NetBackup for VMware components
Table: Components of NetBackup for VMware describes the components that NetBackup for VMware uses.
Table: Components of NetBackup for VMware
Component | Description |
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Backup host | NetBackup for VMware uses a special host that is called a VMware backup host (formerly called the VMware backup proxy server). The backup host is a NetBackup client that performs backups on behalf of the virtual machines. The backup host must have access to the datastores of the virtual machines.
The backup host is the only host on which NetBackup client software is installed. No NetBackup client software is required on the VMware virtual machines.
Note that the backup host is referred to as the recovery host when it performs a restore. The backup host can be configured in any of the following ways: As a NetBackup client (Windows or Linux) with a connection to separate master and media servers. The master servers and media servers can be Windows, UNIX, or Linux. As a NetBackup client that is installed on the media server (see Backup media server). The NetBackup client and master and media server can all reside on the same host (Windows or Linux). For a list of supported platforms for the backup host, see the NetBackup Enterprise Server and Server OS Software
Compatibility List available from the following location: NetBackup Master Compatibility List
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Discovery host | Used for the automatic selection of virtual machines for backup. This host discovers virtual machines and filters them by means of the selection rules in the policy Query Builder. The resulting list determines which virtual machines are backed up. The discovery host can be on any platform that NetBackup supports for master or media servers. It can also be the same host as the backup host. You specify this host on the policy Clients tab: Click , then NetBackup host to perform automatic virtual machine selection. |
Backup media server | A media server that can operate as the backup host. See Media servers as backup or discovery hosts. |
NetBackup client | Installed on the backup host. |
NetBackup master server | Manages the backups of virtual machines, by means of the NetBackup client that is installed on the backup host. |
NetBackup media server | Performs the backups to storage on behalf of the NetBackup client. |
Virtual machine | Virtual machines provide complete guest operating systems on virtualized hardware. In a NetBackup policy, a virtual machine is configured as a NetBackup client, even though NetBackup client software is not installed on the virtual machine. |
ESX server | The VMware ESX server presents a virtualized hardware environment to multiple virtual machines; each virtual machine runs an independent operating system. Users can run applications in the virtualized OS as if the OS was installed in its own physical computer.
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vCenter Server | The VMware vCenter Server (or VirtualCenter server) coordinates multiple ESX servers and workloads. It can migrate virtual machines from one ESX server to another. It also provides the ability to back up the virtual machines that are turned off.
The vCenter Server is optional in the NetBackup for VMware environment.
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Figure: NetBackup for VMware: components on local network shows a NetBackup for VMware environment on a local network. The backup host accesses the VMware datastore through the ESX servers.
Figure: NetBackup for VMware: components on SAN shows a NetBackup for VMware environment on a SAN. The backup host accesses the VMware datastore directly over the SAN.
