Symantec TechNote 312604

Support for NetBackupTM in virtual environments

This tech note (312604) describes support for NetBackup 6.x in virtual environments. This tech note contains the following sections:

General NetBackup support in virtual environments NetBackup for VMware Compatibility NetBackup for Hyper-V Compatibility

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General NetBackup support in virtual environments

Ideally, every NetBackup configuration supported in a traditional physical environment would also be supported in any virtual environment without qualification. While that is our mission, it is not always possible. Therefore, the purpose of this section is to:

Clarify differences between NetBackup support in physical vs. virtual environments. Describe general guidelines for support in virtual environments. Describe the impact of a virtual environment on specific NetBackup components, such as clients, servers, and other options. Provide notes on virtualization technologies and links to related tech notes.

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Terminology
The following terms are used in this document. Table 1-1 Term
Guest OS Hypervisor

Terminology Definition
The operating system that is installed in a virtual machine. The software platform running on a physical server that hosts one or more virtual machines. The emulation of a single physical machine within a hypervisor.

Virtual machine

General guidelines for support

Symantec provides support for NetBackup within virtual environments. NetBackup is typically qualified on a physical host, not in a virtual machine within a hypervisor. The published NetBackup software and hardware compatibility listings reflect this standard. (The listings are available at http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/303344.) Note the following limitations of NetBackup support within a virtual environment:

Support of hardware or software as published in the NetBackup compatibility listings is subject to mutual support by the hardware/software vendor and the hypervisor vendor. Specifically:

The hardware/software vendors must support their products within the hypervisor.

The hypervisor vendor must support use of the hardware/software product within the hypervisor. Such hardware/software products include operating systems, cluster servers, peripherals, drivers, patches, databases, applications, and so forth.

When operating NetBackup within a virtual machine, the hypervisor may introduce conditions (such as contention for shared resources or other interruptions) that were not present during standard qualification. Additional tuning may be required to address any resulting delay, retry, or timeout conditions. Contact the hypervisor vendor first for tuning suggestions. NetBackup may experience lesser performance within the hypervisor. It may be necessary to increase system resources to address a performance issue.

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Using a hypervisor vendors interface to suspend, resume, or otherwise disrupt execution of NetBackup is not supported. The impact upon NetBackup operations and data is unknown. Only NetBackup management interfaces are supported for NetBackup control. In the event of a support escalation, NetBackup technical support will attempt to resolve the issue within the virtual environment. In some cases, you may be asked to reproduce the issue on a physical host, without a hypervisor. If the reported issue does not occur without a hypervisor, operating NetBackup on a physical server would be considered a potential resolution. Symantec reserves the right to exclude or discontinue implicit support for a NetBackup configuration due to unforeseen incompatibilities within the hypervisor environment.

Virtual master server

The NetBackup master server is supported within a virtual machine, as stated in the General guidelines for support on page 2. Refer to the following NetBackup Operating System Compatibility document for a list of supported NetBackup 6.x master server platforms: http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/325328.htm

Virtual media server

The NetBackup media server is supported within a virtual machine, as stated in the General guidelines for support on page 2. Support, however, is limited to disk storage units. The following disk storage units are supported within a virtual machine:

Basic Disk Advanced Disk without sharing

Refer to the following document for a list of supported NetBackup 6.x media server platforms: http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/325328.htm

Virtual clients and database agents

NetBackup operating system clients and database agents are supported within a virtual machine, according to the General guidelines for support on page 2. Refer to the following NetBackup Database Agent Compatibility document for a list of supported NetBackup database agent platforms:
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http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/279048.htm

Virtual PureDisk agent

The PureDisk operating system (PDOS) and the PureDisk agent are supported within a virtual machine, according to the General guidelines for support on page 2. Note the following:

Refer to the following for a list of supported NetBackup PureDisk 6.5.x platforms: http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/303597 For information on a VMware virtual machine that has PureDisk pre-installed, refer to the Veritas NetBackup PureDisk Virtual Appliance Guide.

Virtual Snapshot Client

This section describes the use of Snapshot Client when installed in a virtual machine. Note that NetBackup has special backup agents for VMware and Hyper-V that do not require installation of a client on virtual machines.

