The capability to protect NFS and SMB Shares on file level was one of the most wanted features of Veeam Availability Suite v10. With prior versions, you only had the option of NDMP Backup to Tape. The NAS Backup feature is designed for a large scale and wide compatibility. In my opinion, there is currently only a small problem with using this new feature: There is no integration like vCenter or VMM available that auto-protects all new shares in Veeam Backup & Replication. To make sure all new NetApp exports are backed up, I have created a PowerShell Function to automatically Protect new NetApp NFS Exports with Veeam.
The PowerShell Function creates a new NetApp Volume on an existing Aggregate, Storage Virtual Machine (SVM) and Ethernet Interface. The root of the new Volume will be exported to the given IP under usage of the given export policy name. if the export policy already exists, the IP will be added as a new rule. On the Veeam Backup & Replication Server, a Backup Repository for Backup Files and the Cache needs to be available. All these pre-requirements are gathered as a Dynamic ValidateSet in a Dynamic Parameter to simplify the input.

I have adopted the “Dynamic ValidateSet in a Dynamic Parameter” part from an older project: Create VMware vSphere NetApp NFS Volume
New-VeeamNetappVolume Example
New-VeeamNetappVolume -NFS -IP 10.0.2.16 -ExportPolicyName veeam -VolName vol_nfs_03 -VolSize 1 -VeeamCacheRepo 'Default Backup Repository' -NetAppAggregate aggr1_data01 -NetAppVserver svm_veeam_nfs -NetAppInterface svm_veeam_nfs_nfs_lif1 -NetAppSnapshotPolicy default



Demo of the full process
This video will show how the New-VeeamNetappVolume PowerShell Function will automatically Protect new NetApp NFS Exports with Veeam. Once with and once without a new Veeam Backup Job.
PowerShell Function
The New-VeeamNetappVolume Function is currently the only exported Function of the module.
Parameter | Set | Description |
---|---|---|
[Switch] NFS | NFS | NFS Export will be created |
[Switch] SMB | SMB | SMB Share will be created |
[Switch] CreateBackupJob | – | Backup Job will be created |
[IP Address] IP | NFS | Client IP for the NFS Export (Backup Proxy) |
[String] ExportPolicyName | NFS | Name of the Export Policy |
[String] VolName | – | Name of the new Volume |
[Integer] VolSize | – | Size of the new Volume in GB |
[String] VeeamBackupRepo | – | The Veeam Backup Repo Name |
[String] VeeamCacheRepo | – | The Veeam Cache Repo Name |
[String] NetAppAggregateName | – | Name of the Aggregate where the Volume is created |
[String] NetAppVserverName | – | Name of the SVM where the Volume is created |
[String] NetAppInterfaceName | – | Name of the Interface that should be used for the mount |
[String] NetAppSnapshotPolicy | Name of the Snapshot Policy for the Volume |
function New-VeeamNetappVolume { <# .DESCRIPTION Creates a new a NetApp Volume and adds it to Veeam Configuration as a NAS Backup Job. .NOTES File Name : New-VeeamNetappVolume.psm1 Author : Markus Kraus Version : 0.3 State : Dev .LINK https://mycloudrevolution.com/ .EXAMPLE New-VeeamNetappVolume -NFS -IP 10.0.2.16 -ExportPolicyName veeam -VolName vol_nfs_01 -VolSize 1 -VeeamCacheRepo 'Default Backup Repository' -NetAppAggregate aggr1_data01 -NetAppVserver svm_veeam_nfs -NetAppInterface svm_veeam_nfs_nfs_lif1 -NetAppSnapshotPolicy default .EXAMPLE New-VeeamNetappVolume -NFS -IP 