Back Up Process For Virtual Servers

When the server virtualization hit the market, users were immediately enthusiastic about this new technology. It was an immediate hit owing to the fantasizing features it offered. The companies started adopting the technology, starting with bigger enterprises, extending to the smaller ones when the processes became more cost effective and optimized. While the IT administration enjoyed the benefits of virtualization, backing up of the immense data emerged as a pain area for administrators. Over the initial few years when server virtualization just stepped in, data back-up posed the following issues:

Companies first tried to force fit their existing back-up processes on to the virtual servers. Typically, an agent was run on each virtual machine to have the back-up. It did the job, however, crippled the network system completely.

VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB) was a welcoming step in this scenario. It was an innovative method to have the data backed up efficiently, but the entire process added complexities to the system. There was time delay, cost factor and additional implementation steps which kept many businesses to indulge with this solution.

Many start-up ventures realized the opportunity and stepped in with their applications to back-up data from a virtualized platform. These were cost effective solutions for various forms of server virtualization, and the small to mid-sized companies immediately went ahead with these back-up techniques. The larger enterprises however stayed away. They had their own back-up solutions existing in multiple numbers, which resisted them adding another to their already huge and cumbersome backing systems.

Where Are We Now?

Today, there are some fantastic applications with individual features. The companies need to assess their requirements and look for the solution that best suits their demands. Vendors are generally perfecting their ways for the enterprise specific applications back-up solutions, rather than the generalized software for everyone. With the virtual machine focused as the data source, IT units must look into factors which distinguish these back-up solutions from each other.

Steps To Adopt The Right Back-Up Solution:

1.       List Your Needs

• Current System Deficiencies: 

Checking the market for the good back-up solution indicates that the current back-up system does not work well. It is important to know in what manner it failed. This will dictate the features which should be checked in the new back-up system a company looks for. This is the first and the most vital step to start with.

• Applications And Database Details: 
  

A catalog detailing the list of all applications and databases supported by the virtual machines will govern the decision of purchasing the appropriate back-up software. Many a times, the companies deal with the specialized databases and enterprise specific applications, which cannot be ignored when the data is being backed up. Having these secured in entirety is a fundamental need.

• Legacy Applications:
  

Many enterprises still depend on legacy platforms which cannot be virtualized. This calls for specialized back-up solutions which can work well with both the physical and the virtual servers. It should be understood well before opting the new back-up software.

• Periodic Or Continuous:

The back-up solution that is being deployed can be either continuous or periodic. This again depends upon the business requirements and the data flow which is supposed to be retained as back-up.


2.       Assess Functionality:

• Set Priority:
  

Normally, all the back-up solutions from reliable vendors will supposedly perform well. The demarcation between two such comparable products however becomes crucial. One of those may be easy to use than the other. One of those may be faster in operation than the other. It is important to set the priorities when looking for the right product.

• Support For Multiple Hypervisors:

If the businesses have deployed many hypervisors for its individual servers, the ideal solution will be the one that can work on multiple platforms. There need not be individual back-up systems for VMware and Hyper-V separately.

• Consistency During A Crash:

The back-up solution’s primary job is to ensure that the data remains secured once migrated. What happens if there is a sudden crash during the process? Keep in mind that the data being talked about in the current generation is very huge, that forces a reliable solution to play the role. At no cost should the data be lost during the back-up.

In short, an ideal back-up solution for an enterprise should work well with not only the virtual servers, but also the physical servers if any. It is nice to have the existing vendor offer an extended technological assistance to have the smooth back-up process run on existing environment. When making the checklist before the purchase, consider if your opted back-up solution:

• Is compatible to company’s infrastructure
• Supports multiple hypervisors if your business demands so
• Ensures data retention during a crash
  

And then go ahead with the best choice.