Blogs and Podcasts

As we all know, data backup security is a top priority for every organisation. In my first article I spoke about Security Analyzer feature. In this second part of our series on Veeam’s security features, we’re going to focus on one of the most important new features introduced with Veeam Backup & Replication v12: Four-Eyes Authorization. So, what exactly is Four-Eyes Authorization?The Four-Eyes Authorisation, or the “two-person rule” as it’s also known, is a feature that needs the OK from a second administrator to perform certain sensitive operations in Veeam Backup & Replication. This makes it much harder for any one user to mess up or do something dodgy with important data, because it stops them doing anything important on their own.“The four-eyes principle requires that a critical activity must be approved by at least two people, minimizing errors or security breaches.”Here are the best practices to implement four-eyes authorization and the limitations you should know.First

 Last week, I wrote a blog post about “pikchr/piclasso.” When beginning this project, I also considered additional ideas. One of these was how to convert certain scenarios from https://www.veeam.com/calculators/scenario into images. This aspect is significant because visualizing the layout of components can improve understanding and, as a solution architect, it facilitates presenting information to customers. I created https://github.com/tdewin/piclasso/blob/main/mergedemo/vscn-to-piclasso.py, a tool that converts vscn files ("export current scenario") into piclasso diagrams. Safe to say that this is not even a BETA but more some ALPHA code or proof-of-concept. You can copy the output manually or use the "--link" option to generate a direct link. On Mac, combine this with the open command to instantly view your content in the browser.  The result: 

This is part three of three addressing general topics of environmental architecture for backup systems.In part XVI, we examined considerations for the placement of individual backup components, hardware configuration, and fault tolerance (Point 1 and 2 of the following list of major threats).In part XVII, we examined considerations for locations and site redundancy (Point 3 to 5 of the list of major threats).In this part, we address the aspects of ransomware, malware, theft and threats by insiders. These are points 6 to 8 on the list of major threats to backup environments that we identified in the last part. What are the main threats to backup data? Wrong placement of backup environment components Hardware damage to backup systems Power outages or disasters at one location Power outages or disasters at multiple locations External locations for backup data Ransomware attacks Theft of access data and unauthorized access Intentional or unintentional damage by insidersAs with the topics i

I have been using Synology NAS devices for a few years now and was lucky enough this year to get my hands on a new DS925+.  They removed the 10GB option from this one but there is dual 2.5GB ports which you can bond.  Find my blog post below and the link as well.  Enjoy.Synology DS925+ – Installation & Setup Synology DS925+ – Installation & Setup Over the last couple of years, with the help of Synology, I have been able to secure a DS920+ along with a DX517 expansion & a DS923+ NAS unit, which I have written reviews about.  Fast forward to 2025, and I was again in touch with Steph Clayton at Synology, who graciously helped me secure a DS925+ NAS for testing and blogging.The DS925+ is the latest version in the 9xx line of Synology NAS products, featuring several new enhancements, including an updated CPU based on the AMD Ryzen V1500B, a 4-core processor.  The unit also supports up to 32GB of RAM, Dual 2.5GB networking, and NVME drives for caching.The following is a list of t

Creating architectural diagrams is challenging for everyone, not just Backup engineers. While you can find Veeam colors and icons at https://www.veeam.com/company/brand-resource-center.html, these resources may change, making it difficult to keep designs current. I found updating most of the Veeam Best Practice guide diagrams—like those at https://bp.veeam.com/vbr/Support/S_Vmware/backup.html—to be especially time-consuming and frustrating. I am continually seeking innovative tools to enhance my workflow. Recently, I discovered pikchr, which offers greater versatility than mermaidjs while still enabling diagrams to be created through code. The layout engine operates from left to right by default, but this setting can be modified as needed. The following example generates two boxes containing the words Proxy and Repository. The word "move" is included to provide spacing between the boxes; without it, they would appear adjacent to each other. The labels “P:” or “R:” at the beginning of e

At VeeamOn 2025, Scality announced a unified software appliance with Artesca Object Storage and Veeam Backup bundled inside as a VM on Kubernetes via KubeVirt. Since this is a software appliance it allows you to use the hardware of your preference but have a simplified deployment and management. The current version is using a Windows Server, either 2022 or 2025, and Veeam 12.3. In the future, the Veeam Software Appliance (v13 on Linux) will also be an option.Recently this has passed Veeam Ready qualification as a repository and for object storage: https://www.veeam.com/solutions/alliance-partner/integrations-qualifications.html?alliancePartner=scalityIn the Service Provider space at Veeam, I have had several partners ask about an appliance to make it easier to deploy Veeam and manage it daily. So, I was intrigued by this announcement and wanted to test it out. (I like to play with the tech as this is the way I learn, hands on more than read).I downloaded the ISO to install and after a