10.0.2.16 -ExportPolicyName veeam -VolName vol_nfs_01 -VolSize 1 -CreateBackupJob -VeeamBackupRepo 'Default Backup Repository' -VeeamCacheRepo 'Default Backup Repository' -NetAppAggregate aggr1_data01 -NetAppVserver svm_veeam_nfs -NetAppInterface svm_veeam_nfs_nfs_lif1 -NetAppSnapshotPolicy default .PARAMETER CreateBackupJob Create a Backup Job fot the New NAS Server .PARAMETER NFS NFS Volume .PARAMETER SMB SMB Volume .PARAMETER IP IP for the NFS Export .PARAMETER VolName Name of the new Volume .PARAMETER VolSize Size of the new Volume in GB .PARAMETER VeeamBackupRepo The Veeam Backup Repo Name .PARAMETER NetAppAggregateName Name of the Aggregate where the Volume is created .PARAMETER NetAppVserverName Name of the SVM where the Volume is created .PARAMETER NetAppInterfaceName Name of the Interface that should be used for the mount .PARAMETER VeeamCacheRepo The Veeam Cache Repo Name #> [CmdletBinding()] Param ( [Parameter(Mandatory=$False, ValueFromPipeline=$False, HelpMessage="Create Backup Job")] [ValidateNotNullorEmpty()] [Switch]$CreateBackupJob, [Parameter(Mandatory=$True, ValueFromPipeline=$False, HelpMessage="NFS Volume", ParameterSetName="NFS")] [ValidateNotNullorEmpty()] [Switch]$NFS, [Parameter(Mandatory=$True, ValueFromPipeline=$False, HelpMessage="SMB Volume", ParameterSetName="SMB")] [ValidateNotNullorEmpty()] [Switch]$SMB, [Parameter(Mandatory=$True, ValueFromPipeline=$False, HelpMessage="IP for the NFS Export", ParameterSetName="NFS")] [ValidateNotNullorEmpty()] [ipaddress]$IP, [Parameter(Mandatory=$True, ValueFromPipeline=$False, HelpMessage="Name of the Export Policy", ParameterSetName="NFS")] [ValidateNotNullorEmpty()] [String]$ExportPolicyName, [Parameter(Mandatory=$True, ValueFromPipeline=$False, HelpMessage="Name of the new Volume")] [ValidateNotNullorEmpty()] [String]$VolName, [Parameter(Mandatory=$True, ValueFromPipeline=$False, HelpMessage="Size of the new Volume in GB")] [ValidateNotNullorEmpty()] [int]$VolSize ) DynamicParam { # Verification Test-NetappConnection Test-VeeamConnection # Veeam Cache Repo $VeeamCacheRepoName = 'VeeamCacheRepo' $VeeamCacheRepoAttributeProperty = @{ Mandatory = $true; ValueFromPipeline = $False; HelpMessage = 'The Veeam Cache Repo Name' } $VeeamCacheRepoAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ParameterAttribute -Property $VeeamCacheRepoAttributeProperty $VeeamCacheRepoValidateSet = Get-VBRBackupRepository | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Name $VeeamCacheRepoValidateSetAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ValidateSetAttribute($VeeamCacheRepoValidateSet) $VeeamCacheRepoAttributeCollection = New-Object System.Collections.ObjectModel.Collection[System.Attribute] $VeeamCacheRepoAttributeCollection.Add($VeeamCacheRepoAttribute) $VeeamCacheRepoAttributeCollection.Add($VeeamCacheRepoValidateSetAttribute) $VeeamCacheRepoRuntimeParameter = New-Object System.Management.Automation.RuntimeDefinedParameter($VeeamCacheRepoName, [string], $VeeamCacheRepoAttributeCollection) # Veeam Backup Repo $VeeamBackupRepoName = 'VeeamBackupRepo' $VeeamBackupRepoAttributeProperty = @{ Mandatory = $false; ValueFromPipeline = $False; HelpMessage = 'The Veeam Backup Repo Name' } $VeeamBackupRepoAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ParameterAttribute -Property $VeeamBackupRepoAttributeProperty $VeeamBackupRepoValidateSet = Get-VBRBackupRepository | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Name $VeeamBackupRepoValidateSetAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ValidateSetAttribute($VeeamBackupRepoValidateSet) $VeeamBackupRepoAttributeCollection = New-Object System.Collections.ObjectModel.Collection[System.Attribute] $VeeamBackupRepoAttributeCollection.Add($VeeamBackupRepoAttribute) $VeeamBackupRepoAttributeCollection.Add($VeeamBackupRepoValidateSetAttribute) $VeeamBackupRepoRuntimeParameter = New-Object System.Management.Automation.RuntimeDefinedParameter($VeeamBackupRepoName, [string], $VeeamBackupRepoAttributeCollection) # NetApp vServer parameter $NetAppVserverName = 'NetAppVserver' $NetAppVserverAttributeProperty = @{ Mandatory = $true; ValueFromPipeline = $False; HelpMessage = 'The NetApp Vserver Name' } $NetAppVserverAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ParameterAttribute -Property $NetAppVserverAttributeProperty $NetAppVserverValidateSet = (Get-NcVserver).where({$_.VserverType -eq "data"}) | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Vserver $NetAppVserverValidateSetAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ValidateSetAttribute($NetAppVserverValidateSet) $NetAppVserverAttributeCollection = New-Object System.Collections.ObjectModel.Collection[System.Attribute] $NetAppVserverAttributeCollection.Add($NetAppVserverAttribute) $NetAppVserverAttributeCollection.Add($NetAppVserverValidateSetAttribute) $NetAppVserverRuntimeParameter = New-Object System.Management.Automation.RuntimeDefinedParameter($NetAppVserverName, [string], $NetAppVserverAttributeCollection) # NetApp Aggregate parameter $NetAppAggregateName = 'NetAppAggregate' $NetAppAggregateAttributeProperty = @{ Mandatory = $true; ValueFromPipeline = $False; HelpMessage = 'The NetApp Aggregate Name' } $NetAppAggregateAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ParameterAttribute -Property $NetAppAggregateAttributeProperty $NetAppAggregateValidateSet = Get-NcAggr | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Name $NetAppAggregateValidateSetAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ValidateSetAttribute($NetAppAggregateValidateSet) $NetAppAggregateAttributeCollection = New-Object System.Collections.ObjectModel.Collection[System.Attribute] $NetAppAggregateAttributeCollection.Add($NetAppAggregateAttribute) $NetAppAggregateAttributeCollection.Add($NetAppAggregateValidateSetAttribute) $NetAppAggregateRuntimeParameter = New-Object System.Management.Automation.RuntimeDefinedParameter($NetAppAggregateName, [string], $NetAppAggregateAttributeCollection) # NetApp Interface parameter $NetAppInterfaceName = 'NetAppInterface' $NetAppInterfaceAttributeProperty = @{ Mandatory = $true; ValueFromPipeline = $False; HelpMessage = 'The NetApp Interface Name' } $NetAppInterfaceAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ParameterAttribute -Property $NetAppInterfaceAttributeProperty $NetAppInterfaceValidateSet = (Get-NcNetInterface).where({$_.DataProtocols -match "nfs|cifs"}) | Select-Object -ExpandProperty InterfaceName $NetAppInterfaceValidateSetAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ValidateSetAttribute($NetAppInterfaceValidateSet) $NetAppInterfaceAttributeCollection = New-Object System.Collections.ObjectModel.Collection[System.Attribute] $NetAppInterfaceAttributeCollection.Add($NetAppInterfaceAttribute) $NetAppInterfaceAttributeCollection.Add($NetAppInterfaceValidateSetAttribute) $NetAppInterfaceRuntimeParameter = New-Object System.Management.Automation.RuntimeDefinedParameter($NetAppInterfaceName, [string], $NetAppInterfaceAttributeCollection) # NetApp SnapShot Policy parameter $NetAppSnapshotPolicyName = 'NetAppSnapshotPolicy' $NetAppSnapshotPolicyAttributeProperty = @{ Mandatory = $true; ValueFromPipeline = $False; HelpMessage = 'The NetApp Aggregate Name' } $NetAppSnapshotPolicyAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ParameterAttribute -Property $NetAppSnapshotPolicyAttributeProperty $NetAppSnapshotPolicyValidateSet = (Get-NcSnapshotPolicy).where({$_.Enabled -eq "True"}) | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Policy $NetAppSnapshotPolicyValidateSetAttribute = New-Object System.Management.Automation.ValidateSetAttribute($NetAppSnapshotPolicyValidateSet) $NetAppSnapshotPolicyAttributeCollection = New-Object System.Collections.ObjectModel.Collection[System.Attribute] $NetAppSnapshotPolicyAttributeCollection.Add($NetAppSnapshotPolicyAttribute) $NetAppSnapshotPolicyAttributeCollection.Add($NetAppSnapshotPolicyValidateSetAttribute) $NetAppSnapshotPolicyRuntimeParameter = New-Object System.Management.Automation.RuntimeDefinedParameter($NetAppSnapshotPolicyName, [string], $NetAppSnapshotPolicyAttributeCollection) # Create and return parameter dictionary $RuntimeParameterDictionary = New-Object System.Management.Automation.RuntimeDefinedParameterDictionary $RuntimeParameterDictionary.Add($VeeamCacheRepoName, $VeeamCacheRepoRuntimeParameter) if ($CreateBackupJob){ $RuntimeParameterDictionary.Add($VeeamBackupRepoName, $VeeamBackupRepoRuntimeParameter) } $RuntimeParameterDictionary.Add($NetAppAggregateName, $NetAppAggregateRuntimeParameter) $RuntimeParameterDictionary.Add($NetAppVserverName, $NetAppVserverRuntimeParameter) $RuntimeParameterDictionary.Add($NetAppInterfaceName, $NetAppInterfaceRuntimeParameter) $RuntimeParameterDictionary.Add($NetAppSnapshotPolicyName, $NetAppSnapshotPolicyRuntimeParameter) $RuntimeParameterDictionary } Begin { # Assign DynamicParams to actual variables $VeeamCacheRepoName = $PsBoundParameters[$VeeamCacheRepoName] if ($VeeamBackupRepoName){ $VeeamBackupRepoName = $PsBoundParameters[$VeeamBackupRepoName] } $NetAppAggregateName = $PsBoundParameters[$NetAppAggregateName] $NetAppVserverName = $PsBoundParameters[$NetAppVserverName] $NetAppInterfaceName = $PsBoundParameters[$NetAppInterfaceName] $NetAppSnapshotPolicyName = $PsBoundParameters[$NetAppSnapshotPolicyName] # Get real objects from parameters try { $VeeamCacheRepo = Get-VBRBackupRepository -Name $VeeamCacheRepoName }catch{ Throw "Failed to get Veeam Cache Repo" } if ($VeeamBackupRepoName){ try { $VeeamBackupRepo = Get-VBRBackupRepository -Name $VeeamBackupRepoName }catch{ Throw "Failed to get Veeam Backup Repo" } } try { $NetAppAggr = Get-NcAggr -Name $NetAppAggregateName }catch{ Throw "Failed to get NetApp Aggr" } try { $NetAppVserver = Get-NcVserver -Name $NetAppVserverName }catch{ Throw "Failed to get NetApp vServer (SVM)" } try { $NetAppInterface = Get-NcNetInterface -Name $NetAppInterfaceName }catch{ Throw "Failed to get NetApp Interface)" } try { $NetAppSnapshotPolicy = Get-NcSnapshotPolicy -Name $NetAppSnapshotPolicyName }catch{ Throw "Failed to get NetApp Snapshot Policy)" } if ($DebugPreference -eq "Inquire") { "NetApp Aggregate:" $NetAppAggr | Format-Table -Autosize "NetApp Vserver (SVM):" $NetAppVserver | Format-Table -Autosize "NetApp Interface:" $NetAppInterface | Format-Table -Autosize "NetApp Snapshot Policy:" $NetAppSnapshotPolicy | Format-Table -Autosize } $VolSizeByte = $VolSize * 130023424 } Process { if ($NFS) { $ClientMatch = $IP if(!