Data Protection for VMware and Application Data in Mission Critical Environments

Executive summary

Enterprise data centers have been rapidly embracing and deploying server virtualization solutions

because of the instant and evident benefits server virtualization provides. From fundamental problems

such as server sprawls, resource consumption, and server provisioning to more complex challenges

such as green computing and disaster recovery, server virtualization provides many different

capabilities that help address these common data center intricacies. VMware ESX is the most widely

used server virtualization technology in data centers today. In fact, an ESG survey

indicates that 70

percent of surveyed virtualization adopters are running VMware in their environment. The rapid

adoption of server virtualization is accelerating the deployment of high-utilization virtual machines,

which is, in turn, increasing storage capacity usage because physical servers are now running

multiple virtual machines, all of which require their own storage capacity usage. This train of events is

forcing IT managers to rethink their backup methodologies.

This paper explores and outlines how to apply HP Data Protector 6.0/6.1 software and other key

HP StorageWorks storage array technologies to manage and deploy an effective backup strategy in

a VMware Virtual Infrastructure, which not only effectively protects virtual machines but also the

enterprise applications running inside the virtual machine. HP Data Protector software provides and

automates high-performance backup and recovery from disk or tape over unlimited distances.

HP Data Protector software is a full-featured and robust backup software that enables enterprise-level

capabilities such as continuous backup and instant recovery at a low deployment cost that is

30-70 percent lower than competing products

. VMware Infrastructure features and solutions—

VMware Consolidated Backup, encapsulation, Raw Device Mapped, Virtual Machine File System

(VMFS), and Virtual Machine Disk Format (VMDK)—provide the foundation for building a robust

backup solution.

This joint solution demonstrates companies can build and deploy an effective backup solution in their

VMware virtualization environment while achieving improved RPO (Recovery Point Objective) and

RTO (Recovery Time Objective) of backups, significantly lower backup windows, and efficient data

mobility in the process.

The challenges

Performing backups is a mission-critical component of the day-to-day operation of any data center.

Though the virtual infrastructure has provided IT managers with effective solutions to address many

data center challenges, the rapid deployment of server virtualization has also introduced a new set of

backup challenges. IT managers must employ innovative strategies to address business continuity

needs of their virtual infrastructure. A survey conducted by Excillio Group Inc (marketing research

firm) indicated that 26 percent of surveyed professionals view the implementation of a backup

strategy for their Virtual Infrastructure as their top priority for 2008.

ESG Research Report, ESG IT Infrastructure and Service Management Survey, March 2008

http://www.hp.com/go/dataprotector