How to exclude files in VDC self-service Veeam backups

You may want to exclude certain files or folders from your backups. It's possible with our self-service veeam plugin for VDC. 

If you want to backup your entire vAPP/VM you can ignore this guide and simply set up your backup as described in this guide: HERE.

Prerequisites:

• File Exclusions only work for Windows Guest Operating Systems. File exclusions are NOT supported on Linux Guest Operating Systems at this time.
• One or more vAPPS running inside your VDC.
• Up-to-date VMware tools running inside the vAPPs you wish to setup exclusions on OR A working Veeam guest interaction proxy inside your VDC which has access to the private network that your other vAPPs run on. This is so that it can perform application-aware processing and index the filesystem of the vAPP before the backup runs.
  Veeam KB on Guest OS Credentials test: https://www.veeam.com/kb1788
  Details on guest interaction proxies here: https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backup/vsphere/guest_interaction_proxy.html?ver=120
  If you can't install VMware tools inside the VMs you are backing up, and don't have a guest interaction proxy set up, please contact Servers Australia technical support and request one to be setup in your environment. Note that there will be licensing costs for running Windows vAPPs inside a VDC. 
• RDP (Windows) access must be allowed in your virtual machines' firewall, from your guest interaction proxy if you're using one.

While creating or editing a backup job (guide HERE), you'll need to enable application-aware processing.

Set Up Application-Aware Processing

1. Enable application-aware processing.

2. Click 'Customize Application'

On the next page it will show all the vAPPs that are being backed up by the current job. For each one you can set excludes.

1. Click on the vAPP you want to set the excludes on.

2. Click Edit.

This will open the processing settings dialog.

1. In the top menu, select 'File Exclusions'.

2. Click 'Exclude the following files and folders:'

3. Click 'Add'.

Type the path to the folder you want to exclude, then click OK.

Enter the Guest OS Credentials

Next, you'll need to enter the Guest OS credentials for the Virtual machine that's being backed up. 

1. Click 'Add'.

Now choose the type of account you can provide. In this example we'll use a linux SSH account.

Enter the root (Linux) or Administrator (Windows) credentials for Veeam to interact with the VM. 

Don't worry about the SSH port setting for Linux, unless you're using a guest interaction proxy.

Click OK and continue with the job creation wizard to complete the setup.

If your job fails to complete after enabling these settings, please contact Servers Australia support and we can check further for you.