Support for VMware

NetBackup Snapshot Client can be used within a VMware virtual machine in conjunction with Raw Device Mapping (RDM) to provide off-host backup capabilities. Because of RDM limitations, other backup methods are not supported at this time. The following section contains more information: Support for VMware raw device mapping (RDM) Consult the following NetBackup 6.x Snapshot Client compatibility listing to determine which off-host combinations are supported: http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/279042 See the following section for support information on NetBackup for VMware: NetBackup for VMware Compatibility

Support for Hyper-V

NetBackup 6.5.x does not support Hyper-V pass through disks. That support is available in NetBackup 7.0. Refer to the following document for support information on NetBackup 7.x for Hyper-V: http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/340091
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See the following section in the current document for support information on NetBackup 6.5.x for Hyper-V: NetBackup for Hyper-V Compatibility

Support for Citrix XenServer

NetBackup supports backup and recovery of virtual machines in a Citrix XenServer virtualized environment, by means of a Snapshot Client off-host backup method. For a description of this backup approach, see the following document: http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX122191

Virtual Bare Metal Restore

Due to the inherent physical dependencies in the Bare Metal Restore (BMR) option, BMR is not covered by the generalized support described in this section. Instead, BMR is explicitly qualified and supported within specific virtual environments, as noted below.

VMware: the BMR master server and boot server are supported on a guest OS and on the VMware server, beginning with NetBackup 6.5.4. The BMR client is supported on a guest OS. See BMR client support details for VMware on page 6. Windows Hyper-V: the BMR master server and boot server are supported on a Hyper-V guest OS. The BMR client is not currently supported. Xen: the BMR master server and boot server are supported on a guest OS and on the Xen server, beginning with NetBackup 6.5.4. The BMR client is not currently supported. Solaris Logical Domains (LDOMs): the BMR master server is supported in the LDOM Control Domain and on guest domains. The BMR boot server and client are not currently supported. For more information on NetBackup support for Sun virtualization, refer to the following Symantec tech note: http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/315561

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BMR client support details for VMware

The following table describes support for the BMR client on VMware. Table 1-2 Guest OS VMware guest operating systems supported for BMR client Type of restore supported BMR client supported as boot server running in guest OS?
Yes

Windows 2000 (32 bit) and 2003 (32 bit). Windows 2003 (64 bit), starting with the 6.5.4 release.

virtual-to-virtual self restore virtual-to-virtual DSR restore virtual-to-physical DSR restore physical-to-virtual DSR restore

Red Hat Enterprise virtual-to-virtual self restore Linux 4 (64 bit) and 5 (64 bit), starting with the 6.5.4 release.

Yes

Support for logical partitions

For virtual environments, NetBackup supports backup and recovery of AIX LPAR and HP-UX vPar hard partitions as if they were physical servers. Hard partitioning physically segments a server, by taking a single large server and separating it into distinct systems. Each separated system acts as a physically independent, self-contained server, with its own CPUs, operating system, separate boot area, memory, input/output subsystem, and network resources.

Other NetBackup options

The following NetBackup options or features are supported in a virtual machine.

Veritas Backup Reporter (VBR) NetBackup Operations Manager (NOM)

Symantec professional services

Symantec Professional Services can be hired for qualification of a specific configuration of NetBackup within a hypervisor. Contact your Symantec account representative for assistance, or go to the following: http://www.symantec.com/services

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Links to related information

See the following Symantec documents for support and configuration information. Table 1-3 Document
Main listing of NetBackup compatibility lists

Symantec documents related to virtualization Description and link

Contains the entire listing for all NetBackup Server, NetBackup Enterprise Server, NetBackup PureDisk and Veritas Backup Reporter (VBR) compatibility lists available for 5.x and 6.x. Includes compatibility for hardware, operating systems, agents and options, such as NDMP, databases, snapshots, desktop/laptop. http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/303344

NetBackup 6.x Snapshot Client (Advanced Client) OS, Arrays and Database Agent Compatibility

Contains a table of NetBackup 6.x Snapshot Client features available for each client operating system and hardware and array combination. Lists the snapshot methods and database agents available for each feature on each OS. http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/279042

NetBackup 6.5.4 for VMware Administrator's Guide

Describes how to configure and use NetBackup 6.5.4 for VMware to protect VMware virtual machines: http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/318357

NetBackup 6.5.4 for Hyper-V Administrator's Guide

Describes how to configure and use NetBackup 6.5.4 for Hyper-V to protect Hyper-V virtual machines: http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/318358

