How do you backup your sizeable VM environment?

[Vini]

I've just configured a nice Dell MD3200i array, with two R710 hosts. The hosts run ESXi and have the array linked via iSCSI...

We've 10TB of usable space on the array.

How would you back this up?

We've a couple of older LTO3 tape libraries kicking about, but 2x 8 libs only offers 6400MB of backup space. Of course thats running flat out and backing up to all tapes at full compression! Then theres the issue of actually connecting the libraries to the Hosts...

Other thoughts for backup destination are a sizeable NAS...

How do you eat yours?

[abaxas]

Consolidate/archive. How large is the business?

Backup to nas somewhere.

[b0redom]

Floppies.

[Vini]

Consolidate/archive. How large is the business?

Large, but this is a dev area, so not that critical... although critical enough to still require a backup...

[shaithis]

Ever since HDD tech started completely out-stripping tape tech, I've been a massive fan of online backups.

Just throw an array of HDDs together and backup to them, you can then take a multi tape backup from there at your leisure.....and as it's dev you can probably get away with 1 tape backup per week.

You also have instant super-fast access to the online backups and are much easier and faster to test (if you need to do regular tests for compliance).

As for how you actually back it up, I guess you need to decide on whether you want the ease of single file VMDKs backups or a more granular VM file-system backup and purchase the necessary software if needed.

[b0redom]

The most cost effective/fastest way of doing it is probably to set up a 2nd copy of the server and sync it using whatever protocol they support. SNAP mirror etc.

[abaxas]

Large, but this is a dev area, so not that critical... although critical enough to still require a backup...

Just tell them they have 1TB now and as if by magic, it'll all fit.

I can always remember an old IT manager asking why we needed 20x the storage when we only had 2x the customers. The 'developers' went quiet.