1.2 How this book is designed

This book describes a possible architecture created by a service provider offering Backup Storage as a Service (BaaS) and Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) to its customers using Veeam Cloud Connect in Veeam Backup & Replication v11 GA (Build 11.0.0.837). Higher builds of v11 with applied cumulative patches are also supported in this architecture unless otherwise specified.

This design is not supposed to be the only correct one or the best possible one — it is intended as a reference guide to help service providers to design and deploy their services with Veeam Cloud Connect. Service providers can also architect and deploy other possible designs following their specific requirements and business objectives.

Veeam recommends that service providers always use the latest version; the software allows for backward compatibility and you can alway check which versions are supported in the User Guide: https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backup/cloud/cloud_connect_versions.html?ver=110

As a recap, Cloud Connect v11 is compatible with the following versions of Veeam products running on the tenant side:

• Veeam Backup & Replication 9.5 Update 4b (build 9.5.4.2866) and later
• Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows 4.0 (build 4.0.0.1811) and later
• Veeam Agent for Linux 4.0 (build 4.0.0.1961) and later
• Veeam Agent for Mac 1.0 (build 1.0.0.713) and later

The VBR installation on the service provider side must be at least at the same version as the connecting customer’s, even in terms of minor updates. Because of this, Veeam invites service providers to install any update as soon as it is available.

This book is account of an Architect working at a service provider starting a journey in the creation of Veeam Cloud Connect services. The book first covers the different components available in Veeam Cloud Connect, characteristics of the components and how to use them.

Then, the book covers designing Backup as a Service and illustrates all the needed components, suggested configurations and tips to make the design a successful solution.

Later, the book outlines the design for a Disaster Recovery as a Service environment, using VMware vSphere and vCloud Director as the virtualized platform. Again, all the different components and configurations will be explained in detail from the viewpoint of a service provider willing to deploy Veeam Cloud Connect.

In the Appendixes, you will find additional specific information about more technical topics.

Terms and abbreviations

Along the book, you will find different acronyms and abbreviations. Here you can find a map to better understand what they mean:

VM: Virtual machine

BaaS: Backup as a Service, as related to Veeam Cloud Connect backup services

DRaaS: Disaster Recovery as a Service, as related to Veeam Cloud Connect replication services

VBR: The Veeam Backup & Replication server

NEA: Network extension appliance, the virtual appliance deployed by Veeam to manage networking for DRaaS

SOBR: (Veeam) Scale-Out Backup Repository