Online Course on Veeam Replication

Veeam Replication in Real Environments

One essential guideline I usually tell that Veeam replication only works with VMware.

Veeam does not support replication on Hyper-V or any other virtualization platform.

Veeam replication is a great choice for disaster recovery if you use VMware.

Think about having four virtual machines that are operating in production.

Veeam replication makes perfect duplicates of those four virtual machines on the side of disaster recovery.

The data is not put into backup files by Veeam, like VBK, VIB, or VRB. Veeam builds live, usable virtual machines on the DR host instead.

This is where Veeam replication and backup seem to be different. I keep data as restoration points using Veeam backup.

I keep virtual machines ready to turn on using Veeam replication. That difference is quite important when downtime costs a lot.

One essential guideline I usually tell that Veeam replication only works with VMware.

Veeam does not support replication on Hyper-V or any other virtualization platform.

Veeam replication is a great choice for disaster recovery if you use VMware.

Think about having four virtual machines that are operating in production.

Veeam replication makes perfect duplicates of those four virtual machines on the side of disaster recovery.

The data is not put into backup files by Veeam, like VBK, VIB, or VRB. Veeam builds live, usable virtual machines on the DR host instead.

This is where Veeam replication and backup seem to be different. I keep data as restoration points using Veeam backup.

I keep virtual machines ready to turn on using Veeam replication. That difference is quite important when downtime costs a lot.

How Veeam Replication Works Behind the Scenes

Veeam replication does in the background. Veeam connects to both the source ESXi host and the destination ESXi host.

Veeam examines the most recent recovery point and utilizes it to sync the replica virtual machine. There is always a timetable for Veeam replication.

A Veeam replication task runs at set times, much like a Veeam backup job.

Veeam refreshes the replica with the most current recovery point every time the task executes.

If a production VM goes down, I can quickly turn on the replicated VM that Veeam made.

This is precisely why I say that Veeam replication is not a backup.

Veeam backup is all about keeping data safe and getting it back, whereas Veeam replication is all about making sure data is always available.

Veeam lets us utilize both functionalities, which have distinct purposes.

When to Use Veeam Replication for Critical Servers

When someone asks me why we use Veeam replication, I always give the same explanation.

Only for important virtual machines do I utilize Veeam replication.

These are the servers that the company can’t afford to keep down for very long.

Veeam replication works well if a client is okay with an RPO of two hours, four hours, or even longer.

In certain situations, Veeam replication lets you recover quickly without having to worry about always being protected.

When someone asks about RPO in seconds or minutes, I tell them about another Veeam feature called Continuous Data Protection.

Veeam replication is a good choice when you need to recover quickly but don’t need a very low RPO.

Veeam Replication in Real Environments

One essential guideline I usually tell that Veeam replication only works with VMware.

Veeam does not support replication on Hyper-V or any other virtualization platform.

Veeam replication is a great choice for disaster recovery if you use VMware.

Think about having four virtual machines that are operating in production.

Veeam replication makes perfect duplicates of those four virtual machines on the side of disaster recovery.

The data is not put into backup files by Veeam, like VBK, VIB, or VRB. Veeam builds live, usable virtual machines on the DR host instead.

This is where Veeam replication and backup seem to be different. I keep data as restoration points using Veeam backup.

I keep virtual machines ready to turn on using Veeam replication. That difference is quite important when downtime costs a lot.

How Veeam Replication Works Behind the Scenes

Veeam replication does in the background. Veeam connects to both the source ESXi host and the destination ESXi host.

Veeam examines the most recent recovery point and utilizes it to sync the replica virtual machine. There is always a timetable for Veeam replication.

A Veeam replication task runs at set times, much like a Veeam backup job.

Veeam refreshes the replica with the most current recovery point every time the task executes.

If a production VM goes down, I can quickly turn on the replicated VM that Veeam made.

This is precisely why I say that Veeam replication is not a backup.

Veeam backup is all about keeping data safe and getting it back, whereas Veeam replication is all about making sure data is always available.

Veeam lets us utilize both functionalities, which have distinct purposes.

