The SnapCenter platform is based on a multitiered architecture that includes a centralized management server (SnapCenter Server) and a SnapCenter plug-in host.
SnapCenter architecture
SnapCenter supports multisite data center. The SnapCenter Server and the plug-in host can be at different geographical locations.
The Plug-in for VMware vSphere supports data protection of virtualized resources. It can be installed on the same host as the SnapCenter Server or on a dedicated Windows host.
*RDM is not supported for backups of VMs or datastores using the web client GUI in vCenter. However, RDM is supported for application-consistent backups using other SnapCenter plug-ins (for example, backups of Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle databases residing on RDMs).
The communication path for the Plug-in for VMware vSphere is as follows:
- The Plug-in for VMware vSphere interacts with the SnapCenter Server to back up virtual infrastructure, for example VMs, VMDKs, and datastores. If the plug-in is installed on a dedicated host, the SnapCenter Server connects to the remote host through the Plug-in for VMware vSphere to protect the virtual resources.
- The SnapCenter Server can interact with other plug-ins (for example, SnapCenter Plug-in for Microsoft SQL Server or SnapCenter Plug-in for Oracle Database) in addition to the Plug-in for VMware vSphere, to back up a database workload that resides on VMDKs or RDM LUNs.
- SnapCenter connects to ONTAP storage systems to create Snapshot copies or to perform restore operations.
- The Plug-in for VMware vSphere connects to a vCenter instance. One instance of the Plug-in for VMware vSphere is required for each instance of vCenter.