This topic summarizes requirements for continuous replication.
To avoid delays in replication, implement the following best practices:
Use a low latency network.
Provide enough cache space and a fast storage connection to the cache on the access node (VSA proxy) at the source site.
Provide a fast storage connection to the RP Store.
Provide enough storage for the RP Store.
Timestamps must be synchronized between access nodes and ESXi hosts.
Hypervisor Support
VMware
For detailed requirements, see System Requirements for Virtual Server Agent with VMware.
vCenter and ESXi Requirements
vCenter Server version: 6.5, 6.7, 7.0
ESXi version: 6.0, 6.5, 6.7, 7.0
ESXi memory requirement for each VM: 100MB
Either a Standard license or a vSphere Enterprise Plus license is required to support continuous replication.
If you are upgrading or uninstalling a VAIO filter and you have a Standard license, you must either suspend or manually power off VMs because their ESX hosts will enter maintenance mode during the upgrade or uninstall process. If you are upgrading or uninstalling a VAIO filter and you have a vSphere Enterprise Plus license, VMware DRS automatically moves the VMs to active ESX hosts using vMotion, while the VAIO filter is being upgraded or uninstalled on the other ESX host to ensure that there is no downtime for the VMs.
Hardware
Two access nodes (VSA proxies): One at the source site and one at the destination site.
MediaAgent should be present on the destination access node.
Low latency network between the access nodes, preferably 10 GB ethernet, depending onI/O loads.
The destination requires a fast storage connection to the Recovery Point Store (RP Store).
Virtual Machine Disks
Before configuring a source VM for continuous replication, ensure that the VM storage policy in vSphere is set to Datastore Default for all disks.
Access Node Operating Systems
You can deploy access nodes (VSA proxies) on physical or virtual machines running the following operating systems:
Microsoft Windows Server 2019
Microsoft Windows Server 2016
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 x64 Editions
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 x64 Editions
Note: Linux access nodes are not supported.
Plug-In Installation or Upgrade Requirements
Ensure that vCenter permissions are configured correctly as described in Permissions for Custom User Accounts.
The VMware vCenter Server user account used to install plug-ins must have administrator privileges for installation or upgrade.
For each ESX host, the acceptance level can be one of the following:
VMwareAccepted
PartnerSupported
CommunitySupported
Plug-ins must be part of protected and replicated data centers (ESX clusters).
Source Access Node Cache Requirement
Cache location: Job Results directory
Network Bandwidth
Provide network bandwidth based on the estimated I/O speed. For example:
Protected VMs: 10
Rate at which each VM performs I/O: 100 MB/s
Preferred Network Speed: 8000 Mbps
Preferred Recovery Point Store (RP Store) Requirement
Size the RP Store based on I/O throughput and RP Retention criteria. For example:
RP Store I/O throughput: 100 MB/s
Total Retention Time (hours): 5 Hrs
RP Store size: 1800000 MB (1.72 TB)
Firewall Port Requirements
For environments that include a firewall, open the following ports:
For ESXi servers on the source site, open port 33040.
For ESXi servers on the destination site, open port 33041.
These ports are used by the BLR service to communicate with VAIO daemons.