7 Best VMware Backup Tools

VMware is the market-leading virtualization provider. Its products hold both the number one and number two slots in terms of the number of companies using virtualizations. These are vSphere with an 11.7 percent market share and ESX Server with an 11.22 percent share. Microsoft Hyper-V is in the number three position with 10.68 percent of the market.

There are two terms related to VMware – “virtualization” and “hypervisor.” While virtualization refers to the concept, a hypervisor is a software that creates virtual machines. Effectively, the two terms are interchangeable.

Here is our list of the seven best VMware backup tools.

N-able Backup EDITOR’S CHOICE A SaaS platform useful for MSPs and IT Operations departments that can entire backup servers or VMware vSphere implementations. Backups occur locally and on cloud storage, which is included in the plan.
Nakivo Backup and Replication This is on-premises software that includes ransomware protection features and backup service, and it has specialized processes for VMware. It runs on Windows and Windows Server.
Veeam Backup & Replication This is part of the Veeam system management stack, but it can be taken as a standalone service. Although it is a cloud-based service, you can get an on-premises version for installation on Windows Server.
Acronis Cyber Backup This cloud-based system offers a range of backup options, including backups for VMware vSphere. In addition, the service can be used to migrate to a new site or platform.
Altaro VM Backup This backup service specializes in virtualizations, specifically those constructed with VMware and Hyper-V. This is on-premises software that runs as a virtual appliance for VMware.
Vembu BDR Suite A backup service for systems or applications that includes a service for VMware backups. Available for Windows, Windows, Server, and Ubuntu Linux.
Iperius Backup this system can back up VMware and Hyper-V virtualizations and productivity suites, databases, and entire disks. It runs on Windows and Windows Server.

Backing up virtualizations is a flexible concept because all the hypervisor has is a mapping between an imagined architecture and the real, physical, underlying system. When you back up systems, you need to copy all of the data that the system uses. It isn’t usual to copy software because that is usually available on disks or through downloads. However, reinstalling software usually loses its settings. In addition, the configuration of a hypervisor can take a lot of work to set up, so having to go through the whole process again if a physical server gets damaged and needs to be replaced can be very time-consuming.

Backing up VMware

Backing up VMware can mean two things – copying over its configuration or extracting all of the data contained within the system represented by the hypervisor. Of course, you will need to backup all of your data anyway, so you can do that within the structure that the hypervisor creates or get under the VMware software and just take a snapshot of the entire disk.

Another complication when looking into VMware backup services is that some declare that they back up the virtual servers. In contrast, others say they backup the entire hypervisor. Of course, In reality, no one would just want to copy the server and leave out the virtual switches and VM mapping – so effectively, systems that say they only copy the server really also save the structure of the entire hypervisor. However, don’t expect the backup tool to copy over the VMware software package in all cases.

The best VMware backup tools

When looking into a really good backup system for VMware you need to adapt your search according to your current system and personal architecture preferences. In other words, you will probably prefer to have on-premises software or a cloud service. Similarly, if you already have your own cloud storage server contract sorted out, you will probably want to use that. Otherwise, you might prefer to find a system that has cloud storage included in the plan.

What should you look for in a VMware backup tool?

We reviewed the market for systems to backup VMWare and analyzed the options based on the following criteria:

A service that can backup vSphere and ESX
Options to extract a VMware implementation configuration
Options to store an entire disk snapshot, taking VMware data with it
A system that includes an easy recovery service
Options to plug in third-party storage services
A demo system or a free trial for a no-cost assessment opportunity
Value for money, represented by a thorough and reliable service at a fair price

With this set of criteria in mind, we have identified several options for VMware backup and recovery systems with different implementation strategies.

You can read more about each of these options in the following sections.

1. N-able Backup

N-Able Backup is a SaaS package designed for use by managed service providers, but it could also be used by the IT operations department of a multi-site business. The configuration of the tool ensures that the data of an MSP’s clients are kept separate. In addition, the N-able package includes cloud storage space for backups.

The console of N-able Backup includes a list of backup options that allow you to select which systems to back up. This can be an entire server or specific applications. VMware vSphere is one of those applications that can be backed up.

