Blogs and Podcasts

Morning everyone, VMware vSphere 8.0 U2 is now available, with improvements to lifecycle management, AI workloads, and DevOps amongst others!https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2023/09/vsphere-8-update-2-now-available.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vsphere-8-update-2-now-available A quick reminder to all, Veeam Backup & Replication v12 only supports up to vSphere 8.0 U1 currently. Veeam can’t start their validation until the code is available so we’ll now see Veeam begin their testing process. You can check the status of vSphere platform support here: https://www.veeam.com/kb2443Veeam typically target vSphere platform support within 90 days of release, so with the betas of VBR 12.1 functionality appearing online, I’d guess we won’t see 8.0 U2 support until 12.1 ships unless that encounters massive delays. So yes, wait for Veeam to support vSphere 8.0 U2 before you upgrade, there’s no point having all this new functionality if you can’t protect any of your work

This document provides step by step instructions to configure Azure Active Directory for SAML authentication in Veeam Enterprise Manager. There are four editions of Azure AD (AAD): Free, Office 365 (which comes together with O365), and two Premium editions P1 and P2. Comparison for all of them can be found at https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/active-directory/Below you can find steps to setup Veeam Enterprise Manager and Azure AD integration based on AAD from Office 365.Let’s start with the Azure side. Go to Azure portal then go to Azure Active Directory. Go to Enterprise applications → New application  →  → “Create your own application” → then provide a name for our application i.e. Veeam EM, and select “Integrate any other application you don’t find in the gallery” → Create Within a few moments’ applications will be created and visible under Enterprise Application view. Open it. Now let’s add some users (Step 1). In this version of AAD, only users can be added. In Pre

World Backup Day is March 31 … April Fools Day is April 1 … So, for our April 2nd Livestream, we’d love to highlight as many crazy, chaotic, or startling backup or recovery challenges, successes, or failures, that you’ve personally experienced.   We won’t be saying full names or companies, so feel free to submit anonymously – but if you have a short story that others can learn from, we’d love to share it. So, either grab your phone, turn that camera around, and record a 15-60 second clip of some of your most challenging backups or recoveries OR write down your story.  Either way, upload your written or recorded story to https://veeam-wbd24.portal.massive.io.Then tune in April 2nd as we laugh and cry about them together. -- JBuff Ps, turns out this idea isn’t as original as I thought, as some of you are also already submitting a similar story for the Blog of the Month contest.  So now you have two reasons to tell us your best or worst stories!

 In this demonstration, we will walk through the steps required to install Veeam Backup for GCP and integrate it with Veeam Backup & Replication using a plug-in.With Google Cloud Plug-in for Veeam Backup & Replication, you can add Veeam Backup for Google Cloud appliances to the backup infrastructure and perform the following operations from the Veeam Backup & Replication console:Start and stop backup policies, monitor session statistics, and perform configuration backup and restore. View created snapshots and image-level backups. Restore VM instances, individual persistent disks, and guest OS files and folders. Restore VM instances to AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Nutanix AHV. Perform Instant Recovery of VM instances to VMware vSphere, Hyper-V environments, and Nutanix AHV clusters. Restore all Cloud SQL instances and specific databases.I hope this video is helpful! 

The new official capacity calculator for O365 is now live at https://calculator.veeam.com/vbo/You can either connect it to your real account and retrieve needed data or manually input data:If you love the full details you can click the “Show details” button:This will definitely make it a lot easier to estimate capacity use, but also size VBO servers and proxies, just click on the little “i” icon next to infrastructure sizing for even more information like CPU/memory: 

Just a quick teaser of a project I’ve been working on since receiving my RPi 4B last week. I CAN’T OVERSTATE THIS ENOUGH, THIS IS NOT TO BE USED FOR, AND MUST NEVER BE USED WITHIN A PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS A FUN PROJECT ONLY. I’ve managed to get Veeam’s binaries running on the Raspberry Pi, but I don’t mean the backup agent, I mean the actual Veeam Installer Service and Veeam Transport Service components.I’ve managed so far to create backup repositories directly on the RPi, though I’m having issues getting IO to flush properly to attached storage, causing backup jobs to fail.The VMware backup proxy process incorrectly identifies the Raspberry Pi as 32-bit when it’s running a 64-bit OS, and is reporting itself as x86_64.But I’ve managed to successfully use the RPi for arguably the best use-case, as a super cheap SoC for a ROBO NAS Gateway. You might be thinking at this point I’ve used qemu and ‘so what, you’re emulating x86_64’, but that’s the difference, I’m actually using box6

