Use the DR site in SRM environment for backups of the VM's

[unexpected]

I have a question related to backups and SRM:

Is it possible to use the mirrored VM's on the passive site (DR site) to make your backups?

What I was wondering: perhaps I could use the VM's on the DR site as backup clients and do my backups on that location, that way the production site is not affected by the backups.

I can't seem to find any documentation on this (supported or not) or forum entries...

Thanks in advance!

[mal_michael]

Hi,

Replicated LUNs are not presented to to ESX hosts at the recovery site. They are being mapped during SRM test (usually snapshots of the LUNs are taken and being presented) or during real failover. So you have no access to replicated VMs from vCenter or ESX.

At which level do you perform backup? Inside OS, VM level, storage snapshots?

Michael.

[unexpected]

So in short, it cannot be done since you have no access whatsoever.

No particular way of backup, just thinking aloud to take away the load from the production.

I guess vStorage API / VADP is the only way in this case?

[idle-jam]

what kind of backup are you referring to? and also you retention period.

[unexpected]

I'm not referring to a single way... I am checking options on how to do backups without putting the load to the production environment.

VCB is EOL so that's no go.

Leaves vStorage API or am I missing something?

Using the DR site was a thought I had but since the LUN's are not visible unless you failover, that's no option either.

[idle-jam]

VCB is out and VADP is here to stay. As long as you find a backup software that is VADP ready you're able to backup the way how it's being backup in the VCB days. Backing up in DR would be messier as one of the thing would be restoration of small files would become a big hassle.

have a look at veeam backup or quest vranger

[unexpected]

Thanks, yes I am aware of that and I know these products. That's the solution that I suggested as well, but the customer still wanted to know if it is possible...

Thanks for the answer!