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How should you choose a virtualization backuptool? It must offer the features you need for a successful DRstrategy, such as instant restore and file-level restore, amongothers. This expert technical article provides an explanationof the key features you should look for when evaluatingvirtualization backup tools, and takes a close look at some ofthe popular offerings. The list is growing as products thatback up physical infrastructures have reached a high level ofmaturity.

Virtualization backup tools: How the field stacks upBy David Davis

The rise of server virtualization also paved the way for virtualization backuptools. Once physical server backup vendors realized that virtualization washere to stay, they made changes to their software to adapt to backing upvirtual machines (VMs). Still, not all tools for backing up physical serversoffer the same powerful VM backup features as virtualization backup tools

do.

On the other hand, virtualization backup tools typically dont back up physicalservers, so youll need two tools if you cant virtualize all of your physicalservers right now.

When selecting a virtualization backup tool, consider its history and source.Make sure it offers everything you need for a successful disaster recovery(DR) strategy.

The following are core features to look for in a virtualization backup tool:

virtual backupphysical backup or both; image-based backup; file-level restore; instant restore;
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deduplication and compression of backup data; replication of backup data off-site for disaster recovery; agent-based versus agentless backup; and deploymentinstalled as a Windows app or prebuilt VM.

And finally, compare the cost of the backup tool with that of other toolsbecause they will likely have different pricing models.

In addition to the potential value of virtualization backup tools, well considersome examples, assess their maturity and list their specifications.

Almost every server backup tool can back up VMs, but its often done withagents inside each virtual machine. Using a traditional agent in each VM mayallow administrators to restore files, but it wont give them any virtualizationfeatures.

Instead, opt for either virtualization-specific backup tools or physical serverbackup tools that have strong virtualization-specific features.

Backup tools use VMware Inc.s vCenter application programming interface(API) to identify which VMs are on which ESX/ESXi host. This is criticalbecause VMs will be moving around via vMotion, Distributed ResourceScheduler and VMware High Availability. In fact, VM disk files might even bemoving from one storage area network (SAN) to another using storagevMotion.

As part of a DR strategy, the tools that back up a virtual infrastructure musttake all of this into account. Besides using the vCenter API, virtualization-specific backup tools may also use the change block tracking feature ofvSphere 4 and higher to perform faster. Opt for virtualization backup tools orphysical server tools that have strong virtualization features.

Evaluating virtualization backup tools

The first of the three virtualization-specific backup tools well discuss is Acronis Backup & Recovery Virtual Edition. It is different because it backs upall virtualization platforms including vSphere, Hyper-V, XenServer, KVM and
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Parallels Virtuozzo. It is also different because organizations need topurchase just a single, onetime license, and then they can back up all of theirVMs.

Acronis Backup & Recovery is agentless in vSphere and Hyper-Vinfrastructures, offers physical-to-virtual (P2V) and virtual-to-virtual (V2V)conversion and even backs up to tape. Acronis Inc. has optionaldeduplication but no replication. Acronis online backup option allowsadmins to send backup data over the Internet for off-site storage.

EMC Avamar Backup & Dedupe wasnt designed specifically for virtualinfrastructures. It backs up physical servers as well as virtual machines.While EMC Corp. may not have designed the product for virtualization, it hasadded features that allow Avamar to integrate with the virtual infrastructurethrough the vCenter API.

Avamar has remote site-replication abilities and can back up data to disk ortapesomething that virtualization-specific backup tools wont do. It offersmodules to back up applications, including Exchange, SharePoint andOracle. On the downside, Avamar is one of the most complexandexpensivebackup tools in this guide.

The third virtualization-specific backup tool is PHD Virtual Backup (formerlyesXpress) from PHD Virtual Technologies (see Figure 1). This was one ofthe first tools I ever used that actually deployed as a virtual appliance. Itsmodel is to deploy a virtual backup appliance (VBA) on one or moreESX/ESXi hosts.
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VRanger is sold in two editions: vRanger Standard Edition and vRanger Pro.The Pro edition has replication, file cataloging and LAN-free backup. Thereplication of backup images for off-site storage and disaster recovery is oneof the most valuable features available within these backup products.

Depending on the size and design of a company, however, replication maynot always be practical.

If you are comparing Veeam Backup & Replication and Quest vRanger,compare Veeam Backup & Replication with vRanger Pronot with vRanger

SE.

Pricing models for virtualization backup tools

The pricing models for virtualization backup tools vary, just as their methodsfor backing up systems and individual features are different. Choose the onethat best covers the number of virtual machines affected.

Per VM = sold per virtual machine being backed up by the tool Per CPU socket = sold per CPU socket in use across all

virtualization hosts One flat price = flat rate for the backup tool that can back up a limited

number, or unlimited number, of VMs

More virtualization backup tools to consider

A new entry to the virtualization backup market is Thinware vBackup. Whilethis small company still transfers virtual machines from the Virtual MachineFS using an older method (VMware Consolidated Backup), it does offer acomplete file system backup tool that no one else offers. It has moreadvanced editions available as well and will soon be using the latest methodsto transfer VMs (VMware's API for data protection/VADP). It will also havemore advanced features, including incremental backup, file-level restore, andreplication.

Thinware doesn't claim to compete with the large companies by offering thelatest and most innovative features. Instead, vBackups big selling point is


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that you can perform virtualization backups at the lowest possible cost,anywhere.

Veeam Backup & Replication is a Windows application from Veeam Softwarethat installs either on a physical server or on a virtual machine. Standardfeatures include image-based backup, file-level restore, deduplication andcompression (see Figure 2).

Veeam Backup & Replication doesnt back up physical servers, but it canmake a file copy of a network share as a backup if needed. Traditionally, the

biggest differentiator between Veeam Backup & Replication and thecompetition has been replication of backup data off-sitefor off-site backupstorage and disaster recovery.

Figure 2: If a VM goes down, you can use Veeam Backup & Replication to

restart it on any host in a matter of minutes.

The latest edition, Version 5, has an instant restore capability that allows abackup to be directly mounted from the backup repository without needingthe VM to be copied to the production data store. Other unique features
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include universal application item recovery, virtual labs for testing, andchange block tracking for rapid replication. In addition, the SureBackupfeature provides for recovery verification of apps within a backup image.
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In addition, Veeam provides a free two-CPU license of Veeam Backup &Replication to any vExpert, VMware Certified Professional or VMwareCertified Instructor for evaluation, demonstration and training.

The maturing virtualization backup tool market

Products that back up physical infrastructures have reached a high level ofmaturity. Younger virtualization backup tools are moving from just getting the

job done to wowing admins with features they never dreamed possible.Virtualization has revived the backup software category with features thatwere never possible with traditional physical server backup: virtual labs,instant restore of VMs (mounted from the backup repository) and actualautomated verification of VM backups.

Replicating changed blocks in a VM disk file is one of the most usefulfeatures of third-party backup and recovery tools. With replication, you donthave to create backup tapes or store those tapes off-site. Instead, replication

just moves changed blocks across a WAN or Internet VPN tunnel to another
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company location or service provider. That takes care of a big DR strategyheadachethe requirement to back up and restore company applicationsand data.

VM replication has a shorter recovery time than traditional tape backup evercould. Plus, virtual machines are ready to be powered on by a vSphere hostthe minute they are needed.

Remember to consider virtualization features, how to get data off-site,backup of physical servers, whether replication is included and the

availability of advanced virtualization features when you look at third-partybackup tools.


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