TSM for Virtual environments - file level backups and fulls without duplicate data?

[Rhuobhe]

Hi there, I've been testing TSM for virtual environments on a proxy running 6.2.3 client. Server is 5.5


I am able to backup full vm's and restore them.

I can also do file level backups and
file level restores to the vm without having the TSM client on it.

However...

I noticed that when I do fulls, the data is kept on the proxy (q occup) which is fine... but when I run file level backups it sends the data (TSM fsid) to the vm node. This causes duplicate data I prefer not to have. Calling IBM support was not very helpful, this DP for vmware appears so new that the techs arent able to give a confident answer.

Any feedback from some of you who are already doing this?

Thanks!

 

[skentzle]

Hello, I'm currently using TDP for VMWare and you don't need any file-level backups, because the TDP builds the catalog for you and you can mount the partition to the proxy host. There are some limitations for TDP for VMWare. Please take a look at this official IBM links:
- https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27021081 (Tape Support)
- https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27021081#Considerations for file restore f
- https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27021081#Instant restore limitations
- https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21473127

Best regards
Sebastian

 

[skentzle]

Any additional information on how to schedule and store virtual machine data:
- http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/w...+Scheduling+with+TSM+for+Virtual+Environments
This is a very nice guide line.

Sebastian

 

[Rhuobhe]

sorry I am kinda new at this. You appear to be doing things differently and probably better. So you do full VM backups and then if you want to restore an object without restoring the whole VM, you use that mount interface gui (supposedly called recovery agent) to mount the file system into the proxy to selectively restore and move the file to your destination?

what about Full VM incremental, do you use this?

What is the difference on the gui between "VMWare Full VM (vStorage)" and "VMWare Full VM Incremental"

 

[skentzle]

You need the new product TDP for VMWare (this requires a PVU based license - you'll need to license you vmware cluster/hosts). You're rigjt - I only do fullvm backups and if I need to restore any single file I use the TDP interface to mount the partition of the vm to proxy (for linux vm's this is alittle bit tricky and lvm based partitions are not supported https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21473127) The product needs a lot of improvements for "normal" usebility - but there is a lot of documentation, so anybody will be able to set it up correctly). The upcoming version 6.3 will be much more better - hopefully.
The difference between full and incrmental is that the incrmentals only backup the changed blocks (CBT must be supported, this means you´need vmware hardware version 7 - some usefull information: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/mi...nguage=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1020128
Currently I'm backing up round about 200 virtual machines. If you need any additional information - please let me know.

Kindest regards
Sebastian

Here you can find a nice demo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uMkZNQ1pcM

 

[tsmfreak]

I installed IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environments Version 6.2 Windows on the backup proxy.
From the downloaded ZIP (Passport Advantage) I ran the setup.exe for the supposed TDP4VMware from the X64 Folder (there is another folder X86).
Curiosly the installation landed in Program Files (x86) ... and the start ==> Programs ==> TSM ==> DP4VMWare shows only command line + documents.
No GUI for Instant restore (mount etc).
From the downloaded ZIP there is another folder with the tsmcli (X32 and X64). I choose X64 and the TSMbacli installed in the right directory (Program Files) .
I am too able to backup full (+ full incr) VM's and restore.
I am missing the GUI for instant restore (= recovery agent ???)
I made a file level backup of a VM guest from the backup proxy (grant proxy).
I can see in the VM guest (in the moment with a tsmbacli installed) the backuped files but i cannot restore them.
On the proxy where the file level backup of the VM guest was successfull I cannot see the the VM Guest filespaces through acces another node.

In theorie with one full (+ full incr ) we must can do a file level restore.

But with the instant restore feature (mount etc) you can "copy" the selected files (of the VM guest) to be restored only to the backup proxy or where you installed the TDP4VMware (recovery agent) ?

see video here : http://www-01.ibm.com/software/ch/de/multimedia/tsm-virtuelle-umgebung.html

It is not clear ?

