SIRIS Virtual Deployment on VMware vSphere

Topic

This article describes the process to deploy a virtual SIRIS device onto a VMware host.

Environment

  • Datto Virtual SIRIS

Description

NOTE  Before deploying your virtual appliance, review Unified Backup Networking Requirements. Make sure that your virtual appliance has all of the necessary access to communicate with the Datto Cloud.

Procedure

Virtual Datto appliances need at least two virtual disks: a 30GB disk containing the appliance's operating system, and a storage disk equal to the size of the appliance that was purchased. These virtual disks can live on the same datastore, or can be placed on separate datastores. You can create a new datastore, or use an existing one with sufficient space. This articles guides you through the creation of a single datastore to hold both the 30 GB appliance disk and the storage disk.

Download the OVA file for the SIRIS Virtual deployment on VMware vShpere, from downloads.datto.com.

Follow these steps to perform the datastore provisioning in VMware:

  1. Open the vSphere Client, and sign into the ESXi host or vCenter server.

  2. Click on the ESXi host's Configuration tab, and click the Storage link on the left side of the page. Then, click Add Storage...

  3. In the Select Storage Type dialog box, choose Disk/LUN, and then click Next.

  4. Choose the Disk/LUN to use for the datastore. It can be a LUN from a SAN or a local disk on the ESXi host. Then, click Next.

  5. Set the file system version to VMFS-5.

  6. You will see the Current Disk Layout. Verify that the information is correct and the proper disk has been selected. Then, click Next.

  7. Give the datastore a name, and click Next.

  8. For the Capacity, choose the size of the datastore. Then, click Next.

  1. In the vSphere Client, click on the File menu, and choose Deploy OVF Template...

  2. Browse to the location where the virtualSiris.ova image was downloaded. Click Next.

  1. It will display details for the OVF Template. Click Next.

  2. Give a name to the new Siris virtual machine. Click Next.

  1. Choose the Resource Pool for the datastore. Cick Next.

  1. For Storage, select the datastore. Click Next.

  1. For the Disk Format, select Thick Provisioned for the 30 GB virtual disk that will hold the SIRIS operating system. Click Next.

    NOTE  For optimal performance of your virtual appliance, we recommend that you use Thick Provision for your virtual disks.

  1. Under Network Mapping, map the network in the OVF template to one of your networks. Be sure that the network choosen meets Datto's Networking Requirements.

  2. Review the Deployment Settings. Make sure that Power on after deployment is unchecked, then click Finish. The deployment will take several minutes to complete.

  1. It will display a confirmation when complete. Click Close to complete the deployment.

    NOTE  If hybrid virtualizations are not communicating to the local LAN, but are communicating with the virtual Datto device, you may need to enable promiscuous mode and forged transmits on the vSwitch.

  1. Right-click the virtual machine, and click Edit Settings.

  2. Select Memory, and enter at least 8GB (8192 MB) of memory for the virtual machine to use.

  3. Select CPU, and set the number of CPUs and cores per socket as needed.

  4. Select New Hard disk, and configure the following options.

    • Disk Size: Set this option equal to the size of the virtual appliance that you purchased.
    • Location: Use the Browse... button to select the datastore or location that VMWare will store the disk.
    • Disk Provisioning: Select Thick Provision and eagerly zeroed.

  5. Click Save to save all changes made in the Edit Settings window.

  6. In VMWare, right-click your virtual machine, select Power, and then select Power On.

  7. Once the virtual appliance powers on, you may see the GRUB boot manager. Select the first option, and press Enter.

  8. After the virtual machine fully boots, the Device Registration process will begin. Follow all steps in the How to register a Datto backup appliance article to continue.