A deep dive into datacenter technologies like virtualization, automation, backup, and networking – bridging the gap between enterprise-grade solutions and practical implementations for SMBs and/or home labs.

Year: 2026

Veeam 13 Part 4 – Adding an ESX or vCenter to VBR

Now that the infrastructure is ready, it’s time to add a backup source. That´s why the next logical step is adding an ESX or vCenter to VBR. Since my VMware homelab is currently undergoing major restructuring, I only have a single ESX server running a few VMs. We’re now backing these up regularly using Veeam Veeam VBR.

It doesn’t matter whether the source is a complete vCenter or just a single ESX server, the procedure is 100% the same.

Veeam 13 Part 3 – Add the Infrastructure Appliance to the VBR server.

In the third part we bring it all together. We add the Infrastructure Appliance to the VBR server. Then we set it up as a hardened repo, which will later on serve as our primary backup target.

In order to create the hardened repo in your VBR appliance, two steps need to be done. First, the newly installed server is added to VBR as a managed server. Then, the actual repository is created, and all properties such as concurrency and immutability are configured.

To do this, we first log in to the web interface of the VBR server.

Veeam 13 Part 2 – Install a Hardened Repo on an HPE Server

In the second part of the Veeam 13 series, I demonstrate how to install a hardened repo on an HPE server using the new infrastructure ISO file from Veeam. Since the system is intended to serve as the primary backup target, I naturally used a dedicated physical server rather than a VM.

Veeam 13 Part 1 – VBR appliance installation

This is the first post of a series that will guide you through in the installation and setup of Veeam 13.
Every good IT infrastructure also needs a good, multi-level backup system. As a vExpert, you not only get VMware by Broadcom licenses for your HomeLab, but you can also obtain an NFR license from Veeam with a one-year term and all features.

Most people are familiar with the 3-2-1 rule for backups, but Veeam now recommends an extended version, the 3-2-1-1-0 rule (https://www.veeam.com/blog/de/321-backup-rule.html).

I have decided to run through the whole thing with Veeam 13 and set up a corresponding environment in my home lab.
I have plans to do the following:

  • A virtual Veeam Backup & Replication Server (VBR) based on the new Linux appliance
  • A physical Veeam Hardened RepoServer to store local backups
  • S3-based cloud storage to store copies of the local backups.

This would fulfill the 3-2-1 rules. I will consider how to cover the additional 1-0 as I go along with the setup.

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