Veeam v11: Linux Backup Proxy configuration

In Veeam Backup & Replication v11, Linux Backup Proxy has been improved and now works in the same way as Windows version providing almost all the available features.

Linux Backup Proxy has been introduced in previous version providing Hot-Add capability only, but with Veeam Backup & Replication v11 all transport modes are now fully supported.

In VBR version 11, the Linux Backup Proxy has the following capabilities:

• Physical or Virtual
• Transport mode: NDB, Direct SAN, Hot-Add
• Backup from Storage Snapshot (iSCSI, FC)
• Quick Rollback / CBT Restore

 

Limitations

Although most features are now available in the Linux Backup Proxy, there are some limitations that must be considered during the design process. The Linux Backup Proxy presents the following limitations:

• cannot be used as guest interaction proxy.
• cannot be used with VMware Cloud on AWS.
• Open-iSCSI initiator must be enabled for Direct SAN access.
• NFS protocol is not supported for integration with storage systems.
• VM copy scenario is not supported when Hot-Add transport mode is used.

 

Supported Linux distribution

Veeam doesn't provide a ready-to-go Linux appliance to use as Proxy Server, but you need to create a virtual machine installing a supported Linux distribution:

• CentOS 7–8.3, CentOS Stream
• Debian 9.0–10.8
• Fedora 30–33
• openSUSE Leap 15.2, Tumbleweed
• Oracle Linux 6 (UEK3) to 8.3 (UEK R6)
• Oracle Linux 6 to 8.3 (RHCK)
• RHEL 6.0–8.3
• SLES 11 SP4, 12 SP1–SP5, 15 SP0–SP2
• Ubuntu: 14.04 LTS, 16.04 LTS, 18.04 LTS, 19.10, 20.04 LTS

 

Install the Linux Server

Before proceeding, download the installation .ISO file of the supported Linux distribution you have chosen and save it anywhere in your computer.

 

Create the virtual machine

From vSphere Client, create a new virtual machine. Select Create a new virtual machine option from the wizard and click Next.

Enter the Virtual machine name and click Next.

Select the desired compute resource and click Next.

Specify the datastore to use and click Next.

Select from the drop-down menu the Compatibility type then click Next.

Specify the Guest OS Family and the Guest OS version. Click Next.

Specify the virtual hardware to assign and attach the installation .ISO file to the CD/DVD drive. Click Next.

As requirement, the disk.EnableUUID parameter must be set to TRUE in the Linux server. Go to VM Options tab and select Advanced.

Scroll down and select Edit Configuration.

Click Add Configuration Params.

Enter the following parameters:

Name = disk.EnableUUID
Value = TRUE

Click OK to confirm.

Under Boot Options, select During the next boot force entry into the BIOS setup screen and click Next.

Click Finish to create the virtual machine.

 

Install Linux OS

Power on the created VM to proceed with the OS installation. In this example the Linux Ubuntu distribution will be installed.

Access the virtual machine's console and select the language to use. Press Enter.

Specify the keyboard layout to use and press Enter.

By default DHCP is enabled for the installed network card. Since we need a static IP address to be assigned, select eth > Edit IPv4 and press Enter.

Select Manual in the IPv4 Method drop-down menu.

Specify the IPv4 configuration then select Save and press Enter to confirm.

The static IP address has been configured. Select Done and press Enter to save the configuration.

Select Done and press Enter.

Leave default Mirror address, select Done then press Enter.

Make sure option Use an entire disk is checked then select Done.

The partition schema is created automatically. Select Done and press Enter.

Click Continue to apply partition schema.

Fill the Profile setup parameters and click Done.

To allow SSH logins to the Backup Proxy, select Install OpenSSH server option. Select Done and press Enter.

No additional services are required. Select Done and press Enter.

The Linux OS is being installed in the system.

When the installation has been completed, select Reboot Now and press Enter.

 

Configure Linux Backup Proxy in Veeam

When the Linux OS has been installed in the VM, we need to configure in Veeam the new VM as Backup Proxy.

Since Linux Backup Proxies require Veeam Data Mover Service, make sure the user account you specify is a root user or a user elevated to root.

 

Add the VM as a new Managed Server

Access the Backup Infrastructure area, right click Managed Server and select Add server.

Select Linux as Server type.

Enter the DNS name or IP address then click Next.

Click Add and select Linux account.

Enter the credentials of the user created during the installation of Linux OS and enable the Elevate account privileges automatically option. Click OK.

The credentials to establish an SSH connection with the Linux Server has been set. Click Next.

Click Yes to accept the fingerprint.

Click Apply to install the Transport component.

The Data Mover Service is installed in the Server. Click Next when done.

The Server has been installed successfully. Click Finish to exit the wizard.

The new Managed Server.

Now right click Backup Proxies and select Add VMware backup proxy.

From the Choose server drop-down menu select the new Linux Server just configured and click Next.

Click Apply to continue.

When all required components have been installed in the Server, click Next.

Click Finish to exit the wizard.

The Linux Backup Proxy has been created successfully.

 

Test Linux Backup Proxy

To test the Linux Backup Proxy you need to create or modify an existing Backup Job first.

 

Configure a Backup Job

Go to Backup area, right click Backup and select Virtual machine > VMware vSphere.

Enter the job Name and click Next.

Click Add and select VMs to backup.

Click Choose and select the new created Linux Backup Proxy Server. Click Next.

If application-aware processing is not required, click Next.

Configure a Schedule and click Apply.

Enable Run the job when I click Finish to start the job immediately then click Finish.

The Backup Job has been created and executed.

During the operation, Veeam uses the new Linux Backup Proxy to perform the backup.

Depending on the size of backed up VMs, after some minutes the backup completes successfully.

Because Linux Backup Proxies provide same capabilities as Windows version, administrators can now save lot of money since Windows licenses are no longer required.