Hello,Today I try to update Postgre SQL and when I execute the installer, I got the error : prerunscript.command.line.errorI go to the log file on path : c:\users\username\appdata\local\temp\2 and find file "installbuilder_installer.log" It contains the reason : Windows Script Host Access Is Disabled on This Machine. Contact Your Administrator for DetailsThis happens because I follow the Veeam recommendation about hardening the server -> Disable VBS.So, to update postgreSQL, first, it's needed to update the registry key at : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Script Host\SettingsEnabled should be updated to 1No reboot is required, just need to execute again the postgreSQL setup again and after the installation complete, update the value back to 0.I create this topic because I think this could be mentionned somewhere on the documentation / forum / here.  

IntroductionVeeam Capacity Tier allows the addition of an object storage-based extent to a Veeam Scale-Out Backup Repository (SOBR). This object storage could be on-premises or could be hosted by a cloud provider. Regardless of your chosen platform, Capacity Tier provides a cost-effective way to tier backup data from on-prem 'Performance' extents to Object for longer-term storage.We encourage you to read and understand the Product documentation on Capacity Tier at https://helpcenter.veeam.comThere are a number of reasons why switching Capacity Tier vendor might make sense to you. Perhaps there was a change in your corporate strategic alliances, or perhaps a simple cost analysis has revealed that deeper savings could be found elsewhere.Switching object vendor comes with a few challenges:You need to keep your old Capacity tier around until its retention expires and you want to be able to restore from it as well. You don't have "spare" performance tier storage available and thus creating

 Veeam released a KB article on security improvements for VBN AHV appliances see link below. Veeam KB4236Note: Screenshots are from a Veeam Backup for Nutanix appliance v5.xWith security being top of mind for all our customers. The VBN has a built-in updater process. You will have to login to the appliance via the appliances IP address to get to the main dashboard (http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx.) Figure 1 Once logged on the main dashboard will be displayed. If there are any updates available, you will notice the bell icon will have a red dot on it see figure 2 below. Click on the "updates are available hyperlink" Figure 3 and it will take you to the updates page. Once in the page you will see the updates. When you are ready to perform the updates if will ask you to take a configuration backup Figure 4 This is not an automatic process, you will have to take a configuration backup manually, or if you are certain that you have a scheduled one completed and have not made any recent changes. You c

I recently wrote a blog about using Synology Immutable Snapshots and Replication.  Check it out below and find it on my blog as well - Just Virtualization Blog Synology - Immutable LUN Snapshots with Immutable Replication I have been using Synology NAS devices for the past two years in my homelab with VMware vSphere 8.0U2, vSAN, Intel Optane, Veeam Backup & Replication, Backup Eagle, Runecast and a host of other things. I have my newest DS923+ set up as my primary storage for my VMware environment and my older DS920+ is my backup NAS as well as Replication partner.One thing that comes with the Synology DSM 7.2 upgrade (OS) is the ability to set up snapshots on a schedule, including Immutability. With Ransomware on the rise protecting your systems with backups alone is starting to not be sufficient enough. Enter the Immutable storage snapshots with replication on the Synology NAS devices.In order to configure storage snapshots with Immutability you first need to create a LUN within

Author’s note:This article is an extension to the fifth part of this series: Data Backup Basics V - Understanding RPO and RTO  Imagine the scenario: the hard disks or SSDs in the storage system housing your organization's critical virtual machines have failed, leaving a lot of business-critical virtual computers non-operational. Fortunately, you maintain daily, comprehensive backups, theoretically enabling prompt recovery. But is this the reality? To effectively gauge the efficacy of your disaster recovery plan, two key metrics come into play: the Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and the Recovery Time Actual (RTA). The RTO delineates the target timeframe within which the affected systems must be restored to full operational status. It's a crucial aspect of business continuity planning, representing the maximum tolerable downtime for an organization. Defining this duration requires careful consideration of the organization's operational needs, criticality of systems, and potential financia

You can find my blog on this topic here - Synology NAS - SSD Storage Pools Have you ever wondered how to create a storage pool and volume using SSDs on a Synology NAS? Well today I will walk you through the process to use the SSD drives within your Synology NAS to create a storage pool and volume to use within a VMware environment.Now you must be using one of the supported NAS devices that allow you to use SSD as a Storage Pool as many just allow SSD drives to be used as Cache within a Storage Pool - Supported NAS Devices. You must be using a device on the supported list otherwise the only option you will have is to create an SSD Cache. I will discuss SSD Cache vs Storage Pools in my next article.In order to configure an SSD storage pool you need to use the Storage Manager application on the web UI. Launch the web UI and log in, from the main screen open Storage Manager and use the Create button to begin the process to create a new LUN.Storage Manager - Create button for new Storage Po