($NetAppExportPolicy = Get-NcExportPolicy -Name $ExportPolicyName -VserverContext $NetAppVserver )){ "Create new NetApp Export Policy '$($ExportPolicyName)' on SVM '$($NetAppVserver.Name)' ..." $NetAppExportPolicy = New-NcExportPolicy -Name $ExportPolicyName -VserverContext $NetAppVserver $NetAppExportRule = New-NcExportRule -VserverContext $NetAppVserver -Policy $NetAppExportPolicy.PolicyName -ClientMatch $ClientMatch ` -Protocol NFS -Index 1 -SuperUserSecurityFlavor any -ReadOnlySecurityFlavor any -ReadWriteSecurityFlavor any }else{ "NetApp Export Policy '$($ExportPolicyName)' on SVM '$($NetAppVserver.Name)' aleady exists, add IP" $NetAppExportRule = New-NcExportRule -VserverContext $NetAppVserver -Policy $NetAppExportPolicy.PolicyName -ClientMatch $ClientMatch ` -Protocol NFS -Index 1 -SuperUserSecurityFlavor any -ReadOnlySecurityFlavor any -ReadWriteSecurityFlavor any } "Create new NetApp Volume '$VolName' on Aggregate '$($NetAppAggr.AggregateName)' ..." $NetAppVolume = New-NcVol -VserverContext $NetAppVserver -Name $VolName -Aggregate $NetAppAggr.AggregateName -JunctionPath $("/" + $VolName) ` -ExportPolicy $ExportPolicyName -Size $VolSizeByte -SnapshotReserve 20 -SnapshotPolicy $NetAppSnapshotPolicy.Policy "Set Advanced Options for NetApp Volume '$VolName' ..." $NetAppVolume | Set-NcVolOption -Key fractional_reserve -Value 0 $NetAppVolume | Set-NcVolOption -Key guarantee -Value none "Add New Veeam NAS Server '$($NetAppInterface.Address):/$($VolName)'" $VBRNAServer = Add-VBRNASNFSServer -Path "$($NetAppInterface.Address):/$($VolName)" -CacheRepository $VeeamCacheRepo } elseif ($SMB) { "Not Implemented. Sorry..." } else { Throw "No Volume Type choosen!"} if ($CreateBackupJob) { if ($NFS) { $Object = New-VBRNASBackupJobObject -Server $VBRNAServer -Path $VBRNAServer.Path } elseif ($SMB) { "Not Implemented. Sorry..." } "Add Veeam Backup Job for NetApp Volume '$VolName' ..." $VBRNAServerBackupJob = Add-VBRNASBackupJob -BackupObject $Object -ShortTermBackupRepository $VeeamBackupRepo } } }
Main parts of the Function:
- 81 – 206 Dynamic ValidateSet in Dynamic Parameter
- 212 – 247 Get real Objects from Input Parameters
- 269 – 289 Create NetApp Volume and NFS Export
- 291 – 292 Add Veeam NAS Server
- 308 – 309 Create optional Veeam Backup Job
Future of the Module and the Function
As my time allows, I will try to add some additional features to the New-VeeamNetappVolume Function: SMB Support, VSS or SnapShot processing, Archive Tier and so on. But also a new Function to add existing NetApp Volumes as Veeam NAS Server (SMB and NFS) is on the To-Do List. In case you have an additional request, feel free to create a new Github issue.
Currently, I am the only contributor to this project but I would be happy if other Veeam and NetApp enthusiasts will join this project. I am pretty sure all contributors can benefit from this project: Dev experience, learn from others, remote team organization, product know-how. Feel free to contact me via any channel if you are interested.
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