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:
[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Veeam\Veeam Backup and Replication] CorePath

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]] [/username:username] [/password:password]

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 - Specify username for network share access
• /password - Specify password for network share access

Examples:

• Validates the virtual machines with names "W2008", "W2008R2_DC" and "W2K" in the last backup with name "Backup Job 1_imported".

  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /backup:"Backup Job 1_imported" /vmname:W2008  /vmname:W2008R2_DC /vmname:W2K

• Validates all virtual machines in the last backup with ID: 3942788C-B309-4FA4-A111-A4C87B3EC63D.

  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /backup:3942788C-B309-4FA4-A111-A4C87B3EC63D

• Validates a virtual machine with name "Windows 8" in the last backup "Backup Job 1" that has been created on specified day.

  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /backup:"Backup Job 1" /vmname:"Windows 8" /date:05.12.2012

• Validates a virtual machine with name "VM1" in the last backup of "Backup Job 2" that has been created around 16:00 on specified day.

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

• Validates a virtual machine with name "VM2" in VBM-file (backup meta file).

  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /file:"C:\Backup\VM2_Backup.vbm" /vmname:"VM2"

• Validates all virtual machines in VBK-file (backup file).

  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /file:"C:\Backup\VM2_Backup.vbk"

• Validates a virtual machine with name "VM3" in the last backup of "Backup Job 1" and creates HTML-report.

  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /backup:"Backup Job 1" /vmname:"VM3" /report:"D:\Reports\Backup_Job_1_Validate_30_09_2014.html"

• Validates a virtual machine with name "VM3" in the last backup of "Backup Job 1" and creates 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

• Validates all virtual machines in VBK-file (backup file) which resides on host 192.168.0.121 in share folder Data.

  Veeam.Backup.Validator.exe /file:"\\192.168.0.121\Data\vbkname.vbk" /username:192.168.0.121\Admin /password:MyPassword

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.