When to Use Veeam Replication for Critical Servers

When someone asks me why we use Veeam replication, I always give the same explanation.

Only for important virtual machines do I utilize Veeam replication.

These are the servers that the company can’t afford to keep down for very long.

Veeam replication works well if a client is okay with an RPO of two hours, four hours, or even longer.

In certain situations, Veeam replication lets you recover quickly without having to worry about always being protected.

When someone asks about RPO in seconds or minutes, I tell them about another Veeam feature called Continuous Data Protection.

Veeam replication is a good choice when you need to recover quickly but don’t need a very low RPO.

Step by Step Veeam Replication Job

I open the Veeam interface and go to the main page. Then I click on VMware vSphere and choose Replication.

After that, Veeam asks me to choose the virtual machines in the production environment that I wish to copy.

Veeam asks me where I want to put the copy after I choose the VM.

I always choose a DR ESXi host instead of the production host.

At this stage, Veeam wants a datastore. A datastore is just the place where virtual machines exist in VMware.

We commonly term it a repository in Veeam, but the notion is still the same.

I usually make sure to mention that ESXi hosts don’t have C or D disks like Windows systems do.

Instead, Veeam works with VMware datastores that point to actual disks or external storage.

After I choose the datastore, Veeam asks me what to call the replica. I frequently add a suffix like “replica” so I can tell right away what it is.

After that, Veeam asks me how many restoration points I want to preserve for the replica.

This option lets Veeam keep track of different states of the replicated VM.

I set up the proxies and network parameters, and then I schedule the task.

At that point, Veeam takes care of the rest and maintains my replica up to date all the time.

I open the Veeam interface and go to the main page. Then I click on VMware vSphere and choose Replication.

After that, Veeam asks me to choose the virtual machines in the production environment that I wish to copy.

Veeam asks me where I want to put the copy after I choose the VM.

I always choose a DR ESXi host instead of the production host.

At this stage, Veeam wants a datastore. A datastore is just the place where virtual machines exist in VMware.

We commonly term it a repository in Veeam, but the notion is still the same.

I usually make sure to mention that ESXi hosts don’t have C or D disks like Windows systems do.

Instead, Veeam works with VMware datastores that point to actual disks or external storage.

After I choose the datastore, Veeam asks me what to call the replica. I frequently add a suffix like “replica” so I can tell right away what it is.

After that, Veeam asks me how many restoration points I want to preserve for the replica.

This option lets Veeam keep track of different states of the replicated VM.

I set up the proxies and network parameters, and then I schedule the task.

At that point, Veeam takes care of the rest and maintains my replica up to date all the time.

Veeam replication does in the background. Veeam connects to both the source ESXi host and the destination ESXi host.

Veeam examines the most recent recovery point and utilizes it to sync the replica virtual machine. There is always a timetable for Veeam replication.

A Veeam replication task runs at set times, much like a Veeam backup job.

Veeam refreshes the replica with the most current recovery point every time the task executes.

If a production VM goes down, I can quickly turn on the replicated VM that Veeam made.

This is precisely why I say that Veeam replication is not a backup.

Veeam backup is all about keeping data safe and getting it back, whereas Veeam replication is all about making sure data is always available.

Veeam lets us utilize both functionalities, which have distinct purposes.

Veeam Replication in a Real Lab Environment

As soon as I click “Finish” and execute the operation, I can witness how Veeam replication works in real time.

I normally go directly to my target ESX host to see whether the virtual machines are being built.

This step helps me make sure that Veeam is really performing what I set it up to accomplish.

I don’t copy every VM in my lab. I exclusively work on important systems, and that choice always comes first. With Veeam, I can choose precisely which VMs are most important to the company.

Selecting Virtual Machines with Veeam Replication Jobs

When I make a Veeam replication task, I may choose more than one virtual machine at a time.

I don’t have to create a different task for each VM, which saves me a lot of time.

In the Veeam console, all I have to do is select the production ESX host and the VMs I wish to copy.

Sometimes I mistakenly choose a really big VM, and Veeam alerts me right away to consider how much storage space I have.

The VM size was over a terabyte in one example, but the target host didn’t have nearly as much space.

