Solution Architecture

The Veeam Backup for OLVM and RHV architecture comprises the following set of components:

• oVirt KVM Manager
• Backup server
• Backup appliance
• oVirt KVM Plug-in
• Backup repositories
• Workers

oVirt KVM Manager

The oVirt KVM Manager is a Linux-based physical or virtual machine that manages oVirt resources such as VMs, hosts, clusters, storage domains and networks. Veeam Backup for OLVM and RHV uses the oVirt KVM Manager to access oVirt resources while performing backup and restore operations.

Backup Server

The 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

The backup appliance is a Linux-based VM that resides in the oVirt KVM Manager. The 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.

oVirt KVM Plug-in

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

Backup Repositories

A backup repository is a storage location where Veeam Backup for OLVM and RHV stores backups of protected oVirt VMs.

To communicate with backup repositories, Veeam Backup for OLVM and RHV 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.

Workers

A worker is an auxiliary Linux-based VM that resides in the cluster and processes backup workloads 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.