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Hello All,

I am taking triditional VMware backup and I also take with Intelli snap. (virtual server Agent snap). What is the differneces between them. And IF I take backup via Virtual Server Agent snap,Will  the snapshots grow continuously during the backup Copy period?

 

Virtual Server Agent Snap means it will take software snapshots only. 

With traditional IntelliSnap hardware snapshots, it will snapshot the VMs, do a snapshot of the datastore on the hardware array, and then remove the software snapshots. That captures a consistent snapshot on your storage array of the VMs.

With a software snapshot, those snaps are going to remain on the VM until you perform a backup copy. So I would recommend you don’t use this option unless you are using VVOL or VSAN - even then I’d say its a very specific use case.

More info: https://documentation.commvault.com/2024e/expert/intellisnap_protection_for_vms_on_vvol_or_vsan_vxrail_datastores.html

 


Hello ​@Damian Andre 

Thanks for Answer . Actually I am asking between triditional vmware backup (without ıntellisnap) and Intelli snap with virtual Server Agent Snap.

When I take triditonal backup,The snapshot  taken with Commvault keeps growing until backup is finished. my main question actually, will snapshot grows when  I take backup with virtual server Agent snap


Hello ​@Damian Andre 

Thanks for Answer . Actually I am asking between triditional vmware backup (without ıntellisnap) and Intelli snap with virtual Server Agent Snap.

When I take triditonal backup,The snapshot  taken with Commvault keeps growing until backup is finished. my main question actually, will snapshot grows when  I take backup with virtual server Agent snap

The behavior is identical. If you enable intellisnap with the software snap engine, the job will run and snapshot the VMs and leave them there until the backup copy is run. Snapshot sizes always grow while the VM is running. The only way to control snapshot size is to have it exist for the least amount of time possible, which is what hardware snapshots can do with a real storage array - but not the software snap engine


THank you ​@Damian Andre 

What is the advantage if I use Intellisnap instead of traditional backup?


Hello ​@ETO please go through VMware IntelliSnap

Best,

Rajiv Singal


THank you ​@Damian Andre 

What is the advantage if I use Intellisnap instead of traditional backup?

There is no real advantage in my mind of using software-based intellisnap engines unless you are using VVOL or VSAN. But for hardware snaps, the size of the snapshot growth is very minimal - less chance of stun during snap deletion and rapid protection of VMs.


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