SnapCenter support for Hyper-V Virtual Machines or replacement for SnapManager for Hyper-V ?

[ZD]

Hi,

Is it possible to backup (snapshot)  Hyper-V virtual machines with SnapCenter server (latest 4.9)  as I did with Snap Manager for Hyper-V?

Is backup of Hyper-V virtual machines even supported? As far as I can see, the SnapCenter plugin for Hyper-V VM does not exist?

Until when is Netapp Snap Manager for Hyper-V supported and what is its replacement?

Regards.

[Ontapforrum · Accepted solution]

As per NetApp kb, "Not at this time. SnapManager for Hyper-V should be used for Hyper-V backup."

Does SnapCenter support Hyper-V VM backup?
https://kb.netapp.com/mgmt/SnapCenter/Does_SnapCenter_support_Hyper-V_VM_backup

On the download page, latest release is - 2.1.4P2, for Ontap compatibility you can visit https://support.netapp.com/matrix

I don't know if there is any replacement for this tool, only NetApp will be able to share this information, I guess until then NetApp will continue to support SnapManager for Hyper-V.

[ZD]

I opened a ticket because the snapshot creation with SnapManager for Hyper-V stopped when I installed the 9.13.1 version of ONTAP.

The answers to me is that SnapManager for Hyper-V is no longer supported and that I should use SnapCenter?

Then I asked them if it's supported because as far as I know it's not and now I'm waiting for an answer, it seems they got a little confused?

It is very strange that they will discontinue the product for backup Hyper-V virtual machines because Windows Server 2022 continues with Hyper-V.  

[Mikkar]

Hi, Did you get any reply from Netapp about Hyper-V support?

[ZD]

Yes the answer is:

The SnapManager version only supports ONTAP till 9.7 and even if it worked with ONTAP 9.12, it may or may not work, because its unsupported configuration. And no option to backup Hyper-V VMs with SnapCenter.
You can please involve your Accounts or internal team to check if they may have to look for a different product if you want to backup those VMs.
Please let me know if you have any further questions and will be happy to assist you.

The words 'different product' is especially upset me:

You can please involve your Accounts or internal team to check if they may have to look for a different product if you want to backup those VMs.

After that I didn't get any positive answer, I solved the problem myself, which turned out to be of a global nature with the ontap version, and snapmanager for hyper-v still works for me...

We bought a new Netapp storage system at the beginning of 2021 to replace the old one, and we expected that we would be able to backup Hyper-V virtual machines as before. Nowhere was it written or indicated that Netapp will remove the backup of Hyper-V virtual machines from support.

Really sad!

[Mikkar]

Confusing since SMHV is supported until 2025 and they claim its supported with 9,12

"The Last qualified ONTAP version is 9.12.1 for both SnapManager Hyper-V and Snap Creator"

https://mysupport.netapp.com/info/communications/ECMLP2884118.html

We are about to upgrade to 9.12 so hopefully it will still work.. Running Hyper-V  cluster (SMB)  ONTAP 9.8. The setup was a nightmare but works really good. 

We have started to check VEEAM with Hyper-V instead but there are issues as well so really dont know which backup vendor that fancy MS anymore.. Time to abandon Hyper-V..?!

https://forums.veeam.com/microsoft-hyper-v-f25/windows-server-2019-hyper-v-vm-i-o-performance-problem-t62112-360.html?sid=e9fbeb5d4307ff3da14c51307b58...

[ZD]

HI, as far as I can see, it was finally published on 12.12.2023. and updated on 19.12.2023. the solution to the problem that caused me to ask for a solution and information about SMHV support: https://kb.netapp.com/Legacy/SnapManager/SnapDrive_for_Windows_fails_to_create_Snapshots_for_LUNs_on_ONTAP_9.13.1

I've been having this problem since the 9th month and moving to version 9.13.1 and it's almost unbelievable that they just released a solution.

So the problem first appeared with the update from version 9.12.1P3 to version 9.13.1 By creating new volumes and switching Hyper-V machines to them, I temporarily solved the problem (all without adding a junction path?) Updating 9.13.1 to version 9.31.1P1 and then 9.13.P1 to version 9.13.P2 went fine and the backup SMHV continued to work properly, but then again now the last update to version 9.13.1P6 broke again and SMHV could not work backup!

Adding junction paths to all volumes included in the SMHV backup finally made everything work as before.

What can I say... Maybe this will help someone.