How to setup Sangfor HCI backup over storage network?

If your Sangfor HCI has existing storage network, you could choose to run VM backups over storage network, this can eliminate the impact on production network during the backup process.

To setup Sangfor HCI backup over storage network, it only requires Vinchin backup server has 2 network interfaces. One of the network interfaces connects to the management network, the other connects to the storage network.

For detailed configurations, please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Network connection

Make sure there are at least 2 network interface cards on the Vinchin Backup Server. One of the network interface cards connected to the management network, another connected to the storage network.

Warning

If your Vinchin Backup Server is already licensed, adding new network interface card to the server will invalid the license. If you have to do so, please contact Vinchin support before you proceed.

Step 2: Install Vinchin backup plugin for Sangfor HCI

Download Vinchin backup plugin for Sangfor HCI from the login screen of Vinchin backup server web console. By clicking on the Download Backup Plugin and then select the Sagnfor HCI version to download.

Upload the downloaded backup plugin installation file to each of the Sangfor HCI hosts, then run the below commands from each of the Sangfor HCI hosts’ CLI to install.

In the above command, where “6.0.0-10468” should be the actual version number of the backup plugin you downloaded.

Step 3: Change Vinchin backup plugin listening IP

Edit Vinchin backup plugin config file from Sangfor HCI host CLI by using below command.

Modify the listening IP of the backup plugin from 0.0.0.0 to the IP of the Sangfor HCI host network interface which is connected to the storage network.

For example, the Sanfor HCI host got an IP 172.16.0.100 which is connected to management network, another IP 10.10.10.100 which is connected to storage network, please change the listening IP to 10.10.10.100.

There’s another copy of the conf file needs to be modified the same way. Please use below command the edit the other copy of the file.

The above modifications of backup plugin conf files should be done on all the Sangfor HCI hosts, and the listening IP should be corresponding to each of the Sangfor HCI hosts’ storage network IP respectively.

Step 4: Restart the backup plugin services

Restart Vinchin backup plugin services for Sangfor HCI using the command below.

Step 5: Restore Sangfor HCI host firewall

Restart Sangfor HCI host firewall using the command below.

Step 6: Add Sangfor HCI to Vinchin backup server

Open Vinchin backup server web console, add Sangfor HCI to Vinchin backup server under Resources > Virtual Infrastructure.

Please add Sangfor HCI by using the cluster virtual IP and super admin user credentials of the Sangfor HCI.

If you are running Sangfor HCI 6.3 or newer version, please enable SSH port from Sangfor HCI web GUI on the System > Port Management page. And if you had enabled “Allow SSH Access by IP Address” option, please add Vinchin backup server’s IP address into the IP Address list at the bottom of this page. Otherwise Vinchin will fail to back up the UEFI boot mode VMs.

Step 7: Create VM backup job

Create a VM backup job under VM Backup > Backup, follow the New Backup Job wizard to complete the job settings.

In the 3^rd step – Backup Strategy, under Transmission Strategy tab, please select LAN in the Transfer via dropdown list.

With the above configurations, the VM backups will be transferred through the storage network.