Backup Exec–VMware Backup Transport Mode

My VMware backup using Backup Exec 2010 R3 has been using “NBD – Do not encrypt the virtual disk data for over-the-network transfer.” as the transport mode for the past month.  To improve job rate, I have decided to configure it to use “SAN – Use the SAN to move virtual disk data.”

However, for this transport mode to work, there are a couple of things to do.

Prevents Windows from automatically mounting any new disks.  This can be done using the diskpart command.

C:\>diskpart Microsoft DiskPart version 5.2.3790.3959 Copyright (C) 1999-2001 Microsoft Corporation. On computer: BEServer DISKPART> automount disable Automatic mounting of new volumes disabled. DISKPART> automount scrub DiskPart successfully scrubbed the mount point settings in the system. Automatic mounting of new volumes disabled. DISKPART> exit Leaving DiskPart... C:\>

You can find out more about the diskpart automount command at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753703%28WS.10%29.aspx.

Present the LUNs that are assigned as datastores to the vSphere servers to the Backup Exec server.  How this done depends on your how your SAN storage is connected.  For me, it is zoning and assigning the LUNs to Backup Exec server.

You should see the LUNs showing as Online and Healthy.  It is very important not to write anything onto these disks (e.g. assign a drive letter).

I would recommend to reboot the Backup Exec server before running the backup using “SAN – Use the SAN to move virtual disk data.” transport mode.  I didn’t do that initially and I spent hours trying to troubleshoot failed backup.

With the “SAN – Use the SAN to move virtual disk data.” transport mode, I am seeing a job rate of close to 3000 MB/min as compare to 1000 MB/min previously.