Backups are created locally and also onto the cloud storage. The transfers and the remote storage are protected by 256-bit AES encryption. The administrator console allows the creation of multiple user accounts. It can grant different access rights to each performance, and user activity is logged for extra security.

The service takes the whole hypervisor structure, including the virtual machines. The system also takes working data in the context of the hypervisor structure. There are several strategies available from N-able Backup, but the default is an incremental backup.

In both backup and recovery, this system uses deduplication and compression to speed up transfers. In addition, it is possible to use the backup to migrate or replicate your system, letting the VMware structure mask changes in the underlying architecture.

Pros:

Choice of server or virtualization backup
It backs up the entire hypervisor
Option to use the backup for migration
Creates local and cloud copies
Cloud storage space included

Cons:

No on-premises version

N-able backup is a subscription service that is available for a 30-day free trial.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

N-able Backup is our top pick for a VMware backup service because it gives you the option to backup your whole server with the hypervisor on it or backup the system through virtualization. Server backups can copy over disks running Windows Server and Linux. You get a local backup store as well as a cloud store on provided space. This system is fully protected y encryption and offers speedy transfers.

Get a 30-day free trial: n-able.com/products/backup/trial

Operating system: Cloud-based

2. Nakivo Backup and Replication

Nakivo Backup & Replication covers EXSi and vCenter-managed systems. In addition, this provider has a range of other backup service options, so it is possible to combine a backup service for several applications, including databases, Active Directory, and Microsoft Office. The system will also entire backup servers running Windows Server and Linux, and it can backup cloud accounts on Azure and AWS. Hyper-V and Nutanix systems can also be backed up with Nakivo.

The Nakivo system is based around incremental backups, but it is possible to set up periodic, scheduled full backups to reset the update cycle or demand it manually. You decide where the backup files are to be stored. Nakivo doesn’t include cloud storage space in its service, but you can choose a third-party storage package and attach its location and credentials in the settings of the Nakivo system.

The backup service can be used for recovery to the original location, but it can also migrate to a new site. This is a valuable option to deal with environmental damage that knocks out the company’s premises. With this service, you can get set up on a new site quickly.

Pros:

Choose between application backup or entire server backup
Backup service for on-premises systems or cloud platforms
Hypervisor backups for VMware , Hyper-V, and Nutanix

Cons:

You need to host the software on your server

Nakivo is an on-premises software package installed on Windows, Windows Server, or RHEL, Ubuntu, SLES, or CentOS Linux. The package runs as a virtual appliance with its bespoke hypervisor. Nakivo is available for a 15-day free trial.

3. Veeam Backup & Replication

Veeam Backup & Replication is a cloud-based service integrated with other Veeam system management products or as a standalone package. As a cloud-based system, Veeam isn’t restricted by location, so it can backup VMware operating on any of your sites, and it also has cloud virtualization capabilities. As well as VMware, the hypervisor backup service can handle Hyper-V implementations.

The Veeam backup system can back up entire servers down to the operating system or bare metal. In addition, it can backup NAS clusters and other storage systems. The service has options for backing up applications other than virtualizations.

A VMware backup can be implemented for VMware vSphere 5.5, vSphere 6.x, and vSphere 7.0. As well as recovery, a Veeam backup of VMware can be used for migration to other sites or platforms. The recovery service is called Instant VM Recovery. It selects a server and then restores all of its infrastructures simultaneously with a multi-threaded architecture.

Pros:

A choice of cloud and on-premises configurations
Back up VMware and Hyper-V plus other applications
Option for whole server backups

Cons:

Can get expensive

Suppose you prefer to run all of your system management software on your server. In that case, it is possible to get the Veeam Backup & Replication system as a software package for installation on Windows Server. Veeam Backup & Replication is available for a 30-day free trial.

4. Acronis Cyber Backup

Acronis Cyber Backup is a cloud-based service that backs up both on-premises and cloud environments. As well as whole server backups, the Acronis system includes specialist services to protect applications, including virtualizations.

