Installing Veeam Backup & Replication allows the administrators to have a complete backup and recovery options for the running virtual infrastructure.
In addition to the infrastructure backup, including not only users data but also configurations and the full virtual machine, the feature to start virtual machines directly from the backup storage is key point to reduce the restore time and raise the disaster recovery concept to an higher level.
Installing Veeam Backup & Replication
After launching the application, from Veeam main window click Backup & Replication install option to install the program.
Click Next to start the procedure.
Accept the EULA then click Next.
Provide the license file to enable the full product (30 days trial license file). If no license is entered, the Free Edition mode will be activated. Click Next to continue.
Select features to be installed in the system then click Next.
System performs a configuration check for any missing components or potential installation problems.
Enter username and password of the account used to run Veeam service. It is strongly suggested to use a dedicated account for this task granting database owner rights on the SQL Server instance and Full Control permissions on the catalog folder. Click Next.
Select the SQL Server instance to create the Veeam database on. If the network doesn't have any SQL Server installed, a local SQL instance will be installed. Click Next to continue.
If Veeam service account is not granted with correct permissions on SQL Server, a setup error will be notified during database creation.
From SQL Server Studio Management, add the correct user account to Security > Logins panel to manage the database and try creating the Veeam database once again.
Leave default settings then click Next.
To leave enough room in the system partition C:\ for its functionality, a custom Root folder for NfsDatastore and VBRCatalog can be set. Click Next.
The wizard shows the configuration set. Click Install button to begin the installation.
The ongoing Status is shown during the installation process.
When setup has finished the installation, click Finish to exit the wizard.
Configure Veeam Backup & Replication
Launch the program from its program icon.
First we need to add the vCenter server to the backup infrastructure in order to collect all the virtual machines installed in the network.
Add vCenter Server
From main screen select Backup Infrastructure at the left bottom of the screen. Click Add Server button or right click the Managed servers item then select Add Server.
Select VMware vSphere as server type to add the vCenter Server to the backup infrastructure.
Type the DNS name or IP address of vCenter Server then click Next.
Specify the account used to access vCenter Server. These credentials will be stored in the Veeam database as Single Sign-On feature.
The system detects the server type specified.
Then the server configuration is saved to the system.
Click Finish to complete the procedure.
Clicking on the added vCenter Server, all the managed ESXi hosts are listed in the right pane.
Add Backup Proxy
Depending on your network configuration, to reduce the Veeam Server workload, the data handling process can be transferred to a dedicated server acting as Backup Proxy.
Select Backup Proxy > Add Proxy button or right click Backup Proxies and select Add VMware Backup Proxy item.
By default local server act as Proxy as well. To specify a new Backup Proxy, click the Add New button in the Choose server field.
Specify DNS name or IP address of the Windows server used as proxy then click Next to continue.
Enter the account with local administrative rights on the added server. These credentials will be stored in the Veeam database as Single Sign-on feature.
The process performs a system check for installed components.
Because the specified server is a new component of the Backup Infrastructure, the Transport agent must be installed on the target host. Click Next to proceed.
Required components are then installed. Click Next to continue.
The Summary window is shown. Click Finish to complete the procedure.
The new Backup Proxy is now available to be set in the Choose server field. Click Next.
To avoid network congestion, you can specify the bandwidth Backup Proxy will use during the backup process. Click Next to continue.
Click Finish to exit the wizard.
The new Backup Proxy is now available in the Proxies list.
Add Backup Repositories
Because backup must be stored somewhere, it is necessary to configure the Backup Repository that Veeam will use as storage for its data.
Type the backup Name and a Description. Click Next.
Select the Repository Type Veeam will use to store the backup jobs. In the example a CIFS share will be used. Click Next.
Type the Shared folder path specifying the Credentials to access the share and select the Proxying server used. Click Next to continue.
Click Populate button to check Capacity and Free space left in the selected storage.
To improve performance, click Advanced button to specified additional features. Click OK to confirm then click Next.
Enable vPower NFS feature to allow advanced functionality (Instant VM Recovery, SureBackup, etc.). Click Next.
When the configuration is complete, the Review window is shown. Click Next to install the new Repository.
The required components are installed and configured in the system. Click Finish to exit the wizard.
The new Backup Repository is now listed in the Backup Repositories.
Main Veeam Backup & Replication configuration is complete and the application is ready to be used. Next step involves the backup jobs configuration to save business data and virtual machines.
