Storage, Backup & Recovery Considerations in Hyper-VChristopher Kusek @cxiGlobal Virtualization LeadEMC ConsultingBlog: http://pkguild.com

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Housekeeping

Storage is Easy

Storage is Easy for Hyper-V• Hyper-V hosts support a wealth of

storage options– Root Partition for Hyper-V– Fixed Disk VHDs– Dynamic Disk VHDs– Cluster Storage Volume (CSV) [Multi-

VHDs]– Pass-through Disk (Raw Disk)

Storage Types in Hyper-V

Storage in Hyper-V Clusters

Storage Options in Hyper-V• Support for VHDs up to 2TB*– Server8 support 2TB to 16TB

• Multiple disk types supported per guest

• Pass-through and iSCSI disks for guests

Your Hyper-V host is the sum total of your guests

so plan accordingly

Storage Considerations• Lay out storage for your

application(s)• Not all disk types are created equal• Design for your I/O Profile not

capacity• Snapshots will cause extra I/O• Diff disks will be in use until VM

shutdown• Pass-through disks do not support

snaps

Backups are not easy

Backups are not easy• Hyper-V Host requires a backup• Virtual Machines require backup• Applications in VMs require backup• Files inside of VMs require backup• SYSTEM State Requires backup

Choose your granularity

Where do I backup from?• Backup virtual machines like traditional

servers• Backup the virtual host configuration itself• Backup the virtual machines from the host• Backup the virtual machines from the

storage• Backup the files in spite of the virtual

machines

Please sir, can I have some more options?

Backup Options• Pick a backup solution which meets your

needs– Image backup– File backup– One-off Hyper-V only backup– Enterprise Solution (Networker, NBU,

TSM)

Recovery is ever harder

How do I restore?• Restore VHD and recover files• Restore files direct• *Other Complex Recovery Options*• End-User Recovery• Backup Admin Recovery

Data Mitigation• Live Migration helps in planned

disasters• Snaps can support quicker restores

LM/Snaps are not backups*

Data Backup Concerns• LM/Snaps do not protect corrupt

VHDs• Pass-through disks cannot be

snapped• iSCSI Direct LUNs cannot be snapped• VSS Diff for snaps up to 15% of total

VHD

General Best Practices• Design for Applications• Less disks less complex• More data more backup• Live Migration & Snaps are NOT Backups• Understand Granularity• Avoid point solutions*

Thank you!

Credits• Christopher Kusek, vExpert, CISSP,

MCT• EMC Consulting• Global Virtualization Lead

• Twitter: @cxi• Blog: http://pkguild.com