You might or might not know this, but Wasabi does have a minimum storage duration policy in place.What's that?Depending on your pricing model, each uploaded object will be billed for a minimum amount of time.Pay-as-you-go customers have 90 days, reserved capacity customers (pre-paid) will have 30 days.If you delete an object before this minimum duration is over, the remaining time will still be charged.You can find more information on this website:https://wasabi-support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058734492-How-does-Wasabi-s-minimum-storage-duration-policy-work-ExampleYou upload 1TB of objects to Wasabi and have the 90 days minimum storage duration policy in place. After a week you decide to delete the whole 1TB.This means you pay for:7 days timed active storage 83 days timed deleted storageCan I recover deleted objects?You might think, that as you pay for deleted objects, you may be able to recover those. Unfortunately this is not the case, so you can’t use this as a recycle bin.

 This blog provides the sizing calculations for the Veeam Plugin used with Oracle and SAP. It outlines the resource requirements on the Source Server, Veeam Repository Server, and Veeam Backup Server.Source Server Specifications:Resource Utilization per Channel:Each channel consumes 1 CPU and 200 MB of RAM.Calculation:# of Channels = CPU cores required.200 MB * Number of Channels = Total Memory Required.Veeam Repository Server Specifications:Resource Utilization:Every 5 channels require 1 CPU core and 1 GB of RAM.Veeam Backup Server Specifications:Resource Requirement:For every 1 million backup files, the server requires 15 GB of RAM.Dependency:The requirement is based on the number of backup files generated by Oracle and SAP. Example Calculation: Oracle Server Configuration: 12 Channels = 12 CPU Cores 200 MB * 12 = 2400 MB Memory Veeam Repository Server: 12 Channels / 5 = 2.4 CPU Cores 2.4 GB Memory Data Transfer Speed: Channel Capacity: Each channel transfers 120 – 150 MB/s, app

Restoring a database can often be a straightforward process, but complexities arise when you're working on the same server as the active original database. A common issue encountered in such scenarios involves the database's inability to start due to conflicts with BCT file access. This blog post is designed to guide you through resolving this issue when using Veeam Explorer for Oracle database restoration. Understanding the Problem:When you restore a database with a different name on the same server where the original database is still active, you might encounter an error where the newly restored database fails to start. This issue often stems from conflicts with accessing the BCT file. The BCT file, which is crucial for database operations, might still be in use or locked by the original database, leading to access conflicts. Step-by-Step Solution:To successfully restore your database without encountering the BCT file access issue, follow these steps:   Step1: -  Just restore(and not

While helping an SE with a POC, I encountered an odd obscure error when trying to install a repository on one VM and a proxy on another VM. The error message was received after we added the VMs as managed Windows servers and during the actual repository and proxy install.The error I received was:“Installing package Transport Error: Error 1920. Service Veeam Data Mover Service (VeeamTransportSvc) failed to start.  Verify that you have sufficient privileges to start system services.” I was a little panicked when I saw this as I have not encountered this error before, and the service installs work.After my initial panic, my attention immediately turned to an account permissions issue.  The account being used is a domain account that was a member of the local administrators group on the servers.  The account used was able to start and stop other services. A check of Google yielded little insight.  It did point me to the Veeam KB 1059 – which discusses this error.The first step it mentioned

You may have seen this: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/softbank-backed-cohesity-reaches-deal-to-acquire-veritas-unit-1.2032340 I don’t know what this will mean. The backup world is huge but still. Any thoughts?  

There are new Veeam Sales Professional (VMSP) and Veeam Technical Sales Professional (VMTSP) 2023 accreditations available in ProPartner Portal.This year the two accreditations do not consist of one single learning path, but on a base “Sales Foundation” part and five different learning streams. With the completion of the base module and one learning stream you will get a badge to show off…The learning streams for the VMSP and VMTSP are:✅ Public Cloud✅ Ransomware & DR✅ Microsoft 365✅ Container Protection✅ Cloud Service ProviderSource: Veeam ProPartner Portal - Veeam IQSo Veeam ProPartners, go and get them 😊

