This is an archive version of the document. To get the most up-to-date information, see the current version.Gateway Server
A gateway server is an auxiliary backup infrastructure component that “bridges” the backup server and backup repository. The gateway server is required if you deploy the following types of backup repositories in the backup infrastructure:
- Shared folder backup repositories
- EMC DataDomain and HPE StoreOnce deduplicating storage appliances
Shared folder repositories, EMC DataDomain and HPE StoreOnce cannot host Data Mover Services — Veeam components that establish a connection between a backup proxy and backup repository (in case of backup jobs) or between backup repositories (in case of backup copy jobs). To overcome this limitation, Veeam Backup & Replication uses gateway servers.
In the backup infrastructure, a gateway server hosts the target Veeam Data Mover. Veeam Backup & Replication establishes a connection between the source Veeam Data Mover and target Veeam Data Mover, and transports data from/to backup repositories via gateway servers.
Gateway Servers Deployment
To configure a gateway server, you must go through the Add New Backup Repository wizard and select a machine that will perform the role of a gateway server. You can select a gateway server explicitly or instruct Veeam Backup & Replication to select it automatically.
- If you select a gateway server explicitly, Veeam Backup & Replication uses the selected machine as a gateway server. Synthetic operations are also performed on this gateway server.
- If you instruct Veeam Backup & Replication to select the gateway server automatically, Veeam Backup & Replication uses the following backup infrastructure components:
Type of Job | Gateway server | Synthetic operations |
Backup job | Backup proxy that was assigned the first to process VM data for a backup job. | Synthetic operations are performed on the mount server associated with the backup repository. If the mount server is not accessible, Veeam Backup & Replication fails over to the backup server. |
Backup copy job |
| Synthetic operations are performed on the mount server associated with the backup repository. If the mount server is not accessible, Veeam Backup & Replication fails over to the backup server. These rules are applied to the direct data path and processing over WAN accelerators. |
Tape job | If there is a direct connection between a backup repository and tape device, the role of a gateway server is assigned to the tape server. Otherwise the role of a gateway server is assigned to the backup server. | Synthetic operations are performed on the mount server associated with the backup repository. If the mount server is not accessible, Veeam Backup & Replication fails over to the backup server. |
In the common case, a machine to which you assign the role of a gateway server must be located as close to the backup repository as possible. However, if you use a deduplicating storage appliance with source-side data deduplication, it is reasonable to assign the role of a gateway server to a machine that is located closer to the backup proxy. This will help you reduce the amount of traffic travelling over the network. For more information, see EMC Data Domain and HPE StoreOnce.
Veeam Backup & Replication may use one or several gateway servers to process VMs in the job. The number of gateway servers depends on backup repository settings. If the Use per-VM backup files option is disabled, Veeam Backup & Replication selects one gateway server for the whole backup repository. If the Use per-VM backup files option is enabled, Veeam Backup & Replication selects a gateway server per every VM in the job. The rules of gateway server selection are described above.
For example, a backup job processes 2 VMs. The job is targeted at a backup repository for which the Use per-VM backup files option is enabled. In this case, Veeam Backup & Replication will detect which backup proxies were used to process VMs in the job. If VMs were processed with 2 different backup proxies, Veeam Backup & Replication will assign the role of gateway servers to these backup proxies. If VMs were processed with the same backup proxy, Veeam Backup & Replication will assign the role of a gateway server to this backup proxy, and will use it for both VMs in the job.
For scale-out backup repositories, Veeam Backup & Replication uses one gateway server per every extent. The rules of gateway server selection are described above.
Requirements for Gateway Servers
A machine performing the role of a gateway server must meet the following requirements:
- The machine must meet the system requirements. For more information, see System Requirements.
- The gateway server can run on a physical or virtual machine.
- The gateway server can run on a Microsoft Windows machine.
- You must add the machine to the Veeam Backup & Replication console as a managed server.
- The machine must have access to the backup repository — shared folder, EMC DataDomain or HPE StoreOnce.
Limitations for Gateway Servers
For deduplicating storage appliances working over Fibre Channel, you must explicitly select a gateway server that will communicate with the appliance. As a gateway server, you must use a Microsoft Windows server that is added to the backup infrastructure and has access to the appliance over Fibre Channel.
Related Topics