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So we just implemented a VMWare vSphere 5.1 virtual environment in our main office. We are still using our old backup solution, but want to migrate to a more efficient backup solution to work with VMWare. We are a very small shop and our needs are pretty simple. We need the ability to recover data and virtual machines (as they stand) quickly. I also and interested in this technology interfacing with a hosted DR site so that all data and machines are backed up offsite and in case we burn to the ground, I can bring my enviroment back up at that location quickly. I know many of you are probably already doing this today and I am curious what everyone is using and what you think about it. I already have ideas in my head as to what I would “want”, but hearing others experiences I think will help me solidify my decisions :o)

@VMware @Dell_Technologies

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We currently use Veaam but I have been looking into Unitrends.

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I’m looking for the exact same info as you. I’ve inherited a 4.1 environment, and I’m pretty new to VMWare. :slight_smile:

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Veeam and Unitrends tend to be the top two in the SW forums.

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Unitrends is my 1st option and you can get a free Virtual Appliance that will backup up to 4VMs before you have to pay. Veeam is an excellent second option. I use both and each works well in it’s own environment. Veeam will also do free VM backups but the backup cannot be scheduled so if your vms dont change much you can use the free veeam to “archive” for DR.

Unitrends has the ability to “Vault” backup data where the onsite appliance can connect with and replicate backup data over the internet to the offsite appliance so if you needed to do an offsite DR the tools are already in place. The Veeam software would not be as automated but offsite DR can be accomplished

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I am running Unitrends 822 for back up and DR. I am 100% virtual, which works great with Unitrends.

Prior to Unitrends I was using the Barracuda Backup 690…<cough, cough, slight vomit in mouth>

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I know it is early in the response flow, but what makes Unitrends better than Veeam? Is it cost? Functionality? Both? Any specifics?

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I help manage two organizations that are almost completely virtualized as far as servers go. At one location (a community college) they have two Essentials Plus licenses which include licenses for VMware’s own DR backup solution. It has gotten much better over the last two years and configuration and restoration are pretty simple. It needs a little manual intervention occasionally but overall we’ve been happy with it. The educational pricing for Essentials Plus (which I don’t think is available any more but I’m not 100% sure of that) was very good. We manage two groups of three Hosts each with two instances of vCenter Server. At the other location We use Veeam Backup and it is a very robust and reliable product. They have a free edition now which can be used with a licensed copy of ESXi which may be exactly what you are looking for. We just started testing that this week so I don’t have much to offer as to the performance of the free edition.

In both locations we backup to SANs at a DR site and one is done over a 50Mbps link. Both solutions only backup the changes so although the initial backup can take some time the incremental don’t take long at all.

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Veeam only backs up virtual. So if you do have 1 or 2 physical machines you need another backup solution. Unitrends will also backup your important workstations. Unitrends also costs per how much data and not by sockets.

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+1 for Veeam

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I’ve tried both products and they work great. I think Unitrends is very popular with spiceheads because of the “free” version they offer to back up to 4 VM’s. I found Unitrends GUI a little better in my own opinon and they also have rep’s that are active in the community which is a +1 in my book.

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Functionality and reliability are both words I would use with Unitrends. The buzzword is “Single Pane of Glass” Administration. One web UI to administer all types of backups from baremetal to application (SQL,Exchange) to VM backup all on one backup system. And it just works. I had a scenario where one of my ESXi hosts went down with a lost drive. I got the phone call while out of the office. I was able to restore 3 vms from the Unitrends Recovery-712 to a different ESXi host in under 30 minutes. All this was done while I was remote to the Web interface. Management was never aware that the Vms had gone offline. That type of recovery ability lets me sleep well at night. All this is at a cost though.

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I assume since you said it backs up important workstations, that it also can backup older physical servers too - correct? I have not research Unitrends, so I don’t know much about it. :o\ I know what my homework is!!!

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We use Unitrends.

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The only limitation on the Unitrends is the amount of backup data you can hold. It can backup any environment and uses an installed agent to do so. You purchase the product or model based on how much backup data you want to retain. You can also Archive data to a removable media for safe keeping. I use a 1TB Sata drive to archive weekly and take that drive offsite.

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We are highly regulated so that would not be a good thing for us. Our backups would need to be secure and on secure(d) devices. Portable media is a no no here :o)

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Encryption of backup data is a built-in option. I recommend that you download the free Virtual appliance. It will only do VM backups but it will give you some idea of the capabilites. The actual backup appliance is very robust and for me it is the 1st backup solution where I have not had to constantly check to see if it is working. It just does.

I did have one of the 4 drives in the system fail. A technician remoted in (with an access number that I gave them) they diagnosed the problem and sent me a new replacement drive in 24 hours. Then followed up to make sure everything was working.

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Supprised no one has mentioned GhettoVCB for virty backups!

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Thanks to everyone who mentioned Unitrends!

Lauren - With Unitrends you purchase the appliance or set of appliances to meet your needs based upon data size, retention needs, and anticipated growth. Since your data is sensitive, you may want to look into what we call private vaulting where you essentially create your own cloud within your environment putting one appliance in one part of your environment and a 2nd appliance in another part of your environment and have the appliances replicate back and forth. This will eliminate a single point of failure while keeping your data live in both locations.

Encryption, deduplication, compression, instant recover, and all of our other features are built in, as well as protection for 40+ OSs in over 100 different versions.

Please let me know what other questions I can answer for you.

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Good luck in your research. You can always try the Veeam Backup Free Edition .

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