The hypervisor backup service of Acronis Cyber Backup is compatible with VMware vSphere. In addition, flavors are available to back up Hyper-V, Citrix Xen, Red Hat Virtualization, KVM, and Oracle VM.

Acronis works on an incremental backup schedule, but you can mix in periodic full backups. The system will create a local copy and backup to cloud storage – 250 GB of space on the Acronis service. The backup can also be used for migration.

Acronis Cyber Backup is packaged per server or application. Therefore, you would take out different services for each application. However, the full complement can all be accessed from one console. The VMware backup service fee is levied per virtual server with no limit to the number of VMs on each.

Pros:

A menu of backup services
It can be used for migration as well as recovery
Charged per server with unlimited VMs

Cons:

It would be nice to have a single package instead of a menu of backup services

There is a more complete version of this service that includes malware protection, called Acronis Cyber Protect. Acronis Cyber Backup is available for a 30-day free trial.

5. Altaro VM Backup

Altaro VM Backup is available in flavors for backing up VMware and Hyper-V virtualizations. The strategy of this package starts with a full extract and then incremental backups. The default operations of this backup system don’t occupy much processing power and can be left running continuously as a background process.

This on-premises package is not limited to one site. It can operate over a network and across the internet to many backup servers on multiple locations in the same account. In addition, its backup can replicate or migrate VMware implementations. There is also a multi-tenanted version of Altaro VM Backup for MSPs.

Altaro stores a backup locally and will then upload it to a cloud server. There is no cloud storage service included with this system, but you can integrate it with storage from Microsoft Azure, Amazon S3, or Wasabi. It is also possible to send a backup file to one of your remote sites.

Pros:

Virtualization backup for VMware or Hyper-V
Backup multiple sites
Store backups locally plus on a cloud server

Cons:

No SaaS option

The VMware version of Altaro VM Backup installs on top of the VMware hypervisor. The Hyper-V version runs directly on Windows Server or on Azure for a hyper-converged configuration. Altaro VM Backup is available for a 30-day free trial.

6. Vembu BDR Suite

Vembu has created a very flexible package in its BDR Suite because the service is available in free and paid versions, and it can be used on a cloud platform and your site.

BDR is Backup and Disaster Recovery. The package has specialized capabilities for backing up applications, and it can also be used for entire backup servers. The applications that can be protected with this service include VMware. There are also special modules to backup Hyper-V, Office 365, and G-Suite. In addition, the service can entire backup systems running Windows, Windows Server, Linux, or macOS, and it can backup an AWS EC2 or an Azure account.

The flexibility of Vembu extends to how you configure the system. You can store a backup locally, on a remote server, or a Cloud account. You can also select several locations for backups, duplicating your continuity security. Cloud storage space isn’t included in the Vembu package, so keeping your backups is up to you.

Pros:

Flexible service with a range of possible configurations
Server-level or application-specific backups
AES-256 encryption for transfer and storage protection

Cons:

Storage space not included

The free version of the Vembu BDR Suite is restricted to backing up 10 VMs. Otherwise, that package offers the same utilities as the paid version. In addition, you need to install software on a server on your network to back up a local device. That service is available for Windows Server and Ubuntu Linux. Vembu BDR Standard is available for a 30-day free trial.

7. Iperius Backup

Iperius Backup offers disk image backup, block-level copying, and application-specific backups. The applications that this system protects include VMware systems. It can be used for ESXi Free, ESXi, and vCenter-based systems. The service can also back up Hyper-V. Other applications that can be backed up with Iperius include databases and Microsoft 365.

The Iperius Backup system works on an incremental strategy after taking an initial full backup. You can set up a schedule that includes a periodic full backup or create a full backup on demand. If you want to opt for server backup, the copy will take your VMware data with it. As a result, VMware backups can be used for replication or migration – even onto a different system architecture.

Choose to backup locally, on the cloud, or both. Storage space is not included in the plans, but Iperius does offer cloud storage space on a separate subscription. Other benefits of the Iperius service include the Iperius Recovery Environment, which can reassemble lost files in damaged operating systems. Backup and recovery transfers are compressed for speed and encrypted for safety.