hyper-V VeeamEndpointBackup question

LAH3385

So I have a VM (Server 2012 R2) running. I want to back it up so I can restore both baremetal & file level. Not sure how to approach this. I do have some gueses.

Install VeeamEndpoint on both hypervisor and inside VM. Hypervisor will backup VHDX while Veeam inside VM will backup files level.
Use other Veeam solution that may achieve both goal using the same setup/application. Not sure if Veeam Replication is the answer or not.

What I want to achieve here is the ability to DR VMs, while recover 'accidental' deleted files as well. Any idea?

JaredBusch

@LAH3385 said:

So I have a VM (Server 2012 R2) running. I want to back it up so I can restore both baremetal & file level. Not sure how to approach this. I do have some gueses.

Install VeeamEndpoint on both hypervisor and inside VM. Hypervisor will backup VHDX while Veeam inside VM will backup files level.

Use other Veeam solution that may achieve both goal using the same setup/application. Not sure if Veeam Replication is the answer or not.

What I want to achieve here is the ability to DR VMs, while recover 'accidental' deleted files as well. Any idea?

You need to define what you are actually after.

Are you trying to backup the Hypervisor itself? If so why? You typically jsut backup the guest VMs, not the Hypervisor itself. Because the Hypervisor can simply be rebuilt quickly and the guest VMs reattached to it.

For the backup of the VM as a whole, you will use a product such as Veeam Backup and Replication. The free version will let you backup into a VeeamZIP file that the entire VM can be restored from.

For file level recovery inside the VM, you need either the paid Veeam Backup & Recovery solution, to get files from the VM level backup,. Or you need an agent in the guest VM itself. If Veeam Endpoint Backup will install on Server 2012 R2, then this could be a solution for that as it is an agent inside the VM.

JaredBusch

Honestly, it sounds like you are trying to get around paying for a backup solution by setting up a bunch of components.

I find my time is more valuable than that. The time I will spend managing a mess of components entirely offsets the fact that it was "free."

LAH3385

@JaredBusch said:

Honestly, it sounds like you are trying to get around paying for a backup solution by setting up a bunch of components.

There is some truth in it. I just don't have the approval for the paid version yet. It is approved but not until September. Right now there is no backup solution in place for VMs and the files inside them. Which is why I am looking for something to buy time until I can get Veeam 9.

Are you trying to backup the Hypervisor itself? If so why? You typically jsut backup the guest VMs, not the Hypervisor itself. Because the Hypervisor can simply be rebuilt quickly and the guest VMs reattached to it.

No. Trying to backup the actual VHDX(VM) and files inside the VM. Agent will have to do for now. It will be a mess, but I need something inplace than nothingness.

Dashrender

You can do the bare metal back of the VMs by simply turning them off and then copying the VHDX's to your backup location.

I'm sure someone can point you to a free online backup solution, but currently the only thing that comes to mind is Unitrends Free.

Though, can't the EndPoint version of Veeam backup the entire thing from the inside? So it won't be a VM backup, but it would still be a bare metal type backup that you can restore after you recreate the base VM.

MattSpeller

@Dashrender said:

You can do the bare metal back of the VMs by simply turning them off and then copying the VHDX's to your backup location.

I'm sure someone can point you to a free ~~online~~ backup solution,

Set VM's to power off every %time% and create script to copy them at %time%+1min to backup location of your choice.

LAH3385

@Dashrender said:

You can do the bare metal back of the VMs by simply turning them off and then copying the VHDX's to your backup location.

I'm sure someone can point you to a free online backup solution, but currently the only thing that comes to mind is Unitrends Free.

Though, can't the EndPoint version of Veeam backup the entire thing from the inside? So it won't be a VM backup, but it would still be a bare metal type backup that you can restore after you recreate the base VM.

Looking into Unitrends now.

@MattSpeller said:

@Dashrender said:

You can do the bare metal back of the VMs by simply turning them off and then copying the VHDX's to your backup location.

I'm sure someone can point you to a free ~~online~~ backup solution,

Set VM's to power off every %time% and create script to copy them at %time%+1min to backup location of your choice.

That is not possible in my situation. The VM must on online 24/7. Order from higherups.

MattSpeller

@LAH3385 said:

That is not possible in my situation. The VM must on online 24/7. Order from higherups.

0.o

Good luck with that

LAH3385

@MattSpeller said:

@LAH3385 said:

That is not possible in my situation. The VM must on online 24/7. Order from higherups.

0.o

Good luck with that

LOL Yeah it sucks. Your idea is spot-on perfect. Too bad I cannot take it down.. not even restart.

MattSpeller

@LAH3385 said:

@MattSpeller said:

@LAH3385 said:

That is not possible in my situation. The VM must on online 24/7. Order from higherups.

0.o

Good luck with that

LOL Yeah it sucks. Your idea is spot-on perfect. Too bad I cannot take it down.. not even restart.

You're screwed man lol not even Amazon can do that

LAH3385

@MattSpeller said:

@LAH3385 said:

@MattSpeller said:

@LAH3385 said:

That is not possible in my situation. The VM must on online 24/7. Order from higherups.

0.o

Good luck with that

LOL Yeah it sucks. Your idea is spot-on perfect. Too bad I cannot take it down.. not even restart.

You're screwed man lol not even Amazon can do that

Veeam Baremetal is probably the option at the moment. Looking into Unitrend for a better solution.

Vladimir Eremin

I'd stick to the option number 2.

If you can't get a paid product license, you can still a free edition. With small tricks you can even schedule backups there. Some time ago I've written a blog post regarding it; might be worth checking.

Thanks.

LAH3385

@Vladimir-Eremin said:

I'd stick to the option number 2.

If you can't get a paid product license, you can still a free edition. With small tricks you can even schedule backups there. Some time ago I've written a blog post regarding it; might be worth checking.

Thanks.

I am a noob when it comes to PowerShell. Great post btw.
Question: Do I schedule it on hypervisor or within VM?

marcinozga

@LAH3385 said:

@JaredBusch said:

Honestly, it sounds like you are trying to get around paying for a backup solution by setting up a bunch of components.

There is some truth in it. I just don't have the approval for the paid version yet. It is approved but not until September. Right now there is no backup solution in place for VMs and the files inside them. Which is why I am looking for something to buy time until I can get Veeam 9.

Are you trying to backup the Hypervisor itself? If so why? You typically jsut backup the guest VMs, not the Hypervisor itself. Because the Hypervisor can simply be rebuilt quickly and the guest VMs reattached to it.

No. Trying to backup the actual VHDX(VM) and files inside the VM. Agent will have to do for now. It will be a mess, but I need something inplace than nothingness.

If you do it for free now, what are the chances that bean counters won't change their minds before September? You will end up with a mess and you will have to support it. If a business that doesn't have a backup in place right now cannot afford to buy one, they have no business being in business. Run. I would.

Vladimir Eremin

@LAH3385 on a machine that has Backup and Replication Free Edition installed.

The code is accompanied by detailed line by line description, and there are just a few lines that you need to change, such as Hyper-V server name, VM names, so it doesn't require any advanced scripting knowledge.

dafyre

Why not just install the VeeamEndpoint Client inside of the VM and be done with it? You get both File-Level and Bare Metal level restores with it.

If your VMhost explodes, then you simply create a new VM on another host and restore from backup. Done.

nadnerB

We have been messing around with Hyper-V on our workstations .
I use Veeam endpoint backup and my boss uses Hyperoo (free).

I haven't heard any complaints.
http://www.hyperoo.net/
http://www.hyperoo.net/free-edition

(interesting note. In spite of their name an logo, they list their contact address as Belfast, Northern Ireland)