Is it possible to backup ESXi VMs residing on a TrueNAS scale Zvol shared via iSCSI to ix-storj?
We basically bought a mini-X+ to do that and now that I’m nearing signing up for cloud backups, I don’t look to be able to select the Zvol as the backup source.
If we use other sharing options, eg NFS, will that work?
Currently its impossible for a zvol.
You could do it with an NFS share, that was snapshotted. But it is so complex, I can’t recommend.
Using a 3rd party solution, like Veeam, there are options.
With SCALE Electric Eel… BETA is August… it will be possible to backup a zvol.
Thank-you.
Sorry, I should ask.
At a high level, what is necessary to use an NFS share with snapshots?
The Cloud backup task has the option to take a snapshot, I take it we’d need to do more than just check that box?
That should work… someone should test and validate both backup and restore.
Thank-you.
I have the NFS share mounted as a datastore and am copying a VM to it now.
I use Electric Eel, but still cannot figure out how to do it. Was this feature added at the end of day? I think TrueBackup is what I need, but I am getting this error:
[EINVAL] cloud_backup_create.path: Backed up zvol must be used by a local or VMware VM
I use that zvol as iSCSI disk in external VM. Does it mean I cannot use TrueBackup to do it?
Which version? Lets start with release notes…
Latest 24.10, no updates found.
I can’t see any known issue that would cause this.
If you capture some screenshots to document your set-up, post here and then report a bug.
I have read middleware component code yesterday. Unfortunately I think this was intentional, before merging the feature, validation code was added to check that disk is either connected to VM inside TrueNAS or its managed by VMware hypervisor.
I don’t think that it’s necessary to block this feature completely. IMO it was enough to add warning, so users could write their own scripts to stop and start external VM/machine for example.
Link to MR: NAS-123082 / 24.04 / Cloud backup of zvols by themylogin · Pull Request #11742 · truenas/middleware · GitHub
Its a valid point…especially if a snapshot is used.
Can you describe your use-case and how you would quiesce/protect your data. If we have that then a bug report makes sense.
I am running two VMs outside of TrueNAS (in Proxmox to be exact):
In TrueNAS I created zvol, activated iSCSI target and in Fedora I attached this disk. I store in that disk all critical application data and want to back it up. At this moment I cannot do it, since this zvol is neither used by TrueNAS directrly or managed by VMware.
TrueNAS developers think that iSCSI disk could be in inconsistent state while they are starting to back it up. I disagree. In my opinion all they need is to take snapshot at the start of backup and send that snapshot as backup.
If you have a case number I can follow up… if not, please create one and include a description of how you snapshot the VMs 1st.
Its worth noting that we do have a general policy of not leaving loaded guns lying around in the community software. If someone can shoot their foot off, we are reluctant to add more ammunition…