RM vSphere Resignaturing VMFS LUN

Question

Hello all,

we have successfully cloned a production STD LUN to a second STD LUN that we want to mount back to the ESX4 server for eventual backup to tape. The test vm is snapped and the replica is created.

We have been able to let RM mount the VMFS back to this original ESX server but inorder to use the VMFS LUN, we of course need to resignature the volume - not to confuse it w/ the original. I can do this within vSphere Configuration -> Storage -> Add Storage -> Select the LUN -> Assign a new Signature and it works. I'm under the impression that RM could be configured to do this. Also, then I need to inventory the vms for backup - all this can be done manually. Maybe I'm wrong and it's something that I have to script...which will involve some time and effort to get it right.

Symmetrix DMX

RM 5.2.2

vSphere 4

VCB

Symantec Backup Exec 12.5

The intention is to replicate a VMFS LUN and then present it back to an ESX server. Then let Symantec Backup Exec 12.5 (with VCB module's help) to use vSphere and backup image and individual vm files. Any comments on how to best do this?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

mtaylor-6XCvl · Answer

Tom

RM 5.3 gives you a mount option that does the re-signature part for you. I'm having a problem backing up the VMs with Netbackup because RM doesn't auto add the VMs to inventory. Netbackup can't see VMs if they're not part of the inventory, have you found any solutions for this?

Thanks

Matt

DanJost · Answer

I haven't looked at this in a while but I thought the VCB portion would mount the VMFS volume to a Windows host with some "special config" which would then allow it to be backed up. With Symantec 12.5, it would do a disk-to-disk-to-tape process that leverages VCB to gain access to the vmdk file.

This document might be a little old but describes the process as I understand it...

http://eval.symantec.com/mktginfo/enterprise/other_resources/b-backupexec_12.5_faq_10-2008_69739.en-us.pdf

Dan

mtaylor-6XCvl · Answer

Thanks for the info Dan. In my scenario, we’re using 4.1 so VCB is no longer supported. I’m thinking there should be a way to do something similar with vStorage API but not having any luck finding documents or info on it.

Thanks

Matt

DanJost · Answer

For BE, version 2010 uses the new vStorage API - I'd have to imagine that NetBackup has similar functionality.  This is all independent of RM.  Looks like I need to upgrade to 2010  myself and get the BE VM licenses now that it doesn't require VCB

Replication Manager

RM vSphere Resignaturing VMFS LUN

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