Trilead VM Explorer is a backup solution for your virtualized infrastructure easy to configure supporting ESXi free edition for full backups.
The software is licensed per installation (and not per socket or host) making the license management easier. Only one license could be required to backup the entire infrastructure.
Blog Series
Trilead VM Explorer 5.2 setup - part 1
Trilead VM Explorer 5.2 configure backup - part 2
Trilead VM Explorer 5.2 configure replica - part 3
Main features
- Quick installation and setup.
- Simple pricing model - per installation and not per ESX/Hyper-V host or core.
- Multi-hypervisor support (ESXi / Hyper-V).
- Automated backup test.
- Flexible backup target configuration - support for local machine, ESX servers, Hyper-V servers, Cloud (Amazon S3), Linux, FreeBSD, NAS and SAN targets.
- Dynamic compression to improve data transfer through slow network links.
- Full and incremental backups: the latest VMware VDDK 5.5.3 library is used when using incremental backups and incremental replications.
- Replication for disaster recovery.
- File level restoration.
Install Trilead VM Explorer
Download the latest available release from Trilead website then run the installer. When the installation wizard is launched, click Next to start the setup.
Accept the EULA then click Next.
Leave default path and click Next.
Click Install to perform the installation.
The application is being installed.
When installation completes, click Finish to exit the wizard.
Setup Trilead VM Explorer
Run the Trilead VM Explorer and from the Starter window select the Standalone option in order to configure the environment.
Install the license (regular or 10-days trial) to enable all the available features.
From the main screen menu, select File > Settings.
In Email Default Settings tab fill the required fields to enable email reporting. Click on Test button to test the correct configuration.
In the Web Interface tab, set the Hostname and enable the Start Web Server Automatically option then click on Start button.
Since https is enabled by default, the first time service starts a new self-signed certificate has to be generated. Click OK to proceed.
When the certificate has been successfully created, click OK.
Set the Administrator password for the web access and the parameters of the SMTP server for password recovery purpose. Click Test to send a test email.
Leave default parameters in the Instant Recovery Service tab. Click OK to save and exit the configuration settings.
From the main screen, click Add a new Server option to configure the VMs to process.
Set the Display Name, IP address, Username and Password of the ESXi or vCenter Server to add then click Test Connection button to test the configuration.
Trilead verifies the credential supplied.
When the connection test is completed successfully, click OK.
Click Add to add the configured server to Trilead VM Explorer.
Select Datacenter tab and click the added server to show the running VMs.
In the File Explorer tab, select the added server and the LUN/VMs connected to explore the files.
In the Scheduler tab, the service has to be enabled (requires the regular or trial license) to allow tasks schedule. Click on Enable the Scheduler button then Continue to confirm.
The scheduler is now enabled.
Configure the backup repository
From the Datacenter tab select the ESXi server configured or add a new server from Start to setup the backup repository. Right click the server and select the Edit Server option.
Access the Backup tab and click Browse. Click OK to test the server settings.
The application tests the connection. Click OK when done.
The storages connected to the selected ESXi server are shown. Choose a directory or create a new one by clicking on the New Directory button. Click OK to confirm.
The target directory for backup is set. Click Save button to save settings.
The repository configuration is complete.
Enable Active Directory integration
To enable access to Active Directory users, Trilead has to be configured through the web interface.
From your browser type the url (i.e. https://w12r2-backup.nolabnoparty.local) and provide the credentials configured during Settings setup.
The Trilead web interface is shown.
From the main menu click Settings then select Active Directory from the left side. Click Add button to specify the domain to use.
Insert Domain Name and Domain Controller then click Test Connection button. If no errors are reported, click Add to save the domain.
The Active Directory domain is configured.
Now select Settings > Users and click Add Active Directory Users button.
Click Retrieve Users to get the full list of Active Directory users, select the users you want to grant access to Trilead access then click Add >. Click Add button to save selected users.
Right click a configured user and select Edit User option to assign group membership.
In Groups field select the groups the user belong to then click Save.
Login Trilead with the configured account and click Login button.
Active Directory users can now access the Trilead VM Explorer web interface.
Main settings of the environment have been completed. In part 2 we'll see the backup and restore tasks configuration.
