Backup Exec 2010 Vmwawre Agent

calvinj

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Mar 2, 2009
Messages
1,738
Does anybody have the backup exec vmware agent? We currently have backup exec now, but are also looking over backup solutions like Unitrends and EMC. Wondering what you guys think of it and how well it works. I would also be interested in knowing what other might be using.. We do have some physical servers so I would like to still back those up
 
58 Views and nothing? I'm starting to think it's a good idea to stay away
 
I have a lot of customers with it. It works like pretty much every other vStorage API agent. EMC is doing a really good deal on Networker right now though. If you're a Symantec customer you can get Networker for like 90% off list.
 
It's solid, it works, I wouldn't have a problem using it, but I can't say more.
 
I have a lot of customers with it. It works like pretty much every other vStorage API agent. EMC is doing a really good deal on Networker right now though. If you're a Symantec customer you can get Networker for like 90% off list.

Thats funny you mention that. I have a call with them this afternoon to go over pricing, sizing, Networker and Datadomain. I'll have to bring this up. Hopefully they don't price themselves so far out of my price range.
 
Data Domain is awesome. Works. Stupid easy. Fast. Networker is Networker..it's a backup app. They all suck IMHO. But with DD you want Symantec or Networker so you can use DDBoost to get even better throughput.
 
I'm all for getting data domain and networker - Not so much into keeping backup exec unless I really need to. I really want something all from one company. I'm just hoping that I don't get deep into conversation with EMC today and they price themselves so far out of budget it's not worth it for us. I already have been talking to Unitrends. They have numbers in my hands that should take almost minimal convincing of management.
 
Like I said.. Networker should be easy. 90% off list is going to beat anyone. Pricing for DD depends on many things...the primary being retention. Retention on disk is like compounding interest. Huge diff between 6 months retention and a year retention. Keep that in mind when doing sizing.
 
The Unitrends box we were looking at was suggesting 22 weeks of retention with 5% change and 200 gig of BMR data.
 
Maybe I'm unrealistic but after getting the initial numbers with the discounts you mentioned on networker, they really have priced themselves out of our price range. I have other things to buy next year and don't want to blow a budget on nothing but backup stuff
 
It's not for everyone. Data Domain isn't cheap by any stretch. The deal on Networker should beat anyone for the software..but you have to bundle it with DD to get it.
 
The bundle looks like this:

Data Domain 610, 2 TB Capacity License, Networker, Support, 18k.
 
18k is pretty cheap for enterprise backups.

If it's $18K for all of it that's a steal for DD and full Networker. Data Domain gear is GOOD..no one else can touch it. Not all backup2disk is the same and deduplication is not the same for sure. Also, with that capacity Networker license you can use pretty much any agent or add-on you want... Deploy a new SQL box? No problem....no worries about another agent license.
 
$18K being the price for all of it or what?

18k for all.. So your saying it's probably right in line then?

I guess on the bright side they said they would toss in an extra tb capacity license for nothing
 
I had to use the Backup Exec agent for VMware. Got to say that initially had a lot of issues - the majority sorted out by a shedload of updates to the core product. Seemed to work then - main issue I had was that it *seemed* that file level restores (GRT) required the agent on the VM. I didn't want this because of the security implications that that would bring (multi tier system). I say seemed because 401k things to do on that project so someone else took over so maybe I am wrong :)
 
18k for all.. So your saying it's probably right in line then?

I guess on the bright side they said they would toss in an extra tb capacity license for nothing

Yeah..that's a good deal. Have to understand, DD isn't just a shelf of disk.
 
I had to use the Backup Exec agent for VMware. Got to say that initially had a lot of issues - the majority sorted out by a shedload of updates to the core product. Seemed to work then - main issue I had was that it *seemed* that file level restores (GRT) required the agent on the VM. I didn't want this because of the security implications that that would bring (multi tier system). I say seemed because 401k things to do on that project so someone else took over so maybe I am wrong :)

it should not take the agent :)
 
You might want to look at Commvault. They do traditional licensing or capacity based licensing. We use it and it's very good, not perfect, but I read a lot less complaints about the technology than other products (the complaints tend to be about licensing).

If you have a solution for everything but just want to deal with VM's, you could consider combining something like Veeam or phdvirtual with your existing backup solution.
 
I've seen commvault, I'm thinking it's a bit out of where i want to spend too
 
So...what do you think backup software should cost? :)

I'm thinking free ;).. Na just kidding...

I'm not saying 18k is out of line nor do I disagree with you that dd is more than just a box with some drives in it. For some odd reason I'm just looking at the prices we have for the agents we have for backup exec. If I walked up to management with both numbers I know exactly what they will opt for. If I can find something for not 10+k more It won't take so much justification and proving on my part and everybody wins. Or we just wind up keeping backup exec which I can deal with
 
So keep backup exec. What problem are you trying to solve? Nothing wrong with BE. Works great with DD too. But what is the problem you want to resolve?
 
I'm thinking free ;).. Na just kidding...

I'm not saying 18k is out of line nor do I disagree with you that dd is more than just a box with some drives in it. For some odd reason I'm just looking at the prices we have for the agents we have for backup exec. If I walked up to management with both numbers I know exactly what they will opt for. If I can find something for not 10+k more It won't take so much justification and proving on my part and everybody wins. Or we just wind up keeping backup exec which I can deal with
How big is your environment?
 
So keep backup exec. What problem are you trying to solve? Nothing wrong with BE. Works great with DD too. But what is the problem you want to resolve?

I'm trying to see what else is out there really. Same with getting some thoughts on BE with the VMWare agent.

The only problem I'm seeing is that I need to open up the wallet in my mind a little bit further instead of the little box I have it in right now
 
I've seen commvault, I'm thinking it's a bit out of where i want to spend too

I think it would help if you gave a lot more info on your environment.

How much data?
What types of data?
Physical/Virtual mix?
Just D2D or D2D2T?
Budget?
RPO/RTO?

The problem is that you have a massive range of backup products available from free to very expensive, so without knowing any of the above all people are doing really is tossing out names.

I'll re-iterate what I said previously - if you just want to add backup of VM's you should consider veeam and phdvirtual if Backup Exec is working well for you in every other regard.
 
I think it would help if you gave a lot more info on your environment.

I think we've gotten far enough off from the original topic. I'm going back to it. Tell me what you think about the VMWare agent for BE.
 
It works, and does so well, much like every other API product (with rare exception) at this point. There isn't an VDDK vendor (of note) that doesn't have a fully functional product now - it's all about picking features to requirements :) That's why we're asking.

If you just want to know about the agent- it functions as designed. ~shrug~ It will not rape your puppy, kill kittens, or start arms races with third world countries, so most of the major bugs have certainly been worked out :)
 
I used the AVVI agent and ran into a shit ton of issues as well. A Veeam rep got ahold of me and gave me a free license because I was harping on the Symantec forums about how much more Veeam can do for less. (Dedupe/Granular restores etc) without extra licensing.
 
Back
Top