The number of VMware-based public cloud offerings continues to grow. Whether it’s to support cloud migration, reduce data center footprint, or simplify operations, more organizations are looking at running vSphere in the cloud. Some of these platforms have been around for years, while others are newer or just starting to see broader adoption. Even though they all run VMware, not every cloud platform gives you the same visibility or control — which makes a difference when it’s time to plan for backup and recovery. To help clarify what’s possible, I pulled together a matrix comparing the major VMware public cloud platforms — AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, IBM, and Oracle — and how Veeam fits into each one. AWS – VMware Cloud on AWS (VMC)A managed SDDC running on AWS with some restrictions that impact transport methods and access. Veeam support is available but requires specific configuration.KB Reference: Veeam KB2414 AWS Elastic VMware Solution (EVS)This is a standard vSphere environment bui

In an era defined by ever-expanding data footprints and rapidly evolving application landscapes, traditional backup architectures often strain under the demands of modern enterprises. Organizations must not only safeguard data but also build backup infrastructures capable of growing seamlessly alongside their data volumes and adapting to shifting business requirements. A future-proof backup environment relies on scalable designs, cloud-native integrations, and automation to deliver reliable protection, efficient resource utilization, and consistent recovery performance. The Imperative for Scalable Backup SystemsEnterprises today generate data at an unprecedented pace. Every transaction, log, telemetry feed, or multimedia asset contributes to a mounting store of information that must be preserved for operational continuity, compliance mandates, or analytics purposes. A backup solution that cannot expand gracefully will quickly become a bottleneck, forcing disruptive, costly hardware swa

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had numerous conversations with customers about how to protect Microsoft SQL Server with Veeam. Whether it's running on-premises, in Azure VMs, or as a fully managed cloud service, SQL Server plays a mission-critical role in countless organizations — and making sure it’s protected and recoverable is non-negotiable. But here’s the thing: there’s no single “right” way to back up SQL Server with Veeam.No one method is universally better than the others — it all comes down to your infrastructure, operational preferences, and recovery goals.So, to help make sense of the options, I’ve broken down the different ways Veeam supports Microsoft SQL Server backups, organized by where your SQL Server is running.On-Premises Microsoft SQL Server:Agentless Image-Level Backup (VM-Based)This is the simplest and most common approach for virtualized environments (VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V).Key Features:Agentless backup using Veeam’s hypervisor integration Applicatio

AI has been getting bigger every day, to make things easier, I compiled a list of how we use it and the tech behind it, benefits, explainability and best practices associated with it. If you feel behind in any of these topics or just want to learn more, feel free to check this out!

OverviewI was recently working with a customer on migrating some Rocky Linux VMs running on vSphere hosts to some Hyper-V hosts using Veeam Backup and Replication.  After the migration to Hyper VM, the customer received the following error when the VM tried to boot. The issue is that the VM can’t boot in Hyper-V because it is having trouble finding the boot image and mounting the root file system. On further inspection, it was discovered that the Linux VM was missing the required Hyper-V drivers.  Windows-based VMs do not run into this issue as they already have the required drivers available at boot. Before Veeam can boot a migrated Rocky Linux VM in Hyper-V, the Rocky OS needs to have the proper Hyper-V drivers installed in the intramfs.img. Once the Hyper-V drivers are added to the initramfs.img the VM can boot and function correctly in the Hyper-V environment.    This issue can be fixed after the VM is migrated by booting it to a Live CD and then adding the drivers. Veeam KB 2669—h

On the week of June 23-26, I had a great opportunity to join Emilee Tellez and Jackie Priddy at HPE Discover 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. From cutting-edge innovations to powerful conversations, this experience has truly been one for the books. One of the biggest highlights was seeing Veeam showcase our newest collaboration with HPE Morpheus VM Essentials, reinforcing the importance of radical data resilience and cloud automation.It was also inspiring to hear Eric O’Neil, former FBI Ghost, speak on how he helped take down one of America’s most notorious spies, Robert Hanssen. His story on trust, espionage, and cyber risk left a lasting impression and lesson.Being able to join in this experience was amazing and having the chance to connect with some amazing teammates at Veeam was great. Everyone was incredibly generous with their time, advice, and insights. I learned so much from just being around them.Veeam Data Platform & HPE Morpheus VM Essentials SoftwareJohn Jester, the Chief Rev

Dear Community,When working with Veeam Backup for Google Cloud (VBGC) in environments that span multiple GCP projects, it’s critical to understand how Service Accounts work and why they are the backbone of successful backup and recovery operations.This information highlights a real-world scenario where a single service account was configured to manage backups across multiple GCP projects and what permissions are absolutely required to ensure everything runs smoothly. Why Service Accounts Matter in VBGC. The Service Account (SA) is the identity VBGC uses to:Access GCP resources. Perform backups, snapshots, and restores. Manage staging servers. Recover files at the VM or database level. One properly configured Service Account is enough to manage backup and restore operations across multiple GCP projects: The SA has sufficient IAM permissions in each GCP project. All projects are added to the VBGC appliance in the web interface. The appliance can communicate with the associated resources

