The impact of backup processing is especially critical in virtual machine (VM) environments. The reasons for this are well understood: in a hypervisor environment where physical resources are shared among
multiple virtual machines, far less spare capacity is available for backup processing. When high-impact backup methods are used, the results are predictable: failed backups, missed backup windows, and severe application response problems due to resource constraints. This commonly experienced problem has driven many users to deploy VM-specific data protection solutions, adding cost and complexity to their environment.
NetApp Syncsort Integrated Backup is uniquely suited to VM backup because of the minimal impact it creates along with very short backup times. It works within the resource constraints of virtual machines, not outside of them. At the same time, it support physical systems and can be the single data protection solution for all your servers.
Leveraging Both Agent and Agentless Backup Models
Because backup needs vary across applications, NetApp Syncsort Integrated Backup offers both agent-based and agentless backup models.
Agentless backup offers great convenience and ease of use, and is suitable for many backup scenarios. But for some applications, it makes great sense to use host-based agents that can provide application aware backup. In many ways, agents actually simplify the backup process. For example, the NSB SharePoint agent automatically identifies all the components of a SharePoint farm and ensures they are properly protected.
Snapshots for Rapid Recovery
With virtual machine workloads now surpassing physical machine workloads, VM recovery is something required of any data protection solution.
It is important to consider two things with VM recovery: speed and operational ease. Because the VM is encapsulated in a single large “blob” file, you need to restore the entire VM at once. The NetApp snapshots used by NSB greatly speed up the recovery process by making VM data available in minutes using Syncsort’s patented Instant Virtualization™ technology.
From an operational perspective, the recovery process is well-integrated with VMware to provide largely automated restore of individual files, individual VMDK files, or entire virtual machines, whether from agent-based or Agentless backups.
View a video demonstration of NSB Instant Virtualization recovery.