A great way to get up and running very quickly with VMware backup is by making use of a VMware backup appliance. There are certainly many hardware backup appliances available. However, utilizing a VMware backup appliance that can be deployed as a software solution via a virtual machine provides greater advantages and capabilities to the VMware administrator. Many VMware backup solution vendors today are taking advantage of VMware backup appliances as a supported way to deploy their solution for either POC or smaller environments. What are some of the key characteristics to look for with a VMware backup appliance? Let’s take a look at VMware backup appliance key features and a few must haves when it comes to deploying a VMware backup appliance that allows getting up to speed with VMware backups as quickly and efficiently as possible.
VMware Backup Appliance Key Features
There are some notable key features when considering using a VMware backup appliance to get started with VMware backups:
- Efficient OVA/OVF deployment process
- All-in-one turnkey solution
- Efficient use of resources
- Utilizes the Same UI as Other Deployment Options
- Fully featured without functionality limitations
Efficient OVA/OVF Deployment Process
One of the important features to look for with a VMware backup appliance solution is the deployment process. One of the particularly popular use cases when considering a VMware backup appliance software solution is the ability to deploy the appliance via the normal and well documented method of deploying an OVA/OVF appliance. The OVA/OVF appliance deployment process allows taking an OVA or OVF template and deploying it easily through vCenter Server. Generally speaking, the deployment process is a “next, next, finish” process with the ability to configure options as to sizing, etc, along the way.
The great thing about the OVA/OVF template deployment process is that it takes a great deal of room for error out of the process. The software and other components typically are already installed in the appliance. It is just a matter of configuring the compute, network, and storage locations of the appliance itself. This is key – make sure the VMware backup appliance option you choose allows deploying via this method.
All-In-One Turnkey Solution
This was alluded to above, but make sure the VMware backup appliance is an all-in-one turnkey solution. The whole reason again to deploy via the template to cover all the software and much of the configuration. If the VMware backup appliance solution requires additional software installation or in-depth configuration after the deployment, it defeats the purpose of using a virtual appliance in the first place. Again, this also alleviates much room for error in configuration, ensuring the software is setup per spec from the software vendor.
Efficient Use of Resources
Another key benefit of utilizing a VMware backup appliance is the ability to run the turnkey solution all within one package. This means that you don’t have the requirement of spinning of many virtual machines and utilizing more resources that necessary to run efficiently. Typically, most VMware backup appliances will operate from 4 GB of memory up to around 16 GB of memory. On the compute side, anywhere from 1-4 vCPUs is considered normal. The fewer the better of course. However, these normal ranges of memory and vCPUs are pretty standard in most environments and doesn’t “break the bank” as far as total resource usage out of your management cluster or other VMware cluster, you are utilizing to drive the virtual appliance. Make sure to check the allocated configuration specifications for the particular VMware backup appliance you are utilizing.
Utilizes the Same UI as Other Deployment Options
Another key feature of a VMware backup appliance is that it utilizes the same UI as other deployment options from the vendor. Look for the backup solution vendor that provides both the standard solution and VMware backup appliance utilizing the same UI and features/functionality. This provides a unified interface, learning, and standard set of management practices and procedures across both the VMware backup appliance and the rest of the deployed backup infrastructure. This is another great way as well to “test drive” VMware backup software by means of a VMware backup appliance. If the software and UI are the same, the POC can transition to a full on deployment by means of the VMware backup appliance or different deployment option without any new learning of operational processes.
Fully Featured Without Functionality Limitations
This goes hand in hand with the above concern of utilizing the same UI. Look for a VMware backup solution that utilizes the same software as so called “full” deployments. This allows either utilizing the VMware backup appliance as a POC for testing the full solution or it allows utilizing the VMware backup appliance for production backups without any feature or functionality limitations. Additionally, this can allow utilizing a VMware backup appliance perhaps in a branch office or other use case where having an all-in-one solution may fit better than a more scaled out solution.
Vembu BDR Suite VMware Backup Appliance
Vembu provides a great VMware backup appliance that allows customers to get up and running quickly (within minutes) of the deployment process for POC testing purposes. The VMware backup appliance is easily deployed via an OVF template and contains all the installed Vembu BDR Suite components in a turnkey solution.
Vembu BDR Suite VMware Backup Appliance is easily deployed as an OVF template deployment installation
Within just a few minutes of the OVF template deployment process, customers are ready to start adding their VMware vSphere environments and start creating VMware backup jobs.
The Vembu BDR Suite appliance contains the same great Vembu BDR Suite interface as the scaled out solution
Thoughts
VMware backup appliances are a great way to get up and running with POC or deployments for smaller environments quickly and easily. It also ensures much less chance for error during software installation as the components are already installed and configured as per the vendor’s specifications. Vembu provides a great example of what VMware backup appliances should be with their Vembu BDR Suite appliance that can be easily deployed and configured, and have customers creating VMware backup jobs in minutes. By utilizing VMware backup appliances for POC and smaller environments, customers can quickly get a feel for the power of Vembu BDR Suite and its ability to protect the VMware vSphere environment.
Experience modern data protection with this latest Vembu BDR Suite v.3.9.0 FREE edition. Try the 30 days free trial here: https://www.bdrsuite.com/vembu-bdr-suite-download/
Follow our Twitter and Facebook feeds for new releases, updates, insightful posts and more.
