In the ever-evolving landscape of data management, efficient and secure data archiving is paramount. Geyser Data's Tape-as-a-Service (TaaS) offers a robust and cost-effective solution for long-term data storage. Integrating this solution with Veeam Backup & Replication provides enhanced data protection, security, and scalability. This blog will guide you through configuring Veeam to use Geyser Data as an archive tier, leveraging Glacier APIs or SpectraLogic.
With Veeam Backup & Replication (VBR) v12.1 it is possible to configure Archive Tier to other storage solutions that are Amazon S3 Glacier compatible like GeyserData. The Archive tier is an additional tier of storage that can be attached to a scale-out backup repository (SOBR). You can transport applicable data to the archive tier for archive and cost saving purposes.
The following types of backups files are eligible to be sent to the archive tier:
GFS backups
Orphaned GFS backups
Veeam Backup for Red Hat Virtualization GFS backups
VeeamZip backups
Exported backups
Kasten K10 backups
Why Use Geyser Data with Veeam?
Geyser Data's TaaS offers several benefits:
Cost Efficiency: Lower storage costs compared to traditional cloud solutions.
Data Durability: Long lifespan of tape media ensures data longevity.
Enhanced Security: Air-gapped storage protects against ransomware and cyber threats.
Scalability: Easily scale storage needs without significant capital investments.

Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
A functioning Veeam Backup & Replication setup V12.1 or more.
Access to the Geyser Data web console.
Necessary credentials for accessing the Geyser Data APIs.
Step-by-Step Guide to Configuring Veeam with Geyser Data
Step 1: Setting Up Geyser Data
Create a Cloud Tape Library (CTL):
Log in to the Geyser Data web console.
Navigate to the "Create Cloud Tape Library" screen.
Select the data center for your new tape library, provide a name, and specify the storage capacity in TBs or the number of tape cartridges.
Choose data protection options (single copy or mirrored), encryption, and compression if needed.
Choose Versioning and Object Locking if you would like to use Immutability feature in Veeam
Select Veeam Enabled, this makes your Cloud Tape Library compatible with Veeam Smart Object Storage API (SOSAPI) to be recoginzied as an Archive tier
Click the button to create the tape library. The system will allocate the required number of cartridges and provide a URL for accessing the library via S3/Glacier APIs
Create Veeam enabled Cloud Tape LIbrary

Step 2: Configuring Veeam to Use Geyser Data
Now we can hop into the VBR Console to set up the backup infrastructure to use these new Geyser Data buckets.
From the VBR console select “Add Repository”, choose “Object storage” (note: same steps for Performance and Capacity tiers):


Select S3 Compatible with Data Archiving



Press Next. Check the bucket name in the CTL View screen and copy/paste in the VBR screen

Copy the bucket name from the CTL View screen to the Veeam Bucket screen




Now create a Scaled-out Repository (SOBR) which is required for the Archive Tier.

Within the SOBR wizard you will see the Archive Tier option. When you get to that step you need to enable the Archive Tier for archiving GFS backups via checking the “Archive GFS full backups to object storage” checkbox.



Step 3: Creating Backup Jobs
The next step is to create a new backup job that will use the newly created SOBR so that we can archive some GFS weekly full backups to Geyser Data’s cold storage via our Archive Tier.
Within the job’s configuration settings you can configure the GFS backups for archival purposes. The 1st step is to check the “Keep certain full backups longer for archival purposes”. Then we need to click on the “Configure” button to configure our GFS setting on the pop up window.

Benefits of Using Geyser Data with Veeam
Cost Savings:
Significantly lower storage costs compared to traditional cloud solutions, making it ideal for long-term data retention.
Security:
Air-gapped tape storage provides an extra layer of security against cyber threats.
Scalability:
Easily scale your storage as your data grows without large upfront investments.
Environmental Benefits:
Tape storage consumes less power and produces less e-waste compared to disk-based storage solutions.
By integrating Veeam with Geyser Data, you leverage a powerful, cost-effective, and secure solution for your data archiving needs. The combination of Veeam Backup & Replication v12.1 and Geyser Data Cloud Archive Storage now will allow you to implement an Archive Tier. You get the benefits of storing your GFS backups on “cold” storage while not incurring the costs of retrieving the data back from the Archive Tier as you do with some public cloud solutions.
For more information or to get started, visit Geyser Data and Spectra Logic. Also, refer to Veeam's official documentation for detailed configuration instructions.