Choosing A Data Protection Method - EMC Avamar 6.1 User Manual

Introduction

Choosing a data protection method

Types of virtual machines
Ease of implementation
EMC Avamar 6.1 for VMware User Guide
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This topic explores the various advantages and considerations associated with image
backup and restore versus guest backup and restore.
Note: A virtual machine can be protected by both guest backup and image backup. For
example, a daily guest backup might be used to protect selective files, and a less frequent
or on-demand full image backup might be used to protect the full machine. This scheme
accommodates scenarios with limited backup windows.
Guest backup is generally the preferred strategy for protecting application servers such as
Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Office SharePoint, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle. The
reason that guest backup is particularly suited for this is that the Avamar agent gracefully
quiesces applications prior to backup, ensuring a true "application consistent" backup.
Guest backup and restore is also the only way to back up virtual machines, such as
desktops and laptops, that are not hosted within a vCenter.
Avamar for VMware image backup and restore is generally the preferred strategy for
protecting any non-application intensive virtual machines that are hosted within a
vCenter. Avamar's integration with vCenter enables multiple virtual machines to be
protected with the least amount of effort. Managing backups from these virtual machines
is exceptionally easy.
Guest backup and restore:
Supports any virtual machine running an operating system for which Avamar client
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software is available
Supports applications such as DB2, Exchange, Oracle, and SQL Server databases
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Easily fits into most existing backup schemes; day-to-day backup procedures do not
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change
Avamar client software must be individually installed, and managed inside each
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virtual machine
Avamar for VMware image backup and restore:
Can leverage vCenter to discover virtual machines, and add them to the Avamar server
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in batches
Requires moderate amount of initial setup and configuration
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