Looking for Backup Advice for a Small Business Physical Servers
Hello Reddit, I have three physical servers: two running Server 2022 and one running Server 2016. The 2016 server is our file server and runs one VM, while the other two servers run four VMs total. Right now, I use Windows Server Backup and rotate three…
Hello Reddit, I have three physical servers: two running Server 2022 and one running Server 2016. The 2016 server is our file server and runs one VM, while the other two servers run four VMs total. Right now, I use Windows Server Backup and rotate three external USB hard drives for each server, keeping one connected and the others offline. Which can be a pain since windows server backup is not stable. Veeam seems to focus mainly on backing up the VMs rather than the physical hosts. We’re a small business and don’t need anything overly complicated just a reliable way to back up both the physical servers and VMs. What setup would you recommend?
Collected discussion
Synology’s active backup for business would handle this. It’s what I would recommend my customers use in a situation like this. You can use multiple backup apps within the single storage platform and even replicate it to a cloud for low cost. Otherwise, work with an MSP who can handle Veeam easily. They can backup the servers and VMs. I’d plug mine here but I don’t need to be that guy ;).
This is my go to
Also, you don't have a backup until you have restored it.
Funny enough, a disconnected USB drive isn't the worst strategy for ransomware.
Where's your offsite backup ? Or do you take one of the drives to a second location (like a bank deposit box) each time?
This. Always 3-2-1. And make sure you go to a cloud or secure offsite storage. The number of recoveries I’ve been involved in with “well we had a harddrive attached….”
Seconded.
Veeam has Agent that can facilitate backup for any physical machine its on. You Just need to figure out licensing tier. Its not complicated And its reliable.
Thirded
How much data are you looking to back up, and do you want data or system images?
This. And use the immutable option as well on the snapshots of active backup for business
We have two physical server that run a handful of VMs - both Windows Server DCs and some linux stuff. I back all of them up with Synology's Active Backup nightly, then that backup folder is backed up to an external SSD which I rotate out every week One backup SSD always stays offsite. I know it's a method that's almost laughed at by "real" "serious" sysadmins, but for the cost of a NAS every 5 years and two external SSDs, it really can't be beat.
No one has asked if OP is an IT person and if not, they need referred to one. Asking "we just need to backup the physical hosts and vms" is the giveaway because you could backup both the same way AND you don't need to backup the hosts. Everyone is rushing to give OP product options but hasn't considered that OP doesn't really get the architecture theory and so designing backups without that is dangerous at worst and shaky at best.
VEEAM has a Windows Agent that can do physical servers as well. Works great, it’s how we do our DCs (they’re all still physical).
We are moving our physical backups to Slide. It’s excellent.
What setup would you recommend? I'd recommend you hire an IT professional and setup your environment correctly. It'll make solving this problem easier, and you can ask them for recommendations.
Cove backup plus a nas. Cloud and local backups
How you dodged ransomware in this sort of configuration is borderline a mystery. 3 possible days of retention is crazy in 2026. Veeam is free at your size. I’d use a 2-bay SATA NAS and a storage account at Wasabi . It’s pretty easy to slap 2x 20TB drives in a mirror. Most mediocre units still support immutability of some variety. Veeam can backup VMs and bare metal alike. And then I’d get that 2016 server upgraded, migrated, or replaced.
Why would you need to backup the physical host? Everything should be running on a VM besides the hypervisor controller. The true answer is Veeam, or another cloud-backup service. Remeber the 3-2-1 rule. 3 copies of data (1 running, 2 backups) 2 backup 1 backup, is off-site.
I am working on a VM backup provider, it's not applicable to you directly, but please do an off-site backup (like S3 with object lock) It may be the difference between a shitty week and going out of business, and I am not kidding
I use Veeam to backup all my VMs on a scheduled and incremental basis. I also have synology. I plan on implementing a cloud backup soloution but these are solid starts versus just using a flash drive.
Veeam is perfectly capable of doing both vm backups and bare metal using their agent. I’d go with that.
Datto used to be a great option, not sure how they stack up anymore. Would likely need an MSP or distributor to get one though. Was very much plug and play.
Veeam seems to focus mainly on backing up the VMs rather than the physical hosts. We’re a small business and don’t need anything overly complicated just a reliable way to back up both the physical servers and VMs. Even if you literally only have a need for one OSE for a physical host, there's no reason nowadays not to run it as a VM. In fact, you get two OSEs per Server Standard license set. So set up all of your future servers as hypervisors; ease of backup and restoration is one of the reasons for this. Presumably you're about to replace the 2016 server so the timing is good.
I would recommend Veeam. For what you have you can run the free community edition. But I am confused on your setup. Is the 2016 physical server running one VM which is your file server that is also 2016. Are any of the physical servers running and business applications or just used to host VMs? Side note I would start looking into replacing the 2016 server soon.