u root -p 123456 -a ipaddr:16.157.66.85 -r /var/log/backup
[2007-03-29 23:10:57.962 'App' 3076444288 info] Current working directory: /root
[2007-03-29 23:10:58.019 'BaseLibs' 6642608 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/

[2007-03-29 23:10:58.585 'vcbMounter' 3076444288 error] Error: FindHostByName: Cannot search for empty hostname.

Johnf: I don’t have access to any ESX boxes so I can’t test this. It’s possibly a licensing issue. I’m not sure you can use VCB without a VC.

]]> By: Matt http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-445 Matt Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:53:17 +0000 http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-445 Thanks for this, top stuff. Readers may also find this info on mounting smb shares useful. http://blog.baeke.info/blog/_archives/2006/12/18/2581372.html Together you can mount a share and backup to it, then backup the share with your normal backup solution. Thanks for this, top stuff.
Readers may also find this info on mounting smb shares useful.
http://blog.baeke.info/blog/_archives/2006/12/18/2581372.html

Together you can mount a share and backup to it, then backup the share with your normal backup solution.

]]> By: Scott Lowe http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-366 Scott Lowe Thu, 08 Mar 2007 14:59:05 +0000 http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-366 John, Great information, thanks for sharing that. Note that you can also restore VCB backups using VMware Converter: http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/03/06/restoring-vcb-full-backups-with-vmware-converter/ Ioko, Also note that multipathing isn't supported by VCB--I ran into issues with EMC PowerPath and VCB, so I can only guess that SecurePath would cause the same sorts of issues. Take care, Scott John,

Great information, thanks for sharing that. Note that you can also restore VCB backups using VMware Converter:

http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/03/06/restoring-vcb-full-backups-with-vmware-converter/

Ioko,

Also note that multipathing isn’t supported by VCB–I ran into issues with EMC PowerPath and VCB, so I can only guess that SecurePath would cause the same sorts of issues.

Take care,
Scott

]]> By: Ioko http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-35 Ioko Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:26:04 +0000 http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-35 Hello again! I found the sollution for my problem! The problem was in shared VDisk presentation! I present shared storage to ESX servers as LUN 2 /because they boot from LUN 1/, and presented the same VDisk to VCB as LUN 1 /because VCB machine boots from local storage/. It seems that LUNs have to be the same NUMBERS at ESX server AND VCB proxy! Best regards, Ioakim Hello again!

I found the sollution for my problem!

The problem was in shared VDisk presentation! I present shared storage to ESX servers as LUN 2 /because they boot from LUN 1/, and presented the same VDisk to VCB as LUN 1 /because VCB machine boots from local storage/. It seems that LUNs have to be the same NUMBERS at ESX server AND VCB proxy!

Best regards,
Ioakim

]]> By: Ioko http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-34 Ioko Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:34:47 +0000 http://inodes.org/blog/2006/08/23/vmware-consolidated-backup/#comment-34 Hello! My environment is 2x IBM 460 ESX 3.0 server, 1x IBM 266 Win2003 Mgmt+VCB server, HP SAN b-series switches, Storage 2x HP EVA5000. Issuing: vcbmounter.exe -h IP_Addr -u user -p passwd - a ipaddr:X.X.X.X - r c:\mnt\windows - t fullvm -m san to mount test VC machine on VCB proxy there is the output: /simmilar output for any VC machine/ [2006-09-28 19:48:33.593 'App' 3248 info] Current working directory: C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework [2006-09-28 19:48:34.140 'BaseLibs' 732 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/ Copying "[test] /windows/windows.vmx": 0%=====================50%=====================100% ************************************************** Copying "[test] /windows/windows.nvram": 0%=====================50%=====================100% ************************************************** Copying "[test] /windows/vmware-1.log": 0%=====================50%=====================100% ************************************************** Copying "[test] /windows/vmware-2.log": 0%=====================50%=====================100% ************************************************** Copying "[test] /windows/vmware-3.log": 0%=====================50%=====================100% ************************************************** Copying "[test] /windows/vmware-4.log": 0%=====================50%=====================100% ************************************************** Copying "[test] /windows/vmware-5.log": 0%=====================50%=====================100% ************************************************** Copying "[test] /windows/vmware.log": 0%=====================50%=====================100% ************************************************** [2006-09-28 19:48:44.000 'BaseLibs' 2628 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/ [2006-09-28 19:48:56.421 'vcbMounter' 3248 error] Error: Failed to open the disk : One LUN could not be opened [2006-09-28 19:48:56.421 'vcbMounter' 3248 error] An error occured, cleaning up. .. [2006-09-28 19:48:56.984 'vcbMounter' 3248 warning] Snapshot deletion failed. At tempting to clean up snapshot database... The problem is in "Failed to open the disk: One LUN could not be opened". I found similar /the same/ problem at: http://www.vmware.com/community/message.jspa?messageID=474774 Installation of Secure Path on Windows VCB box was not in help... Any ideas, help, etc.? Thanks Ioakim Hello!

My environment is 2x IBM 460 ESX 3.0 server, 1x IBM 266 Win2003 Mgmt+VCB server, HP SAN b-series switches, Storage 2x HP EVA5000.

Issuing:
vcbmounter.exe -h IP_Addr -u user -p passwd - a ipaddr:X.X.X.X - r c:\mnt\windows - t fullvm -m san
to mount test VC machine on VCB proxy there is the output: /simmilar output for any VC machine/
[2006-09-28 19:48:33.593 'App' 3248 info] Current working directory:
C:\Program
Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework
[2006-09-28 19:48:34.140 'BaseLibs' 732 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting
unknown
path: /vmomi/

Copying “[test] /windows/windows.vmx”:
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying “[test] /windows/windows.nvram”:
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying “[test] /windows/vmware-1.log”:
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying “[test] /windows/vmware-2.log”:
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying “[test] /windows/vmware-3.log”:
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying “[test] /windows/vmware-4.log”:
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying “[test] /windows/vmware-5.log”:
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying “[test] /windows/vmware.log”:
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

[2006-09-28 19:48:44.000 'BaseLibs' 2628 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting
unknown
path: /vmomi/

[2006-09-28 19:48:56.421 'vcbMounter' 3248 error] Error: Failed to open the disk
: One LUN could not be opened
[2006-09-28 19:48:56.421 'vcbMounter' 3248 error] An error occured, cleaning
up.
..
[2006-09-28 19:48:56.984 'vcbMounter' 3248 warning] Snapshot deletion
failed. At
tempting to clean up snapshot database…

The problem is in “Failed to open the disk: One LUN could not be opened”.

I found similar /the same/ problem at:
http://www.vmware.com/community/message.jspa?messageID=474774

Installation of Secure Path on Windows VCB box was not in help…

Any ideas, help, etc.?
Thanks
Ioakim

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