I was updating my Lab, and came to this little issue I would like to share with y’all.I was applying the patch for KB4696 to ensure my 12.3 was fully patched, but then I noticed my free space on the C drive was insufficient.First thought: easy… let's enlarge the drive (it's virtual), increase it, and continue…The recovery partition didn't allow me to do so.Find below the screenshot of the patch installation + steps for being able to extend your drive in case you also need to.      First error, close your VBR Console before continuing… (Palmface)        Oh boy, here is…  Let's fix this issue to be able to deploy the patch, As you can imagine, we will shut down the VM, reboot, and then relaunch the install and continue.!-->Here's a breakdown of the methods:Using Disk Management and Diskpart (Requires disabling and potentially deleting the recovery partition):Disable the Recovery Partition:Open an elevated command prompt and run reagentc /disable. This moves the recovery partition's fu

Happy Monday Community!For those of you who don’t follow the VMCE Study Hall page, I want to share with you all there will be a webinar I’m hosting tomorrow, with Federica Saba and Beason Wilkes presenting, to discuss upcoming changes to the Veeam VMCE certification. For more information, registration, and link to the webinar, please see below:Reach out if you have any questions.Have a great week!

​VeeamON - it’s beta time!I recently had the pleasure of attending VeeamON in San Diego, where the much-anticipated V13 of Veeam Backup & Replication was officially announced. This latest version promises to bring a host of new features and enhancements that will undoubtedly elevate our data protection strategies to a new level.In this multi-part blog series, I will guide you through the installation process and provide an in-depth overview of both the well-known and the newly introduced functionalities (as available in the beta) within Veeam Backup & Replication V13. Whether you are a seasoned Veeam user or new to the platform, this series aims to equip you with the knowledge and insights needed to make the most of this powerful data security platform.One of the standout announcements at VeeamON was the release of the Linux appliance version, albeit in beta. This exciting development will serve as the foundation for our detailed drilldown, where we will explore its capabilitie

Well today I received from Synology a DS925+ NAS for testing and blogging about.  It is filled with the following -4 x 4TB HDDs 2 x 800GB NVME for Cache 2 x 16GB for 32GB of RAM Dual 2.5GB networking - Bonding will allow 5GB throughputSo it should be fun testing this little unit out as I will move over some of my VMware VMs to it and check performance.  I will also test other functions, applications, etc.  Looking forward to this and keep an eye out on my blog and here in the community.A little tease: 

Dear community, For years, I have been putting together a monthly newsletter containing the work of members of the Veeam Vanguard program. Now, I would like to share it with a wider community, as I believe it could be a valuable learning resource for those looking to expand their expertise on Veeam products. Andrea Mauro - Veeam Backup & Replication 12.3.2 - https://vinfrastructure.it/2025/06/veeam-backup-replication-12-3-2/Ben Harmer - Troubleshooting just got easier with SureBackup Screenshots! - https://benharmer.blog/2025/06/18/troubleshooting-just-got-easier-with-surebackup-screenshots/Chris Childerhose - PowerShell Tips for Veeam – VB365 v8.1 – Firewall Rules - https://just-virtualization.tech/2025/06/03/powershell-tips-for-veeam-vb365-v8-firewall-rules/PowerShell Tips for Veeam – Silent Install of Veeam Enterprise Manager - https://just-virtualization.tech/2025/06/30/powershell-tips-for-veeam-silent-install-of-veeam-enterprise-manager/Derek Loseke - 503 (ServiceUnavailable)

If you are not aware on July 10th there was a V100 show which I was a guest on and we discussed automating VB365 with Terraform.  You can watch the show here -Veeam 100 Show -Episode 17- Terraform Automation: Getting VB365 Up in No TimeI spoke of some resources that I wanted to give everyone links to for training as well as link the Terraform configuration file which I mentioned in the episode.  The configuration file will be attached and it is a sanatized version - you will need to update it with all the required details to run it and also ensure you have your environment set up to be able to use it.Below are some PluralSight courses that I am able to access via the subscription I have from the vExpert program.PluralSight Courses -Terraform - Getting StartedTerraform Deep DiveI also ordered a book from Packt Publishing that I am reading as well which you can get here -Mastering TerraformI hope you will find these references useful and please find attached the TF (Terraform) configurat