These instances help students see why it’s important to plan while using Veeam.

Target Hosts and Storage Choices in Veeam

After picking the VMs, I choose the host where they will go.

When I use Veeam, I always choose a server that has adequate storage space to prevent problems.

I chose a host with a lot of SATA storage for my demo so that the replication would go easily.

Then, Veeam makes copies of the VMs on the target host.

I can plainly see that each production VM gets its own copy, and they all have a replica suffix.

This visual proof makes it simple to illustrate how Veeam sets up duplicated computers.

What Happens When Production Fails in Veeam Replication

People often ask me what will happen if the production VM goes down.

I can get into vCenter using Veeam and start the replica VM when I need to.

I prefer to test this by turning off the production VM and seeing what happens on the replica side.

The replica VM has the same IP address and hostname as the original system.

Veeam gives each one a different display name.

This information is crucial because it shows that Veeam replication is intended to let you recover quickly without having to change anything.

Comparing Native VMware Replication and Veeam

A lot of people wonder why we use Veeam when VMware already has built-in replication.

I say that VMware replication generally copies the whole site, whereas Veeam lets me copy just the most important VMs.

That selected method makes Veeam very useful.

I can also simply manage retention using Veeam.

Instead of constantly copying everything, Veeam only stores a few restore points, generally seven.

This method uses less storage space while still giving you dependable ways to recover.

Performance and Recovery Expectations with Veeam

Replication tasks in Veeam might seem sluggish, particularly the first time you execute them.

I tell them that Veeam needs to read a lot of data when replicating, and the speed of the network is very important.

Replication doesn’t employ high compression or encryption as Veeam backup does.

Veeam replication is all about quick recovery because of how it is set up.

The idea is to get systems back up rapidly when a calamity happens, and that’s what I show throughout my workshops.

Exploring Hyper-V Replication Using Veeam

I also check Veeam replication with Hyper-V to prove that it works with more than just VMware.

I also make replication tasks for Hyper-V settings when the host is available.

Veeam still gives you a uniform experience across platforms, even though certain capabilities like CDP may not work in every situation.

Veeam is a great tool for real-world situations since it works on many different platforms.

How Veeam Handles Logs, Proxies, and Concurrent Tasks

One of the most essential things I tell people is where Veeam keeps its logs.

In the Veeam Backup folder in the program data directory, Veeam makes extensive logs.

Each Veeam replication task creates its own folder with a name that makes it apparent what the job is.

This makes it much simpler to fix problems with Veeam.

I typically use a real-life example to explain how a Hyper-V replication process in Veeam has to wait since the resources aren’t available.

The problem usually has to do with the Veeam backup proxy.

Veeam sets a limit on how many processes a proxy may do at once. If that limit is too low, replication operations will have to wait.

I go directly to the proxy settings in Veeam and raise the amount of concurrent jobs to address this.

Veeam doesn’t stop the current task when I adjust. Instead, the next run uses the new settings right away.

This minor change to Veeam can make replication work a lot better.

I also talk about how Veeam automatically picks the best proxy when there is more than one.

Veeam manages the load according to the resources that are available. This helps keep replication tasks stable.

File-Level Recovery and Application Awareness with Veeam

One question I get a lot is whether Veeam can recover only one file from a replicated virtual machine.

Veeam lets you restore files even if it makes entire VM images.

This works because Veeam indexes files when backing them up or copying them.

The Veeam agent on the proxy server indexes the file system in the background.

This indexing helps me restore single files or directories using Veeam without having to restore the whole VM.

Veeam still mounts the disk images and lets you recover them in small pieces, even if indexing is turned off.

I always turn on application-aware processing in Veeam when I’m using Exchange, Active Directory, SharePoint, or SQL.

This makes sure that Veeam gets the data in a consistent form.

If you don’t choose this option, the restored application can start up in a filthy condition, which might mean lost data or mailboxes that can’t be accessed.

I say that Veeam application-aware processing works with indexing.

Veeam is great for corporate workloads since it can do both at the same time.

Veeam’s actual power comes out later when we speak about object-level recovery.

It lets you restore mailboxes or databases without bringing back the whole server.