Since we have implemented the Veeam Universal Storage API, Veeam customers have enjoyed a much more rapid cadence for delivering integrated arrays for Veeam Backup & Replication. This has been really great to experience as partners of all types are interested and enabled with Veeam and our partner programs. I like to say that Veeam has partnerships in our DNA, and the latest plug-in comes now for DataCore SANsymphony.
At face value, it seems we can simply take better backups with this plug-in. But the reality is that there is much more capability. This plug-in brings the following Veeam storage integration capabilities:
- Veeam Explorer for Storage Snapshots
- Veeam Backup from Storage Snapshots
- On-Demand Sandbox for Storage Snapshots
- Primary Storage Snapshot Orchestration
There is one unique, additional aspect that is provided by the DataCore SANsymphony plug-in, however. SANsymphony can present a storage virtualization capability for dissimilar storage systems. What is also noteworthy is that this is a software-only solution! This can introduce even more storage devices where you can have a Veeam-integrated experience.
The plug-in’s main capabilities are what brings the best backup experience, let’s overview them now:
Veeam Explorer for Storage Snapshots
I really enjoy the Veeam Explorer for Storage Snapshots capability, because it allows many types of restores (full VM, files, application items, etc.) from a storage snapshot. There is no real preparation needed other than having a storage snapshot in place (either ad-hoc or via an existing schedule). This is a great way to have recovery points in the middle of the day in addition to established backup jobs. Veeam Explorer for Storage Snapshots is shown in the figure below from DataCore SANsymphony:
Veeam Backup from Storage Snapshots
Even with a snapshot recovery technique, there still is a need for a backup to different storage. This is where the Backup from Storage Snapshots capability will allow organizations to have the backup on different media with minimal impact to the product storage. The DataCore SANsymphony snapshot integration will take the backup in a way that the data transfer is done from the storage snapshot. Additionally, the incremental backups will be very fast as Veeam’s implementation of taking backups from the storage snapshots will maintain VMware Changed Block Tracking (CBT) data for each increment. Backup from Storage Snapshots is shown below:
On-Demand Sandbox for Storage Snapshots
The backup and recovery aren’t the only benefits that come with the DataCore SANsymphony plug-in. The On-Demand Sandbox is an opportunity where you can put your storage to work. This is a mechanism (also called a Veeam DataLab) where you can take your production systems and make them available in an isolated environment to simulate changes, test upgrades to critical applications and more. These are all powered by the storage snapshots on the DataCore SANsymphony and made easy to use from Veeam Backup & Replication. I encourage you to explore a DataLab for your environment, chances are it will save you time for your next production change.
Primary Storage Snapshot Orchestration
Now that we have your attention about snapshots, one of the ways the DataCore SANsymphony plug-in can help you have a better data management strategy is to orchestrate snapshots. This will allow you to create a job in Veeam Backup & Replication that will create a snapshot in SANsympony. This is a separate type of job to give you many versatile recovery options: replication, backup and snapshot orchestration.
Download the DataCore SANsymphony plug-in now.