NetBackup 6.x Support for SUN Virtualization

Describes NetBackup support for Solaris zones and Solaris Logical Domains (LDOMs): http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/315561

Improvements in virtual machine discovery and vSphere support in NetBackup for VMware 6.5.3 and 6.5.4 Citrix XenServer: Virtual Machine Backup

Describes several improvements in virtual machine discovery and includes an item on support for VMware vSphere: http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/322769 Describes a method of Windows virtual machine backup using NetBackup and the Citrix XenServer VSS Provider, which is supported by both Symantec and Citrix: http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX122191

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NetBackup for VMware Compatibility

This section provides support details for the NetBackup for VMware product. NetBackup for VMware protects VMware virtual machines by integrating with VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) technology. Note that NetBackup for VMware requires a VMware backup proxy server. Detailed configuration instructions for NetBackup for VMware are available in the NetBackup 6.5.4 for VMware Administrator's Guide: http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/318357

Support for VMware vSphere 4.0

NetBackup 6.5.3 and 6.5.4 support vSphere configurations with VCB 1.5 Update 1 and Converter 4.0.1 as minimum requirements. To use NetBackup 6.5.3 with vSphere, additional engineering binaries (EEBs) are required. Please contact NetBackup support and request the EEBs associated with Etrack 1633379. Installation instructions can be found in the following Symantec tech note: http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/322769.htm

Support for VMware Virtual Infrastructure

NetBackup for VMware supports the following components and versions of VMware Virtual Infrastructure (see Table 1-4 and Table 1-5). Table 1-4 Supported VMware components and versions Version
3.0, 3.0.1, 3.0.2, 3.5, and 3i. 3.0.2 Update 1 See Table 1-5.

VMware component
ESX Server (including VMware Tools) VMware Converter VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB)

NetBackup for VMware supports VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) as follows: Table 1-5 VCB version 1.0.0 - 1.0.2 VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) support VCB backup proxy operating system Windows 2003 VCB platform x86 Start of NetBackup support 6.5.1

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Table 1-5 VCB version 1.0.3 1.1 - 1.5 1.1 - 1.5 1.5 1.5

VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) support VCB backup proxy operating system Windows 2003 Windows 2003 Windows 2003 Windows 2008 Windows 2008 VCB platform x86 x86 x64 x86 x64 Start of NetBackup support 6.5.2 6.5.2 6.5.2 6.5.3 6.5.3

Note the following:

Support for VCB 1.5 started at NetBackup 6.5.3. Consult the VMware VCB release notes for compatible versions of VMware ESX Server and VirtualCenter Server: http://www.vmware.com/download/vi/ Note, for example, that VCB 1.5 is not compatible with ESX 3.0.1 and earlier. VMware VCB updates, such as VCB 1.1 Update 1, are supported unless otherwise noted. Before VCB 1.5 Update 1, VMware classified VCB on Windows 2008 as experimental. Support for the hotadd transport mode requires NetBackup 6.5.4 and VCB 1.5. For instructions on the hotadd transport mode and on installing the backup proxy server in a VMware virtual machine, refer to your VMware documentation. Note that the virtual machine must be configured so that the backup proxy has access to the VMware virtual disk files (datastore).

VCB limitations
Since NetBackup for VMware uses the VCB framework for creating snapshots, all VCB-specific limitations in creating snapshots apply to NetBackup for VMware as well. For a list of these limitations, refer to the Virtual Machine Backup Guide from VMware: http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_35/esx_3/r35/vi3_35_25_vm_backup.pdf

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Notes on VMware automated restore

Note the following VMware compatibility issues:

VMware Converter 3.0.3 should not be used for automated restore: version 3.0.3 returns successful status even if the restore failed. VMware Converter 4.0 is not compatible with VCB backups. A backup of a virtual machine that was on an ESX 3.5 server cannot be restored with VMware Converter 4.0.1. You must use VMware Converter 3.0.2 Update 1. A backup of an ESX 3.5 or 4.0 virtual machine can be restored directly to the same ESX server (bypassing the VMware VirtualCenter). You can specify either the ESX server or the VirtualCenter as the Virtual machine server on the NetBackup Restore Marked Files dialog. To restore directly to the ESX server, you must use VMware Converter 3.0.2 Update 1.

