After completing the installation, backup tasks have to be configured in Trilead VM Explorer in order to protect the environment.
The configuration takes little time and it is pretty easy. No doubt the ease of use is the strength of this product.
Blog series
Trilead VM Explorer 5.2 setup - part 1
Trilead VM Explorer 5.2 configure backup - part 2
Trilead VM Explorer 5.2 configure replica - part 3
Configure a backup task
To create a backup task two ways can be used: manual and scheduled.
Manual backup
To perform a manual backup, open VM explorer and select Datacenter tab. Right click the VM to backup and select Backup option.
Select the Host configured as backup repository and the option that best fit into your environment. Click OK to proceed.
The backup is being performed saving the files in the repository specified.
When the task completes successfully click on Close button.
In the Task History tab you can check the results of recently tasks performed.
To perform an action with available backups (restore, files check, etc.) in the Backup Explorer tab select the backup to process from the desired VM then click Next.
Check backup files selecting Locate Backup files option then click Next.
The backup files are shown.
Schedule a backup task
To run automatically backup tasks at specific time, a scheduled backup is what administrators normally use to backup the environment. Remember that to schedule a task the scheduler must be enabled.
From Datacenter tab right click the VM to backup and select Create New Backup Schedule option.
Assign a Task Name and configure the Schedule. Click OK to save the settings.
Specify the repository and the backup option then click OK.
In the Scheduler tab the configured backup job is listed in the Scheduled Tasks section.
Restore a VM
To restore a VM or a specific file, the procedure is pretty simple.
From the Backup Explorer tab, select the VM and the backup to restore then click Next.
Select Restore the VM option then click Next.
Choose the Target Directory clicking on Choose Parent button, assign a name for the VM registration then click OK.
Selecting the Files & Disks tab you can choose which files or disks to restore. Note the option After restore convert as thin disk. Click OK to proceed with restore.
The restore is being performed.
When restore completes, click Close button to close the window.
From Datacenter tab you can see the VM restored.
The restored VM in the vCenter Server.
Enable incremental backup feature
Right click the VM to backup then select Backup option.
When the Incremental Backup option is selected for the first time, a window for the VD Service initialization appears since it's needed by this backup type.
Click Install/Initialize VD Service button to initialize the VD service.
Click on the link to download VDDK5.5.3 from VMware website.
Browse the computer and select the downloaded .zip file.
Click on Initialize VD Service to link VM Explorer with VDDK lib.
The system starts initializing VDDK.
When VDDK is successfully initialized, click Close to go back to backup window.
Click OK to close the window.
Last step is the activation of the VD Service for the selected ESXi host. Click ESX Server Settings button.
Enable Use VD Service option then click Test Connection. If you are using the ESXi free edition don't enable this option.
If the test succeeds, click OK to close the window.
Click Save to enable VD Service.
Click OK to go back to backup settings.
Incremental backup can be configured only if Target Host is set to Local Computer.
If you set a different Target Host you may receive a warning window.
The incremental backup task is now configured.
Add multiple VMs to a backup task
From Scheduler tab, click Scheduler menu then select Add Scheduled Task option.
Type a Task Name and set the Schedule. Click OK to confirm.
Select the backup task just created and click on Add button.
In the Add Task Element window, in the drop down menu select the Add multiple VMs Backup option then click OK to confirm.
Select the Source Host then click Select VMs button.
Select the VMs to backup and click Add button. When finished, click OK to confirm.
Select the Target Host and backup option. Append the {VM} tag in the Directory field then click OK to save settings.
The configured backup appears in the Task Elements table.
Limitations on backups for ESXi
In order to successfully backup your infrastructure, keep in mind some limitations.
Since it’s not possible to perform snapshots on VM with "Fault tolerance" enabled, therefore it is not possible to back up a VM with "Fault tolerance".
In addition incremental backups have the following limitations:
- Virtual hardware version is 6 or lower.
- Virtual disk is a physical compatibility RDM.
- Virtual disk is attached to a shared virtual SCSI bus.
Trilead VM Explorer is now configured and ready to backup your network infrastructure. Part 3 of this blog series will cover the Replica configuration.