Broadcom has announced major updates to the VMware Cloud Services Provider (VCSP) Program. These changes impact all existing VCSP and White Label partners and will take effect over the next several months. Key Highlights Change Detail Program Closure The current Broadcom Advantage Partner Program for VCSPs ends October 31, 2025. Non-Renewal Notices July 15, 2025: VCSP partners not invited to the new program will receive a notice of non-renewal. White Label Sunset The White Label model will be discontinued on October 31, 2025 and will not continue in the new program. Post-October 2025 Limitations Departing partners may only support existing customers under current commit contracts. They will not be allowed to:  – Onboard new customers  – Execute new contracts (except for capacity increases)  – Renew existing contracts Customer Continuity Departing partners are encouraged to work with authorized VCSP partners to support renewals and ensure service continuity.  Fre

The last week in June, more than 15,000 attendees converged on Las Vegas for HPE Discover 2025, a major gathering of technologists, partners, and customers exploring what's next in hybrid cloud, AI, and enterprise infrastructure. As a team, we exceeded our engagement goals with over 40 official meetings and 500 meaningful conversations in the Veeam booth. My role focused on providing technical support, contributing to integration conversations, and identifying collaborative opportunities to strengthen our alignment with HPE’s evolving strategy.  It takes a team to succeed, though, so thanks to all of our contributors at this event!  We had over 20 Veeam employees in attendance. A central message throughout the event was that we’ve entered an extraordinary new era shaped by artificial intelligence and its ability to fundamentally change the way people live and work. HPE positioned itself as the trusted partner for navigating this transformation, with solutions that span edge to cloud an

As enterprise infrastructures grow in scale and complexity, manual backup procedures quickly become unmanageable. Automation is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s the backbone of reliable, consistent, and auditable data protection.This article explores how automation transforms backup with scheduling, monitoring, reporting, and machine assignment to backup jobs. It outlines best practices, highlights security considerations, and looks ahead to emerging trends. 1. Overview of Backup Automation 1.1 Why Automate Backups?Automating backups transforms data protection from a manual, error-prone task into reliable protection, which runs around the clock without manual intervention.Automated backup jobs are executed exactly according to predefined guidelines, regardless of whether it is day or night, weekend or holiday. Organizations can trust that every system is backed up without having to rely on who happens to be on duty. This consistency not only ensures that no servers or applications fall

A little change in topic from VB365 over to VBR/VEM with a new blog post on using PowerShell for silent install of Veeam Enterprise Manager, but can also be used for VBR as well with the appropriate XML file.You can find the blog here and below - https://just-virtualization.tech/2025/06/30/powershell-tips-for-veeam-silent-install-of-veeam-enterprise-manager/ PowerShell Tips for Veeam – Silent Install of Veeam Enterprise Manager With the recent release of Veeam Backup & Replication 12.3.2.3617, which addresses a 9.9 CVE, it was time to complete some upgrades. However, to upgrade Veeam Backup & Replication, Veeam Enterprise Manager must be upgraded first. You can find more about this patch release here – https://www.veeam.com/kb4696To upgrade a large number of Veeam servers, I was seeking a way to automate the initial step, which involves upgrading the Enterprise Manager. I was able to produce a script that will do the following things, and could also be used to upgrade Veeam Bac

Dear Community, Recently, while protecting workloads in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) using Veeam Backup for Google Cloud, I encountered an unexpected and frustrating error during the licensing process, which resulted in a backup failure. Error Message:An unhandled exception was thrown during the licensing process.This issue occurred even after I installed all pending updates on the appliance.https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbgc/guide/updates_install.html?ver=6#installing-updatesImpact:This error prevents the backup policy from running successfully, leaving protected workloads unbacked and halting automated operations.After a series of troubleshooting steps, I was able to resolve it. Here's what worked for me — and it might help you too. Recommended Solution Steps:Please try the following steps in order, ensuring no active sessions are running during/ ✅ 1. Reboot the Veeam Backup & Replication (VBR) ServerIf you are managing VBGC through a centralised Veeam Backup & Replication

Lenovo has recently added some new models to their ThinkSystem storage line. This storage refresh covers most use cases in lower cost flash to high performance clustered storage systems. The VR articles below have been recently added. It shows the commitment Lenovo has for the Veeam Ready program. The Veeam Ready team has also produced some new social media banners for alliance partners to promote their products. It is just another way the Veeam Ready team helps our partners message their joint solutions with Veeam. ThinkSystem DE4800H New Veeam Ready social media bannerEntry-level to Mid-Size Storage. It can be used as a Veeam target for backup storage. There is no storage snapshot integration with this model. This is a solid performer in the block storage category. We position it with our Veeam Hardened repo for immutability support. A top seller for Lenovo in the SMB/MSE space. The use case for this storage is, HPC/AI, Video surveillance, data warehouse, backup and virtualized workl