Simple Backup Repository

A backup repository is a location used by Veeam Backup & Replication jobs to store backup files, copies of VMs and metadata for replicated VMs. Technically, a backup repository is a folder on the backup storage. By assigning different repositories to jobs and limiting the number of parallel jobs for each one, you can balance the load across your backup infrastructure.

You can configure one of the following types of backup repositories:

• Microsoft Windows server with local or directly attached storage. The storage can be a local disk, directly attached disk-based storage (such as a USB hard drive), or iSCSI/FC SAN LUN in case the server is connected into the SAN fabric.
  On a Windows repository, Veeam Backup & Replication deploys Veeam Data Mover Service (when you add a Windows-based server to the product console, Veeam Backup & Replication installs a set of components including the Data Mover Service on that server). When any job addresses the backup repository, the Data Mover Service on the backup repository establishes a connection with the source-side Data Mover Service on the backup proxy, enabling efficient data transfer over LAN or WAN.
  Windows repositories can be configured to function as vPower NFS Servers. In this case, Veeam Backup & Replication will run the Veeam vPower NFS Service directly on the backup repository (namely, on the managing Windows server to which storage is attached) and provide ESX(i) hosts with transparent access to backed up VM images stored in the backup repository. For more information, see Veeam vPower NFS Service.
• Linux server with local, directly attached storage or mounted NFS. The storage can be a local disk, directly attached disk-based storage (such as a USB hard drive), NFS share, or iSCSI/FC SAN LUN in case the server is connected into the SAN fabric.

When any task addresses a Linux repository, Veeam Backup & Replication deploys and starts the Veeam Data Mover Service on the backup repository. The Data Mover Service establishes a connection with the source-side Data Mover Service on the backup proxy, enabling efficient data transfer over LAN or WAN.

• CIFS (SMB) share. SMB share cannot host Veeam Data Mover Services. For this reason, data to the SMB share is written from the gateway server. By default, this role is performed by a backup proxy that is used by the job for data transport.

However, if you plan to move VM data to an offsite SMB repository over a WAN link, it is recommended that you deploy an additional gateway server in the remote site, closer to the SMB repository. Veeam Backup & Replication will deploy a Veeam Data Mover Service on this gateway server, which will improve data transfer performance.

• Deduplicating storage appliance. Veeam Backup & Replication supports the following deduplicating storage appliances:

• EMC Data Domain
• ExaGrid
• HPE StoreOnce

For more information, see Support for Deduplicating Storage Systems.

Related Topics

• Gateway Server
• Configuring Simple Backup Repositories