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Configuring Backup from Snapshots on Secondary Storage Arrays (NetApp and Nimble)

In this article

    You can configure a backup job to perform Backup from Storage Snapshots on secondary storage arrays — NetApp SnapMirror, NetApp SnapVault and Nimble arrays with replicated copies.

    Before you perform Backup from Storage Snapshots, check the following prerequisites:

    • You must configure a secondary storage array for the primary storage system where VMs that you plan to back up are hosted.
    • You must install a license for Veeam Backup & Replication Enterprise Plus edition on the backup server.
    • You must configure the backup infrastructure in a proper way:
    • [For NetApp] You must configure volume SnapMirror/Snapvault relationships between the primary and secondary storage arrays. For more information, see NetApp documentation.
    • [For Nimble] You must configure Volume Collection replication from the primary storage array to the secondary storage array. For more information, see Nimble documentation.
    • You must add to the backup infrastructure a backup proxy that will be used for backup, and properly configure this backup proxy. For more information, see Configuring Backup Proxy.
    • You must add to the backup infrastructure vCenter Server or ESX(i) host(s) with VMs whose disks are hosted on the storage system.
    • You must add the primary storage system and secondary storage array to the backup infrastructure.

    Configuring Backup from Snapshots on Secondary Storage Arrays (NetApp and Nimble) Important!

    When you add arrays to the backup infrastructure, you must add to the rescan scope volumes and LUNs on which VM disks are located (both for primary and secondary storage arrays). For more information, see Adding Storage Systems.

    To back up VMs from snapshots on secondary storage arrays:

    1. Configure a backup job. At the Storage step of the backup job wizard, select a backup proxy that will be used for data transport. You can assign the backup proxy explicitly or choose the automatic mode of backup proxy selection.

    Configuring Backup from Snapshots on Secondary Storage Arrays (NetApp and Nimble) Note:

    A backup proxy that you select must be added to the list of backup proxies in storage system connection settings. If the backup proxy is not added to the list in storage system connection settings, Veeam Backup & Replication will fail over to the regular data processing mode. For more information, see Adding Storage Systems.

    Configuring Backup from Snapshots on Secondary Storage Arrays (NetApp and Nimble) 

    1. From the Backup repository list, select a backup repository where you want to store backup files.
    2. In the Retention policy section, specify the number of backup restore points that you want to keep.
    3. Select the Configure secondary destinations for this job check box.

    Configuring Backup from Snapshots on Secondary Storage Arrays (NetApp and Nimble) 

    1. Click Advanced, then click the Integration tab. Make sure that the Enable backup from storage snapshots check box is selected. By default, this option is enabled for all newly created jobs.
    2. If you add to the job many VMs whose disks are located on the same volume or LUN, select the Limit processed VM count per storage snapshot to <N> check box and specify the number of VMs for which 1 storage snapshot must be created. Veeam Backup & Replication will divide VMs into several groups and trigger a separate storage snapshot for every VM group. As a result, the job performance will increase. For more information, see Limitation on Number of VMs per Snapshot.
    3. If Veeam Backup & Replication fails to create a storage snapshot, VMs whose disks are located on the storage system will not be processed by the job. To fail over to the regular data processing mode and back up such VMs, select the Failover to standard backup check box.
    4. If Veeam Backup & Replication cannot create a storage snapshot on the secondary storage array, the job will not back up VMs whose disks are located to the storage system. To fail over to Backup from Storage Snapshots on the primary storage system, select the Failover to primary storage snapshot check box. If Veeam Backup & Replication fails to create a storage snapshot on the secondary storage array, it will trigger the storage snapshot on the primary storage system and use it as a source for backup. Note, however, that Backup from Storage Snapshots on the primary storage system will produce additional load on the production environment.

    Configuring Backup from Snapshots on Secondary Storage Arrays (NetApp and Nimble) 

    1. At the Secondary Target step of the wizard, click Add and select NetApp SnapMirror or NetApp SnapVault (for NetApp) or Nimble Snapshot Replicated Copy (for Nimble).
    2. In the Number of snapshot copies to retain field, specify the number of storage snapshots that you want to maintain in the snapshot chain on the secondary storage array. When this number is exceeded, Veeam Backup & Replication will trigger the storage system to remove the earliest snapshot from the chain.
    3. Select the Use as the data source check box.

    Configuring Backup from Snapshots on Secondary Storage Arrays (NetApp and Nimble) 

    1. Specify other backup job settings as required.
    2. Click Next, then click Finish to save the job settings.

    Related Topics

    Backup from Secondary Storage Arrays (Nimble and NetApp)