Environmental Requirements for Agentless VMware Backup

The only installation requirement for Agentless VMware Backup is to install Catalogic DPX as a Virtualization Proxy Server on at least one client. This is done by selecting the Virtualization Proxy Server setup type in the installation wizard.

Multiple proxy servers are highly recommended to enable load balancing for optimum backup speed.

For additional information about installation, including the proxy server setup type, see Chapter 5: Local Installation in the DPX 4.9 Reference Guide.

Prerequisites for Agentless VMware Backup

Review the following prerequisites for Agentless VMware Backup:

• vCenter administrative privileges or specific privileges. To browse VMs for backup without interruption, the Sessions privilege Validate session is required.

• VMware Tools installed on each VM protected by Agentless VMware Backup.

• Virtual hardware Release 7 or later on each VM protected by Agentless VMware Backup.

See also. For the latest system compatibility details regarding supported hardware, file systems, applications, operating systems, and service packs, see the DPX 4.11 Compatibility Matrix.

Backup Considerations for Agentless VMware Backups

General Backup Considerations

• Change Block Tracking must be enabled in the VM. If change tracking is not enabled, DPX enables it before proceeding with the backup. If change tracking is disabled in the VM between backups, DPX enables it again for the next backup.

• In some cases, if you change a VM name after a backup is defined and run, the next backup may be a base backup, because the renamed VM appears as a new machine.

Attention! If you perform storage migration of a VM in power-off mode, you must power on the VM at least once before a backup. Otherwise, the backup fails.

VM Exclusions from Backup

VMs are automatically excluded from backup with Agentless VMware Backup in the following cases:

• VMDKs shared across multiple VMs are not supported for protection due to VMware snapshot limitations.

• VMs are running a virtual hardware release earlier than 7. These early versions do not support Change Block Tracking.

• VMs with all VMDKs in an unsupported format such as physical compatibility VMDKs and independent disks. If the VM also has supported disks, they are backed up, and the unsupported disks are excluded. The VM is completely excluded from backup only if all the disks are unsupported.

Additionally, if you install DPX in a VM for application-aware protection, or for some other reason, you can set the Agentless VMware Backup to skip that VM.

Excluded VMs can be backed up with Block backup if DPX is installed on the VM.

For a complete list of limitations, please see the VMware list at:

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/com.vmware.vsphere.vm_admin.doc/GUID-53F65726-A23B-4CF0-A7D5-48E584B88613.html