Virtualizing backup server

When I worked in backup projects, I was always asked "Can I virtualize my backup server?"  The answer to that is not recommended.  You should consider the following before virtualize the backup server.

1) Backup requires CPU and network.  Can the ESX host handle it?  Is it shared with other busy VM on the ESX host
2) Why do you want to virtualize the backup host?  If environment is busy, backup server is not a good candidate for virtualization.
3) If you plan to virtualize the master server for replicating it continuously to remote site, the media server should be physical in this case.  The master server should only handle backup software database and indexing only.  If you have huge NDMP job, the index will take away a lot of CPU from the master server.
4) Are you plan to connect FC library to your master server?  Keep in mind, connecting FC tape drives / library to VM is not supported by VMware.  (Reference: VM KB1016407 and 1000024)
5) If you connect SCSI tape library, what if there is hardware fails and requires vMotion?!  Your backup will not work.

Please consider the above before even thinking about virtualizing your backup server. 

No option to format USB memory stick as NTFS

I just reformat my memory stick for Data Domain memory upgrade.  Now, I need to re-format it back as NTFS.  When I try to do that, NTFS is not an option under filesystem.  After searching in Google, I find the solution in http://www.ntfs.com/quest22.htm.

Basically, you need to open Device Manager and locate the USB memory stick.  Open up the properties of memory stick and select "Optimize for performance" under policies.  Now, I can format my memory stick with NTFS partition.