Cisco HyperFlex systems snap with Veeam

Virtual backup specialist Veeam Software is treating hyper-converged Cisco HyperFlex systems the same way it treats storage arrays when it comes to snapshots.

Veeam’s direct snapshots will work with the HyperFlex HX Data Platform, which runs on Cisco UCS servers. The Cisco snapshot integration will be part of the Veeam Availability Suite.

Veeam has long supported snapshots for storage arrays, and integrates with arrays from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, NetApp, Nimble Storage and Dell EMC’s VNXe. Customers can run backups directly from Veeam’s Storage Snapshots instead of using VMware VM snapshots. Cisco HyperFlex systems boxes include VMware hypervisors.

“It’s similar to what we’ve done with existing storage arrays,” Veeam VP of product strategy Doug Hazelman said. “The integration is little different because HyperFlex is different than primary storage. Each VM has its own volume on HyperFlex. We don’t need to use VMware snapshots.”

Hazelman said Veeam works closely with most hyper-converged vendors, but Cisco HyperFlex is the first hyper-converged system to integrate with Veeam’s data protection. The vendors have no reseller or formal business partnership, but Veeam VP of alliances Andy Vandeveld said they have many joint channel partners who have requested integration of Veeam technology on Cisco HyperFlex systems.

HyperFlex integration will be included in Veeam Availability Suite 9.5 update 2, which is due by mid-year.