A tape library connected via Fibre Channel may not work correctly in Backup Exec when the media server is running on a VMWare virtual machine

Problem

A tape library connected via Fibre Channel may not work correctly in Backup Exec when the media server is running on a VMWare virtual machine

Cause

Although Backup Exec is commonly used in many virtual environments, there is a limitation to the connection interface as a result of VMWare device virtualization.  VMWare does not support Fibre Channel connected tape devices and suggests that a SCSI card (not a RAID controller) is dedicated to the connection of the tape device.

Solution

Note: Configuring a tape device with a virtual machine is considered an "Alternative Configuration".  Review Backup Exec HCL (Hardware Compatibility List).

Alternative Configurations: Our Licensed Software is designed to interoperate with many types of systems, applications, and hardware. Sometimes a customer may choose to use our Licensed Software in an "Alternative Configuration", namely, an environment that has not been validated, approved or verified to operate with our Licensed Software or which does not support such Licensed Software or only supports limited functionality. In most cases, we do not support Alternative Configurations, and we have no obligation to provide Support Services to Licensed Software in an Alternative Configuration. Veritas makes no warranty with respect to use of Licensed Software in an Alternative Configuration and any such use is at your own risk. A "Supported Configuration" might be converted into an Alternative Configuration where a vendor modifies one of its components that is part of the original Supported Configuration. As a consequence, your Licensed Software would then be operating in an Alternative Configuration. If you experience a problem with the Licensed Software in an Alternative Configuration or if your issue deals with script that was not developed by Veritas or an authorized consulting partner, then we may ask you to reproduce the problem in a Supported Configuration environment. Please note we have no obligation to attempt to resolve problems that cannot be replicated in a Supported Configuration. However, if the problem can be replicated in a Supported Configuration, we will investigate the problem in that Supported Configuration and attempt to resolve it. If the problem cannot be replicated in a Supported Configuration, then we may elect not to work on that problem.

For more details on the configuration of virtual machines with tape devices, see the following related articles
http://www.veritas.com/docs/000007409
http://www.veritas.com/docs/000038480