New Backup Solution In My New Virtualized Environment

garak0410

I've discussed this with Scott in another discussion one time but it is time to look at backups again. I didn't have the budget nor the time to look at new backup solutions at the time of my move to 2012 R2. However, now that our current solution is dreadfully slow in a virtualized environment and will not work, time to look at other solutions.

I do have the Unitrends Free version installed as a VM but never could get it working but I am about to try again.

Management is aware of the need for a better solution so I may get money to spend though the cheaper the better.

Here's my setup:

Hyper-V Host with two VMs:
VM1: Domain Controller
VM2: File Server and Services

Physical SQL Server
4 workstations with local SQL (that have to be local) that I like to backup

Looking for, hopefully, an all in one solution to backup Active Directory, SQL DB's, Files (granular), and perhaps VDISK and VM backups as well.

So, let the bidding begin!

scottalanmiller

Unitrends free should definitely handle the servers. No agents needed. We just need to figure out where an agent error is coming from.

garak0410

@scottalanmiller said:

Unitrends free should definitely handle the servers. No agents needed. We just need to figure out where an agent error is coming from.

About to fire it back up (fingers crossed it didn't cause the wear on the host but doubtful it did) and let you know where I stand on it.

scottalanmiller

Cool. Keep us in the loop. If you need Unitrends help ping @art_of_shred

garak0410

I got to add a client in Unitrends Free and I get this:

Summary: Error communicating with system.

Cause: Call was unsuccessful.

Detail: [System] Remote agent installation is not supported with Windows 8.1 or 2012R2. Please download and install the agent from the Unitrends website onto the Windows system.

garak0410

@scottalanmiller said:

Cool. Keep us in the loop. If you need Unitrends help ping @art_of_shred

I've also pinged him. I was going to try the Unitrends Forum but not sure if the free edition is even supported there.

scottalanmiller

Free edition is fully supported with Unitrends support. You can open a ticket.

scottalanmiller

Did you try downloads on their site? Is there a client there to try?

art_of_shred

There are 2 places to get the agent for Windows. You can get them on the web site: http://www.unitrends.com/support/latest-agent-releases , or you can pull them from the share on the appliance (UEB). If you go to your server, open up <Run> and enter \192.168.1.50 (ex. ...it's whatever the IP of the UEB is) you can see the Windows Agent Share folder and get it from there. There will be a 32 and 64 bit option, as well as the bare metal agent, which is only for physical Windows platforms (not virtual).

art_of_shred

that was 2 back slashes, not one, but even when I go in an try to edit the post, it still only shows one. Not sure why it did that...

scottalanmiller

Use three backslashes to display two. The first one escapes.

garak0410

@art_of_shred said:

There are 2 places to get the agent for Windows. You can get them on the web site: http://www.unitrends.com/support/latest-agent-releases , or you can pull them from the share on the appliance (UEB). If you go to your server, open up <Run> and enter \192.168.1.50 (ex. ...it's whatever the IP of the UEB is) you can see the Windows Agent Share folder and get it from there. There will be a 32 and 64 bit option, as well as the bare metal agent, which is only for physical Windows platforms (not virtual).

Excellent...this helped...was able to load the agent on my virtual Domain Controller...now next question...

How do I set up a connection to my NAS to store the backups? Does it need to be a VDISK or can I use a network path to the NAS? Wasn't sure what option sets up Backup Destination.

art_of_shred

Follow this...

http://www.unitrends.com/documents/administrators-guide/user_manual/getting_started/to_create_additional_backup_storage_for_hyper-v.htm

Then this...

http://www.unitrends.com/documents/administrators-guide/user_manual/getting_started/to_expand_storage.htm#XREF_77149_To_expand_storage

garak0410

@art_of_shred said:

Follow this...

http://www.unitrends.com/documents/administrators-guide/user_manual/getting_started/to_create_additional_backup_storage_for_hyper-v.htm

Then this...

http://www.unitrends.com/documents/administrators-guide/user_manual/getting_started/to_expand_storage.htm#XREF_77149_To_expand_storage

Excellent...thanks! Freeing up space from my NAS to make room to test this...

garak0410

So, I will see where this leads over the next few days...

I assume I should also have a solution for my Host right? But the free Unitrends won't take care of that...correct?

I'll be keeping my current solution for now to backup SQL.

Dashrender

As long as you have the host well documented it's less important. There should be nothing installed in the host other than Hyper-V. Then document whatever networks you setup, etc.

If it dies, use that information to rebuild your host, then you install Unitrends from either a DVD back of the OVF or redownload it, then point at your backups and restore.

scottalanmiller

@garak0410 said:

I assume I should also have a solution for my Host right? But the free Unitrends won't take care of that...correct?

No. Don't back up the host. There should be nothing there to protect.

garak0410

Question about backup drives in Unitrends. Does the drive have to be an attached VDISK or can backups go to a network location? I am trying to create a VDISK on our NAS to attach to the Unitrends VM and it drive creation is just CREEPING...terrible slow. I've checked the storage options and they all appear to have to be VDISKS unless I am missing something.

Thanks...

art_of_shred

You can create a CIFS or NFS share on your NAS to attach storage that way. Here's how...

http://support.unitrends.com/ikm/questions.php?questionid=936

garak0410

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