This is an archive version of the document. To get the most up-to-date information, see the current version.

Architecture Overview

The Veeam Backup for Nutanix AHV architecture comprises the following set of components:

Nutanix AHV cluster
Backup server
Backup appliance
Nutanix AHV Plug-in
Backup repositories
Workers

Nutanix AHV Cluster

A Nutanix AHV cluster is a logical group of Nutanix HCI nodes managed by Nutanix Controller VMs (CVMs). While performing backup and restore operations, Veeam Backup for Nutanix AHV uses the Nutanix AHV cluster to access Nutanix AHV resources such as VMs, volume groups, storage containers and networks.

A backup server is a Windows-based physical or virtual machine on which Veeam Backup & Replication is installed. The backup server is the configuration, administration and management core of the backup infrastructure. It coordinates backup and restore operations, controls job scheduling and manages resource allocation.

Backup Appliance

A backup appliance is an architecture component that sits logically between the backup server and other components of the backup infrastructure. While the backup server administers tasks, the backup appliance performs management operations, processes jobs and delivers backup traffic. The backup appliance is a Linux-based VM that resides in the Nutanix AHV cluster and includes the following components:

Backup Appliance Web Console is an interface that allows you to manage backup and restore operations, and to configure settings of the Nutanix AHV backup appliance.
Veeam Updater is a service that is responsible for installing and scheduling updates for the backup appliance.

Nutanix AHV Plug-in

Nutanix AHV Plug-in is an architecture component that enables integration between the backup server and the backup appliance. Nutanix AHV Plug-in also allows the backup server to deploy and manage the backup appliance.

Backup Repositories

A backup repository is a storage location where Veeam Backup for Nutanix AHV stores backups of protected Nutanix AHV VMs.

To communicate with backup repositories, Veeam Backup for Nutanix AHV uses Veeam Data Mover — the service that is responsible for data processing and transfer. By default, Veeam Data Mover runs on the repositories themselves. If a repository cannot host Veeam Data Mover, it starts on a gateway server — a dedicated component that “bridges” the backup server and workers. For more information, see the Veeam Backup & Replication User Guide, section Gateway Server.

A worker is an auxiliary Linux-based VM instance that is responsible for the interaction between the backup appliance and other components of the backup infrastructure. Workers process backup workload and distribute backup traffic when transferring data to and from backup repositories.

The backup appliance comes with a preconfigured embedded worker that can be used in small virtual environments. In large environments, it is recommended to deploy dedicated workers that are distributed among the cluster hosts (nodes) and are automatically launched for the duration of a backup or restore process. For more information on deployment sizing considerations, see Sizing Guidelines.