Having already covered Oracle database backups and integration with Oracle Cloud using Object Storage, it is now time to look at data protection with Veeam Agent for Linux for Oracle Linux operating systems, Exadata Appliances, folders, or any critical data you need to protect. We will also review how installation differs on a UEK Kernel versus a RedHat Kernel and, of course, how to install the Kernel versions and dependencies at the exact versions that Veeam Agent for Linux requires.
Introduction#
This is one of the questions I answer time and again. Technically, the Oracle Linux and RedHat versions are very similar, but Oracle ships its own Kernel, known as UEK (Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel). The following link lists every release along with their launch dates, including the most recent ones:
https://blogs.oracle.com/scoter/oracle-linux-and-unbreakable-enterprise-kernel-uek-releases
On top of that, many organizations already run, or are considering acquiring, Oracle Exadata, an Appliance optimized for database services with integration into Oracle’s public Cloud (I will not go into detail here, as there is plenty of information online). Its x86 version is based on Oracle Enterprise Linux, so you can protect it with Veeam Agent for Linux. I have seen Exadata running different versions of Oracle Linux, from OEL 6 all the way to OEL 7.7. The latest Exadata releases include OEL 7.7 UEK5, as noted in the documentation:
Now that we have covered Oracle Linux and Exadata, let’s look at the operating systems Veeam supports for backing up these systems. For Oracle Linux, support covers:
- Oracle Linux 6 - 8.2 (RHCK)3
- Oracle Linux 6 (starting from UEK R1) - Oracle Linux 8.0 (up to UEK R6)3
You can always find the most up-to-date information in the Veeam Agent for Linux user guide:
https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforlinux/userguide/system_requirements.html?ver=40
Configuration#
Now that we know Veeam Agent for Linux supports backing up these excellent solutions, let’s get to the important part: installing the dependencies that Veeam Agent for Linux requires. First, though, we need to know which Kernel and system version we are going to protect. In my case:
From the image above we can see that we have an Oracle Linux 7.7 with its respective kernel 4.14.35-2025.400.9.el7uek.x86_64. Coming back to the Veeam Agent for Linux dependencies, it requires:
- dkms
- kernel-uek-devel
The Kernel version, or rather the UEK Kernel, needs the packages above installed to work with Veeam Agent for Linux. If it were a RedHat Kernel, you would only need to install Kernel-headers matching the current Kernel version, since Veeam uses kmod-veeamsnap. As is typical here with the UEK Kernel, we must install the packages I mentioned with the command:
yum install kernel-uek-devel-$(uname -r)
Entering “Y” installs all the packages and their dependencies to finish:
So we now have one package installed. Next we need to install DKMS, which stands for Dynamic Kernel Module Support and lets us use Veeam packages (veeamsnap itself) at the kernel level. We must make sure the kernel-uek version and the kernel-uek-devel version are exactly the same:
Now that we are certain about the versions, let’s install DKMS with the command:
yum install dkms
Running the command above returns an error:
This error appears because we do not have the Oracle Linux EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository enabled or installed, so let’s install it. We need to go into the folder:
cd /etc/yum.repos.d/
vi epel.repo
```text
And then type or paste:
```ini
[ol7_epel]
name=Oracle Linux $releasever EPEL ($basearch)
baseurl=http://yum.oracle.com/repo/OracleLinux/OL7/developer_EPEL/$basearch/
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle
gpgcheck=1
enabled=1With that in place, we run the command again to install dkms and its dependencies:
yum install dkms
Veeam Backup & Replication#
With that, we have the dependencies that Veeam Agent for Linux requires for Oracle Linux or Exadata on a supported version. Now it is just a matter of adding them to a Veeam Backup & Replication protection group:
The image above shows the creation of a protection group. After you click “FINISH”, you will see the automated installation of Veeam Agent for Linux from the Veeam Backup & Replication console (if you need to install it manually, download the packages from veeam.com and install them directly on the server):
With this we are ready to back up our Oracle Linux or Exadata at the file and filesystem level and integrate it with the Veeam Plugin for Oracle RMAN, which you can read about at this link:
https://www.24xsiempre.com/veeam-oracle-rman-plugin/
How to configure the Veeam Plugin for Oracle RMAN
One solid recommendation: when you configure the backup Job with Veeam Agent for Linux on an Oracle Database, Oracle RAC, or Oracle Exadata, use the File Level Backup and Snapshotless backup options to protect only the folders you need to back up, and add the Veeam Plugin for Oracle RMAN:
And the rest is familiar territory when it comes to configuring backup jobs.
Frequently asked questions#
What dependencies does Veeam Agent for Linux need on Oracle Linux with a UEK Kernel?
You need to install the dkms and kernel-uek-devel packages, and the latter must exactly match your running kernel version. You can install it with yum install kernel-uek-devel-$(uname -r). With these dependencies in place, Veeam can build the veeamsnap module at the kernel level.
How does installation on a UEK Kernel differ from a RedHat Kernel?
On a UEK Kernel you must install dkms together with kernel-uek-devel so Veeam can compile the veeamsnap module. On a RedHat Kernel, you only need kernel-headers matching the current kernel version, because Veeam relies on the precompiled kmod-veeamsnap package instead.
Why does `yum install dkms` fail and how do I fix it?
The command fails because the DKMS package lives in the EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository, which is not enabled by default on Oracle Linux. The fix is to create the file /etc/yum.repos.d/epel.repo pointing to Oracle’s EPEL repository and then run yum install dkms again.
What is DKMS and why does it matter here?
DKMS stands for Dynamic Kernel Module Support and lets you compile and use Veeam’s veeamsnap module at the kernel level. It is essential that the kernel-uek and kernel-uek-devel versions are exactly the same so the module builds correctly.
Can I protect an Oracle Exadata with Veeam Agent for Linux?
Yes. The x86 version of Exadata is based on Oracle Enterprise Linux, so you can protect it with Veeam Agent for Linux as long as you run a supported OEL version, such as the OEL 7.7 UEK5 included in the latest Exadata releases. You just need to meet the kernel-uek-devel and DKMS dependencies.
Which backup options are recommended for Oracle Database, RAC, or Exadata?
The recommendation is to configure the Job with the File Level Backup and Snapshotless backup options to protect only the folders you need, and pair it with the Veeam Plugin for Oracle RMAN for the database backups. This combines filesystem protection with a consistent backup of the database.