ESXpress Backup - Target Groups

I created a extra de-duplication target for ESxpress yesterday thinking that the system would balance the load between the two. In fact, it doesn't do this at all. It simply uses it as an overflow when the first target is full, or if it becomes unavailable.

Instead I have now targetted the first two ESX servers to one de-dup unit and the second two to the other, thus spreading the load manually.

If you're thinking of getting a backup solution for ESX, this seems as good as any, by the way. The restore is quick, easy and reliable and in normal service you can just leave it to get on with the backups every night, without interference. It doesn't have some of the advanced config options of a more fancy solution, but it's great if you just want something to backup reliably, and always restore OK.

Incidentally, don't shut the DeDup appliance down with a power off command from ESX - always do a proper linux shutdown or the appliance will want to scan the backup disk at next bootup - this took SIX HOURS this weekend for a full 2TB disk.