Karl Widmer – Page 18 – driftar's Blog

Veeam – Customize your Backup & Replication Console

6. February 2017 by Karl Widmer

Recently i had an “issue” in Veeam Backup & Replication. When i installed the upgrade from Backup & Replication 9.0 to 9.5 it suddenly happened that my console was buggy. The ribbon bar with all all the functions was gone. Well, not really gone, but no more visible. I had to click the menu items to get the ribbon bar back. And after clicking the menu item the ribbon bar disappeared again.

I thought that this has to be an error or bug. So i started with troubleshooting. I reinstalled Veeam Backup & Replication to make sure the installation was good and complete. But that didn’t solve this “issue”. When i was out of ideas i talked to the Twitter community if there is anyone out there which has got an idea on this behaviour, which still seemed to me as a bug or error. But i was wrong. Anton Gostev figured out that there might be the chance that i just accidentally clicked, or in this case misclicked somewhere, so that the ribbon bar will disappear. That brought me to the solution. And to this blog post about customizing your Veeam Backup & Replication console. Thanks Gostev 🙂

Active Directory – Replication issues after promoting new 2012 R2 DC

4. February 2017 by Karl Widmer

This week i’ve set up the first Windows 2012 R2 domain controller at a customer. All worked good and looked fine. But when i had to create two new user accounts i found out that these two accounts weren’t replicated to the new domain controller, i’ve just set up a day erlier, nor to another domain controller in another site. I discovered also that the NTDS settings and replication topology wasn’t complete. The new domain controller had not a single connection to active directory domain services. The customer has two sites which are connected over a leased line. Both sites have their domain controllers. Those new user accounts i’ve created on an existing Windows 2008 R2 domain controller.

After nearly two days of testing and troubleshooting the problem seems to be solved. All domain controllers are replicating and talking with each other domain controllers. When i create a user account it will show up instantly on all other domain controllers. Also the replication topology is now looking good. KCC generated the missing topology now automatically, which wasn’t the case directly after the new domain controller was on duty.

I want to provide you some information about this issue and how i solved it. Probably it will help you solving your Active Directory replication issues. And if not i hope it will be at least something you can check if this patricular thing is ok and help you with troubleshooting.

Veeam – Install & Configure Veeam Agent for Windows Beta (with B&R Repository)

2. February 2017 by Karl Widmer

Today i had a day off in the office because of a national holiday. I used the day to relax a little, and to get some hands on the new Veeam Agent for Windows Beta. I downloaded and installed it on one of my virtual servers in my homelab. This server is a Active Directory Domain Controller, which is located on the physical ESXi host which is providing the lab platform. This virtual server wasn’t backed up until today because i was waiting for the new Veeam Agent for Windows.

Download and Setup of Veeam Agent for Windows

If you’re interested to get hands on this new Veeam Agent for Windows Beta version, go to this website and register. You’ll receive an email with further information how to download this nice piece of software. But be informed, you probably won’t get an email with download information immediately. As it was by me it took a while. I think the mails go out in waves. But stay tuned, it’s worth to wait a day or two 😉

Let’s install the Veeam Agent for Windows now. It’s pretty simple. Download the zip file, extract, double click, next, next, finish. You know the process from Veeam Endpoint Backup FREE already, if you’re using this software. Let’s have a quick look at the process.

Veeam – Becoming a Veeam Vanguard for the first time

31. January 2017 by Karl Widmer

Last year in November i applied for the Veeam Vanguard program. I said to me “come on, give it a try”. I wasn’t absolutely unsure if the people at Veeam will select me as a Vanguard. This program is no certification exam or something you can “learn” for it. You will be hand-picked by the Vanguard team which consists of many specialists in their branch.

This week i received an email from “Rickatron” Rick Vanover, one of the evangelists at Veeam. In this email he wrote that i was selected as a Veeam Vanguard. I literally freaked out!

The first time i’m honored as a Veeam Vanguard. I’m really proud!

What is the Veeam Vanguard program?

I think the following quote from the Veeam Vanguard website will best describe it.

A Veeam Vanguard represents our brand to the highest level in many of the different technology communities in which we engage. These individuals are chosen for their acumen, engagement and style in their activities on and offline.

It’s all about the community. People out there in the IT, bloggers, influencers, partners can apply as a Veeam Vanguard. Those people are pushing the brand “Veeam”, they are curious, keen and eager. Those people want to do more, and they do more. Vanguards are helping other community people with their technical help and expertise. They produce content for the community, forum and blog posts. But not only this. They are active on and offline, talking about things, explaining things to other people.

Veeam – Installing Update 1 for Veeam Backup & Replication 9.5

22. January 2017 by Karl Widmer

First of all: Yes, after installing Update 1 for Veeam Backup & Replication 9.5 you can move on and upgrade to the latest vSphere version. Veeam does now support vSphere 6.5. Why does this guy write a blog post about a simple update you may think. Well, because i can and because probably ~~all~~ most Veeam users waited to upgrade to the latest vSphere version until Veeam releases Update 1.

VMware announced vSphere 6.5 last year at VMworld Europe in Barcelona. This new version comes with plenty of new features (like VM encryption, vCenter Server appliance with integrated update manager etc.) Unfortunately there was no support through Veeam Backup & Replication 9.5 at this time. So it took a while for the programmers and coders to create an update for Veeam Backup & Replication 9.5 and also for testing this new update against the new vSphere version.

Since the 20th of January the new Update 1 for Veeam Backup & Replication 9.5 is now available via Veeam Knowledge Base. This post will be updated when it’s available in the regular download section.

You know it from other Veeam updates, it’s easy as pie. Just few clicks and some minutes later the update is installed. Even if the setup assistant does not prompt for a restart, it’s not a bad idea to do so. During the update installation the Veeam services will be stopped and files are being replaced and updated. So a restart is not a bad idea at all.