 

[skentzle]

Please take a look here - I had the same problem. There is a short description in the manual:
" Users must be logged in locally in order to run Data Protection for VMware
Recovery Agent operations. Data Protection for VMware Recovery Agent can be
used when it is accessed through a remote desktop when connecting in console
mode, by using the administrator switch."
The path is correct - it seems to be a 32bit application.
Do you use tape mode or do your backups reside on disk? Instant restore is not available in tape mode.

 

[skentzle]

The video is nice but they are cowards - because they do not show how to mount linux partitions. The setup procedure is really heavy.
You don't need any file level backups because the TDP only uses fullvm backups.

 

[tsmfreak]

IBM told me to deinstall and reinstall the whole software of the backup proxy (TDP4VMWare + TSMBAcli).
And now the restore and the full backup fails with :
[h=1]ANS9383E: Required files for VMware vStorage virtual machine backup could not be found. Run the TSM install selecting the vmwaretools feature or install the VMware VDDK.[/h]??????

 

[skentzle]

Did you perform a custom b/a client installation? You need to do this, because you need to select the vmware packages.

 

[tsmfreak]

OK thank you that was it. :up: (the first time I did select the vmware packages :redface: )

Now my question again :

I want to make in the future a weekly full VM and dayly a full incr of the VM guests. (to save bandwith)
Without having to install a TSMBACLI on each VM guest how can I restore directly a file to this VM guest from this full (or full incr) ?
What must be installed where ?

 

[skentzle]

For Windows based guests install the TDP and B/A client on the proxy - so your will be able to mount Windows guest partitions directly to the proxy and copy the file via CIFS to the guest.
For Linux based guests you need to install TDP on a supported Lnux OS (SLES or RHEL) or you use this procedure to manually mount: https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21473127

 

[tsmfreak]

and how can I start on the backup proxy the GUI from where I can select the TSM Server , the VM guest , the disk , the mount option etc because I can only select "command line" and "documents" from the "Data Protection fro VMware" slide ?

 

[tsmfreak]

I had just another strange effect : (I wanted to do a new full or a new full incr). I got the following message :

ANS1715E A filespace already exists for VM (vmguest), but with a different VM uuid (564dcc17-c239-7be3-b7f2-539f83eb75a6) than the current one (4233df0f-cb0e-0f05-8994-8c95ff4289c9)

After deleting the proxy server filespace for this VM ("\VMFULL-vmguest") corresponding to 2 FULL and 1 Full Incr in the TSM Server the new backup attempt was successfull ... ??? !!!

 

[skentzle]

I had the same effect in the past - but I forgot the solution (I think I deleted the filespaces too). If you access your proxy via RDP choose to connect to console (mstsc /v:<proxyhost> /console or /admin). Now you should see an icon in the taskbar. There is lot to improve in version 6.3 (I'm member of the EAP - the first presentation looks good).

 

[tsmfreak]

No icon in the taskbar only

 

[tsmfreak]

in the Data Protection for VMware Installations- and Users Guide they speek of a Data Protection for VMware Recovery Agent but in the installation I have only the choice from the following features :
- Data Protection for VMware Mount
- Data Protection for VMware Comand Line
- Documents
- Data Protection for VMware Enablement File

 

[skentzle]

Is the "Data Protection for VMware Mount" service started?

 

[tsmfreak]

there is a service named VMware Virtual Mount Manger Extended which is started.

I executed TDPVMwareMount.exe from the subdirectory /Program Files (x86)/Tivoli/TSM/TDPVMware/mount but with no effect.
Then I executed in a cmd window the same exe with the option -notservice then very briefly I can see a "reaction" on the screen and in the Windows task manager I see a process TDPVMwareMount.exe*32.
Thats all

 

[tsmfreak]

/Program Files (x86)/Tivoli/TSM/TDPVMware/mount/TDPVMwareMount.exe -notservice : at length I can see the icon in the taskbar !!! :up:

Now ready for the next hurdle :tongue: : file level restore from the VM full backup ...

Thank you