backup error

ESXi 6.0 – More CBT woes

VMware, , , , , ,

Post update 14th May 2015

VMware have released a hotfix KB2116126.

Removed information regarding old CBT workaround for Veeam is incompatible

_________________________________

So it’s come to my attention that the new and mighty ESXi 6.0 has a CBT fault as well. This time its effects are different than previous versions, but causes you backups to either fail, or take a considerably longer time to complete.

Here is the official KB from VMware: KB2114076 – Backing up a virtual machine with Change Block Tracking (CBT) enabled fails after upgrading to or installing VMware ESXi 6.0 (2114076)

The Cause

Below is VMware official note on the issue, which isn’t very promising, and will affect any backup technology using snapshots within VMware.

This issue occurs due to heap exhaustion when attempting to enable Change Block Tracking (CBT). 

If a virtual machine with a large number of virtual disks reached an upper threshold, enabling CBT fails because of heap exhaustion. This issue also occurs with multiple virtual machines with CBT enabled. In case of Windows virtual machines with VSS enabled, taking a quiesced snapshot creates double the amount of memory overhead.

Note: The virtual disks can be spread across virtual machines or can be in a single virtual machine.

2015-05-11_11-47-46_01

You can look in your VMKernel.log from the host the affected VM is on to see various warnings about CBT.

WARNING: CBT: 191: No memory available! Called from 0x418010db750e

Here I’ve used the System Centre Configuration Manager Trace32 Tool for viewing the VMKernel.log

2015-05-11_12-09-42

Continue reading ESXi 6.0 – More CBT woes →

Veeam Endpoint Backup FREE

Veeam Endpoint – Connect to a Backup Repository

General, ,

I am going to quickly detail how to connect Veeam Endpoint to an existing Veeam Backup and Replication Server to use a backup repository.

Covered is;

  • Pre-Reqs
  • Setup the permissions on your Backup Repository
  • Setting up the Backup Job
  • Integration into Veeam Backup and Replication Server GUI
  • Troubleshooting
  • Resources

Pre-Reqs

First off, you need;

And a suitable machine to run endpoint on.

 

Setup the permissions on your Backup Repository

It’s best to do this first, open up the GUI for Veeam on your Server.

1. Go to Backup Infrastructure > Backup Repository > Hold CTRL + Right Click on your repository object.

Veeam-Endpoint-2015-05-05_16-57-54

2. Add your users that can access to repository, usually this will be the main user or service account used for Veeam Endpoint on the remote device. In my case, the Windows 7 machine runs LOB software for compatibility reasons, so a service account is used.

Veeam-Endpoint-2015-05-05_16-57-44

Note: you can also configure encryption as well.

Setting up the Backup Job

1. Double click the icon in your task bar, or open the control panel of Veeam Endpoint and click to configure backup.

  • Select your backup type

Veeam-Endpoint-2015-05-05_16-44-15

Veeam-Endpoint-2015-05-05_16-44-29

 

2. Select the destination as “Veeam Backup & Replication Repository”

Continue reading Veeam Endpoint – Connect to a Backup Repository →

veeam 2014 logo color tag

Veeam VMCE v8 Exam Experience

General, , , ,

I’ve completed and passed the Veeam VMCE v8 exam, having done the v7 exam some time ago.

vmce_logo

The official deadline is 15th May, to upgrade from v7 exam to the v8 exam, miss this deadline and you need to take the full course within 90 days and pass the exam to keep your status, anything after this your status will end as a VMCE and you will need to take the full course and exam to re-ignite it. So basically after the 15th May you need to take the full course.

2015-05-05_14-59-33

To be completely honest, I wasn’t that impressed by the course and exam for version 7, and had our partner status with Veeam not relied on me doing the exam, I wouldn’t have bothered this time around.

Course Material

Continue reading Veeam VMCE v8 Exam Experience →

2015 04 09 14 53 48

Cisco UCS – Install ESXi 6.0

Cisco, VMware, , , , ,

So I’ve just deployed a Cisco UCS B Series system, which is on the HCL as supported by VMware for ESXi 6.0

2015-04-20_20-47-00_01

However there is no install media available as for previous ESXi versions.

How to install ESXi 6.0 on Cisco UCS

Quite simple actually, I installed the Customised version of ESXi 5.5 update 2d onto the B series servers, and then deployed vCenter 6.0, after setting up update manager, I imported the standard ESXi 6.0 ISO, and upgraded the hosts using update manager.

After a week, I can report that I’ve found no issues with this at all.

I posted on reddit about the location or availability of the media, and someone suggested this method of install, further more another user stated their Cisco Account Manager said everything should work with the standard ESXi install for the B200 M4 blades and not need additional drivers.

Hope this clears it up for some users who are hunting around for install media or an explanation that doesn’t yet officially exist.
Regards

Dean


2015 03 12 23 16 34

Deploying VCSA 6.0 fails with supplied system name is invalid

VMware, , , ,

2015-04-14_16-28-02_01

 

A nice and simple one, the supplied system name (which is the FQDN of the VCSA)  is invalid.

This is because when deploying a new VCSA from scratch, your DNS records should already be created, as the new ISO based installer for the appliance runs a number of scripts to setup vCenter services and the Platform Services Controller.

So you get this error either because your DNS Settings are wrong, or you have not created your DNS records for your vCenter and PSC if it is an external server.

 

Regards

Dean