How to Use the Veeam Backup Validator

Challenge

This article will document how to use the Veeam Backup Validator command line tool.
 
Note: Some command line options shown below are only available in v8 and v9. Previous versions had reduced functionality. To see what options are available, execute the command line application with the parameter /?.

Solution

The Veeam Backup Validator can be found in the installation folder for Veeam Backup & Replication.
     Default Install Path: C:\Program Files\Veeam\Backup and Replication\Backup
     If the path was changed on install, you can find the path in the registry: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Veeam\Veeam Backup and Replication] CorePath
 
Syntax:
 
Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /backup:backupname|backupid [/vmname:vmname]
    [/point:pointid] [/date:pointdate] [/time:pointtime] [/silence]
    [/skip] [/report:reportpath [/format:xml|html]]
 
Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /file:backupfile{1..*} [/vmname:vmname] [/silence] [/skip]
    [/report:reportpath [/format:xml|html]]
 
Parameters:
 
    /?       - Displays help
    /backup  - Specifies backup name or backup ID
    /vmname  - Specifies one or more VM names (empty value for all VMs)
    /point   - Specifies restore point ID
    /date    - Specifies restore point date
    /time    - Specifies restore point time
    /silence - Enables silence output mode
    /skip    - Skips specified VMs
    /report  - Generates HTML report at the specified path
    /file    - Specifies one or more backup files (VBM, VBK, VIB, VLB)
    /format  - Specified report format (HTML, XML) 
   /username:username - Specifies username for network share
   /password:password - Specifies password for network share

Examples:   

• Validate the VMs named "W2008", "W2008R2_DC" and "W2K" in the most recent restore point for the backup "Backup Job 1_imported".
  
  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /backup:"Backup Job 1_imported" /vmname:W2008 /vmname:W2008R2_DC /vmname:W2K
   
• Validate all virtual machines in the last restore point with ID 3942788C-B309-4FA4-A111-A4C87B3EC63D.
  
  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /backup:3942788C-B309-4FA4-A111-A4C87B3EC63D
   
• Validate a VM with the name "Windows 8" in the restore point created on December 5 2012 for a job named “Backup Job 1".
   
  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /backup:"Backup Job 1" /vmname:"Windows 8" /date:05.12.2012
   
• Validate a VM with the name "VM1" in the restore point created around 16:00 on December 5 2012 for a job named "Backup Job 2".

            Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /backup:"Backup Job 2" /vmname:"VM1" /date:"05.12.2012" /time "16:00"
 

• Validate a VM with the name "VM2" contained in the VBM file located at C:\Backup\VM2_Backup.vbm
  
  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /file:"C:\Backup\VM2_Backup.vbm" /vmname:"VM2"
   
• Validate all VMs in VBK-file (backup file).
  
  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /file:"C:\Backup\VM2_Backup.vbk"
   
• Validate a VM with the name "VM3" in the most recent restore point of "Backup Job 1" and create an HTML-report.
  
  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /backup:"Backup Job 1" /vmname:"VM3" /report:"D:\Reports\Backup_Job_1_Validate_30_09_2014.html"
   
• Validate a VM with the name "VM3" in the most recent restore point of "Backup Job 1" and create XML-report.
  
  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /backup:"Backup Job 1" /vmname:"VM3" /report:"D:\Reports\Backup_Job_1_Validate_30_09_2014.xml" /format:xml

 

• Validate a backup file.
  
  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /file:"\\192.168.1.5\TestShare\Empty VM encryptedD2017-09-22T172639.vbk"

More Information

Note:

1. The date format that must be used is based on the regional settings of the computer the tool is run on. If the system is configured to have mm.dd.yyyy, as opposed to dd.mm.yyyy, please use that date format
2. Backup Validator must be started with Administrator privileges
3. When files are located on network share you need to specify the whole path (ex.: \\192.168.1.5\TestShare\Empty VM encryptedD2017-09-22T172639.vbk).
4. Mapped network drives (net use z: \\192.168.1.5\TestShare) are not supported.