I am sure someone else will find this blog post very useful. I have been doing extensive research since I created this blog post below.  So I purchased Beelink EQ12 3x recently. Beelink EQ12 mini PC since it has an Intel 12th Alder Lake-N100 processor (4C/4T, up to 3.4GHz, 25W TDP), delivers 25% more power than N5105. The low power consumption makes this mini-computer great for light work, 4K video playback etc. At this time, this Mini PC costs 329.00, and there is a promotional voucher of 45 euros. So it will be about 284 euros. Other Additions- Got a TP-Link TL-SG108E 8-Port Gigabit Switch (Plug and Play, Gigabit Ports, VLAN, QoS)- A Synology 923+ [I got this due to my Veeam Legend and vExpert status]. Here is a post on how to set up DS923+, and many more to come. The next would be on how to protect DS923+.- Wyebot wireless intelligence (To be reviewed as well)- I'm considering purchasing a NGFW appliance and would appreciate your insight.  Today, I completed these blog posts based o

Blog URL - Veeam VBR - 12.1 Upgrade Veeam released the 12.1 update back in November 2023, and with it comes upgrades to most components, including Veeam Backup & Replication. Today, I will walk through the upgrade process in my HomeLab to update my current Veeam Backup & Replication server from 12.0 to 12.1. Many enhancements came with Veeam Backup & Replication 12.1, including some of the following -Inline Malware Detection Early Threat Detection Scan Backups with YARA Four-eyes Authorization KMS Integration Object Storage Backup AI Assistant (ChatGPT like) Postgres DB Support for Veeam Cloud Connect (previously was SQL before 12.1) A full list of the enhancements in Veeam Backup & Replication 12.1 can be found here - Veeam Backup & Replication 12.1 - What's New.***NOTE - You must download the Veeam Backup & Replication 12.1 ISO file to follow the steps.***At the time of this writing the version of Veeam Backup & Replication 12.1 is - 12.1.0.2131, bu

Also this year you will be able to find me during VeeamOn. When I attent this one, I have been present at all editions organized so far. (Good memories on Vegas, Chicago, New Orleans, Miami,...)The data resilience high mass will take place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from June 3 to 5.Are you still hesitating to attend? I will give you some good reasons to reserve a spot in your calendar.Stay Informed and Updated VeeamOn provides a platform for attendees to stay informed about the latest developments, updates, and innovations in backup, recovery, and data management technologies. This includes insights into Veeam's products and services, as well as broader trends and best practices in the industry. Attending keynotes, sessions, and workshops can help professionals stay ahead of the curve in their knowledge and skills. Things do move in hypervisor land. How will Broadcom - VMWare evolve ? This will certainly have an impact on how we organize our backups on the different platforms. Will V

When you will download data from Exchange Online – Microsoft will throttle your traffic. In previous years to change it, you should open a support ticket to MS. Now you can temporarily change this directly on Microsoft 365 admin center. This can be especially useful for initial full backup for multiple mailboxes. How to setup this? Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center and in the top right corner open help and just type “ews”. Then you have to run tests as a results you will have option to select duration 30, 60 or 90 days with higher throughput speed.select one of available value and update settings. 

THERE IS NOW NATIVE FUNCTIONALITY TO DO THIS EASILYHello, a few years ago I wrote a few articles about this very interesting, and common topic:They were very well received in my opinion, with tons of comments, and lots of views. But since then, many changes have happened, first to the Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 APIs, secondly Microsoft disabling SMTP and making our life difficult with OAuth for simple stuff like this.Good news are:The first blog post have been updated with the OAuth steps, so if you are struggling with that, please take a look now :) I wrote two very simple PowerShell Scripts to make your life easy.Automating the painful Microsoft/Google Oauth for VB365 Audit Mail SettingsIf you want to automate this process, because do this manually is the biggest pain I had in this 2023 by far. You will find the script here:https://raw.githubusercontent.com/VeeamHub/powershell/master/VB365-AuditRestoreOperations/vb365-AuditEmailSettings-OAuth.ps1Very simple to modify and run. You

  Live Optics allows you, your Dell EMC technologists, or Dell EMC partner consultants to understand vital information about your Veeam environment. Live Optics provides you with a simple process to upload your Veeam database backup and present your data in a clear and understandable way, so that you can make informed decisions to optimize your backup infrastructure.Your Veeam database backup will usually be a file with a .bak extension.  Sometimes, due to common community based knowledge, the files have a .dmp extension.Pre-RequisitesThe following list is are required to follow the instructions below.You are a user with Administrative access to Veeam You have downloaded the latest version of the Live Optics Collector InstructionsTo create a SQL backup for Veeam, see the following Veeam KB article:https://www.veeam.com/kb1471?destination:https://www.veeam.com/kb1471=?x-clickref=1100ld5oeEIGNote: There is no need to further .zip or compress the file. The Live Optics collector will do th