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simon czechner

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simon czechner

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December 5th, 2013 06:00

NW 8.1 and Vsphere Resource Pools

Hi,

my network guy is just implementing the lastest version of Networker. He ask me to create Resource Pools in our Vcenter in order to group the VMs. He wants to use these Resource Pools for the Backup jobs. I was wondering if this is a common practice or if there is a better way to group VMs for backup jobs. Any input is appreciated.

We run Vsphere 5.1, esx 5.1 U1, and NW 8.1 with Datadomain

  • mikuszed

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    Posted December 5th, 2013 15:00

    Hi Quasimonto,

    Resource pools are really there to compartmentalize resources in a cluster or vSphere environment. If the goal is to logically group VMs, I've personally utilized folders within a vSphere environment.

    This is an example of using vSphere folders:

    This Slide (1).bmp

    In this example the 'Exchange 2013' folder will contain all VMs for the Exchange environment. This would be the ideal way to group VMs in a vSphere environment.

    Hope this helps,

    -Ed

  • simon czechner

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    Posted December 6th, 2013 04:00

    Hi Mikuszed,

    i agree on your opinion on resources pools. the same understanding on my side. Can networke utilize the Folder structure for backup jobs?

  • mikuszed

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    Posted December 6th, 2013 05:00

    Thanks, Bobby. This functionality should make it into 8.1 SP1, which is in directed availabilty right now.

  • coganb

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    Posted December 6th, 2013 05:00

    No - NetWorker can't use the folder structure to organize backup jobs.  This enhancement has been requested and will hopefully be there in the future.

    -Bobby

  • simon czechner

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    Posted December 11th, 2013 05:00

    Hi, Where can i find this. The forlder structure does not show up in NW, but resource pools do.

  • simon czechner

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    Posted December 11th, 2013 05:00

    so how do you guys order the NW backups from vcenter then?

  • mikuszed

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    Posted December 12th, 2013 05:00


    Quasimonto,

    Is this similar to what you're seeing in the vSphere Web Client below? I see the resource group too, but am only able to select the disk. Let me know, thanks.

    This Slide.bmp

  • aldenst1

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    Posted March 25th, 2014 01:00

    Hi,

    we currently have configured NW 8.1.1.2 and in the manual for VMware backups it is mentioned:

    You can specify collections of VMs, such as all VMs in a datacenter or select individual VMs.

    If an entire resource pool, host, datacenter, or folder is selected, any new VMs in that container are included in subsequent backups.

    If you select a VM, then any disk added to the VM is included in the backup.

    If you move the VM from the selected container to another unselected container, then the VM is no longer part of the backup.

    You can manually select a VM to be backed up, which ensures that NetWorker backs up the VM, even when you move the VM.

    So it is clearly stated here.

    But when we try to make a selection in the vSphere web client, only Datacenters-Clusters-VM's are shown.
    No folder selection possible.

    Any ideas before I open a support case?

    regards

  • aldenst1

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    Posted March 25th, 2014 05:00

    Thanks for the info.

    So the question now remains: when the manuals say it should be possible, how can it be done?

    I have not yet opened a support case for this “problem” but as soon as I have site access in EMC Support I will do so.

    I am starting to think that we should have configured the old method with proxies instead of the appliance.

    Steven

  • mikuszed

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    Posted March 25th, 2014 05:00

    Thanks Steven. You're spot on. Folders should be used here as resource pools aren't appropriate. I wouldn't trying to shoe horn resource pools into the environment to conform to the backups. You might end up potentially seeing some strange things with your VMs and vSphere environment.

    I attached some good guidance on resource pools.

    If you want to forward me that case, we can take that two front approach with this.

    Thanks,

    -Ed

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