Support for VMware raw device mapping (RDM)

With versions of VCB that are earlier than 1.5, a NetBackup backup of a virtual machine fails if the virtual machine uses raw device mapping (RDM). At VCB 1.5, NetBackup can back up the virtual machine successfully, but the RDM is not included in the backup. To back up an RDM, you must install NetBackup client software in the virtual machine. Any device that NetBackup supports in a physical (non hypervisor) environment is supported for RDM, provided that the device vendor supports the device in a virtual environment. For more information on using NetBackup to back up a disk in RDM mode, refer to the Back up VMware raw devices (RDM) appendix of the NetBackup for VMware Administrators Guide.

VMware guest operating systems tested with NetBackup for VMware

Table 1-6 lists VMware guest operating systems that have tested successfully with NetBackup 6.5.2 for VMware or later, when using a VMware VCB backup proxy server. Table 1-6 Guest operating systems tested with NetBackup for VMware Notes
Requires ESX server 3.5 and VCB 1.1.

VMware guest OS
Windows Vista

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Table 1-6

Guest operating systems tested with NetBackup for VMware Notes

Windows XP 64 bit requires VMware Tools 3.0.1 (not supported with 3.0.2). Supported for backup and recovery of the entire virtual machine only (the 1-FullVM backup option). VCB does not support file-level backup or file-level recovery on Windows 2008 R2. Requires ESX server 3.5 and VCB 1.5. Note: Support for Windows 2008 started at NetBackup 6.5.3.

VMware guest OS
Windows XP 32bit/64bit

Windows 2008 R2 64bit

Windows 2008 32bit/64bit

Windows 2003 32bit/64bit Windows 2000 32bit Windows NT 4.0 RHEL 2.1 RHEL 3.0 RHEL 4 32bit/64bit RHEL 5 32bit/64bit SLES 9 32bit/64bit SLES 10 32bit/64bit Solaris 10 64bit

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Supported file systems for VMware

Table 1-7 lists supported file systems (left column). The supported backup types are shown for each policy type and file system combination. (The backup types are described following the table.) Table 1-7 Supported file systems Supported backup types for each NetBackup policy type MS-Windows policy
NTFS (Windows NT) NTFS (Windows 2000 and later) FAT (all Windows versions) Other (Any VMware guest OS) Not supported 1-FullVM Policy backup selections must specify
ALL_LOCAL_DRIVES

File system

FlashBackup-Windows policy
1-FullVM

Notes

0-File

0-File

0-File 1-FullVM 2-Mapped FullVM

All features of NetBackup for VMware are supported.

0-File

1-FullVM

Description of backup types:

0-File: For backup of individual files (not the entire virtual machine). This option cannot back up Windows system files (such as the System State or the \system or \system32 directories) or VMware virtual disk files. 1-FullVM: For backup of the entire virtual machine only. 2-Mapped FullVM: For backup of the entire virtual machine. Allows restore of the entire virtual machine or of individual files. 3-FullVM and file for incremental (not included in Table 1-7): A combination of options 2 and 0. Backs up the entire virtual machine for full backups, and backs up individual files, folders, or drives for incrementals.

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Support for NetBackupTM in virtual environments NetBackup for Hyper-V Compatibility

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NetBackup for Hyper-V Compatibility

This section provides support information on NetBackup for Hyper-V. NetBackup for Hyper-V provides snapshot-based backup of virtual machines that run on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V servers. Note: Before configuring NetBackup for Hyper-V, make sure that you have Windows Server 2008 and the Hyper-V role installed correctly. Refer to your Windows and Hyper-V documentation and Hyper-V release notes for requirements and installation instructions. Detailed configuration instructions for NetBackup for Hyper-V are available in the NetBackup 6.5.4 for Hyper-V Administrator's Guide: http://entsupport.symantec.com/docs/318358

Note on VSS and disk arrays

To use a hardware array snapshot, make sure that the hardware array's VSS provider supports snapshots that involve the Hyper-V writer. Check the release notes of the array vendor or VSS provider.

Hyper-V guest operating systems tested

The following table lists guest operating systems on Hyper-V virtual machines that tested successfully with NetBackup for Hyper-V. Table 1-8 Guest operating systems tested with NetBackup for Hyper-V Notes

Hyper-V guest OS
Windows 2003 32 bit/64 bit Windows 2008 SLES 9 32 bit/64 bit

Supported only for backup and restore of the full virtual machine (backup option 1-FullVM). Supported only for backup and restore of the full virtual machine (backup option 1-FullVM).

SLES 10 32 bit/64 bit

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