ESXi: Backups and tape drives

Tape drives don't work on (Dell) raid controllers.

ESX (regular or "i") doesn't work with tape drives as far as I know.

For backups you'd use SAN storage for the ESX server and have another server with a tape drive and a non-virtual OS also see the disk space and then use VCB to back up the VMs. Be sure to read up about VCB before blindly presenting a virtual disk/lun to a 2nd physical server (that's not running ESX).

From what I understand, ESXi/ESX can expose/map a hardware tape drive to a particular VM. (I could be wrong...) 

 

Then, this VM proceeds with a normal backup as if it was a real box.

 

But, suposedly, this only works with some kinds of tape drives and only some backup software.  

 

Does anyone know what Dell backup hardware can do this?

 

Thanks,

:)

 

P.S. As I said, I am only buying one server, so backing up over the network to a physical machine is not an option.

Did you ask your technical salesrep at Dell to see what suggestions they would have?

When I look in ESX I don't see any option to give a tape drive to a VM, but I also don't have a tape drive to give to the ESX server, so maybe it only shows up if there is one.

If you can afford a server with ESX (about US$5k or so for the ESX license), can another server not be budgetted in? Dell sells a 440 or so for less than US$350.

I'm referring to ESXi not ESX... ESXi is considerably cheaper.    The downside is lack of multi-machine management, but that's not a problem here. (Give away ESXi, sell the VI management tools... Seems to be the new plan.)

 

RE: Dell technical sales rep

 

Hmm.... How do i get in touch with the Dell VMware gurus?  I'm sure they would know.

 

 Thanks,

:)

 

Call your Dell salesrep (or if you don't have one yet, just call Dell sales) and ask them to get one of their technical salesreps on the line as you have some backup questions in regards to ESXi.

I was also looking for a backup solution but they are expensive. I found something which could be interesting..... look at www.esxibackup.net. Greets!