Whether you want to set up your Veeam Cloud Connect service for a client, or whether you are the client themselves, rest assured the process is simple and offers you a few critical options to tailor to your needs.
What style of security do you need?
A backup and a replica aren’t the same thing, so it’s critical to figure out which method works for you. A backup allows you to transfer your data across media. A replica, on the other hand, allows you to take an exact copy of your VM off of its home site. They have one weakness- if there’s a corrupt entity in the original, it will be replicated. Bear these differences in style in mind when making your selections.
Typically, in an enterprise-type setup, you handle these yourself. If you’re lacking in the needed sites for backup storage, though, or are constrained by a budget that’s not going to accommodate a ton of fancy hardware, you’ll want to look at the third option- Cloud Connect. It also provides the peace of mind of being fully off-site and out your hands while remaining secure, boosting security.
Cloud Connect allows a Veeam partner anywhere in the world to ‘loan’ its infrastructure to you for your critical data. An SSL encrypted connection is used, so there’s no risk to your critical and confidential data. When Veeam Backup and Recovery hit version 9, they put their ‘Cloud Connect Replication’ service on offer, allowing you to fully replicate a VM to the provider, too, so you can still pick between a ‘backup’ and a ‘replication’ depending on your needs.
How do I get started?
Obviously, you need to get the nitty-gritty out the way first. Pick a partner and get the right agreements in place to meet your needs. Cloud Connect is designed to be simple and intuitive to use, so you won’t need to enlist a small army of IT support to help. Launch the Veeam console, and select the following menu option:
Backup Infrastructure >> Service Providers>> Add Service Provider
It’s worth noting at this point that there is also an option here to help you find a service provider if you haven’t already found one.
Now you’re ready to go. Enter the IP address [or DNS host] for your partner’s Cloud Connect Gateway. You’ll also need to check off here whether or not the host will be managing the Veeam installation. TCP and UDP port should be open and set to 6180 to allow access outwardly.
Now we need to address security with the SSL certificate, which must be valid. Veeam uses a repository with a self-signed certificate, but the partner needs to be running a properly configured SSL certificate too. Be sure to have the username and password you were given by the provider to hand too. Add the information, and you’re ready to go.
Review settings carefully.
The next screen will let you double-check all information is correct. Click ‘apply’ and you’ll see the Veeam configuration occur. All checkmarks must come back green. Finish, and your Cloud Connect repository is ready.
Do I need WAN acceleration?
From Veeam B&R version 7,m at the Enterprise level, you may see an option for WAN acceleration, allowing you to also copy a backup to a non-Cloud Connection repository. This is great if you want to explore some other functionalities, like allowing for remote agents to connect without a VPN and such. You will need to configure the local WAN acceleration. While there needs to be one on the other side too, that won’t be your hassle to set up. Head to:
Backup Infrastructure> WAN Accelerator> Add WAN Accelerator
Open outbound TCP port 6165, and adjust the stream number if you need. This may need some adjustment over time to fit your needs. Select the drive for the cache storage and follow the wizard screens- simple, right? Just be sure you are running a strong enough server to cope with the additional demands, and you should have no further hassles.
What can I use the Cloud Connect repository for?
There are a few functions you can run through the Cloud Connect Repository. Obviously, there is a backup and backup copy. There’s also file copy and restore, for when you need to use your backup, as well as vCloud Director.
Simple and easy, right? Setup should be pretty painless, and you will find the service fully convenient too.
