After setting up a virtual failover client (VFC), audit it periodically to verify that it boots successfully. You can automate the audit process by enabling email verification reports or you can perform manual audits.
At least one virtual restore must have completed before the VFC can boot in audit mode. No virtual restores are performed while the VFC is in audit mode, but they resume when you take the VFC out of audit mode. A VFC running in audit mode is booted with no network interface. Auditing the VFC with the original client still online does not result in network conflicts or impact the original client in any way. However, applications on the VFC requiring network access are not fully functional in audit mode.
For instructions, see the following topics:
Note: Automated audits are supported only for virtual failover clients running on a Recovery Series appliance (backup system or replication target) or Hyper-V server. VFCs running on an ESX server must be audited manually. See Manually auditing a virtual failover client.
You can automate the audit process by enabling email verification reports for a virtual failover client (VFC). If the report is enabled, the appliance sends the VFC into audit mode after a restore is performed, takes a screenshot of the Windows screen after the VFC has had several minutes to boot, and sends it in an email to the addresses you entered when setting up reports for the appliance managing the VFC (See About configuring notifications.) The screenshot normally shows the Windows login screen but can also show Windows in other states of booting, including error conditions. You should always view the screenshot to make sure the VFC is booting correctly.
The report is run once per day, but only after a restore is performed. If the interval between restores is greater than 24 hours, you will not receive a report every day. If the VFC cannot boot, you will receive an email report indicating that it cannot be verified.
You can enable verification reports when creating a VFC or by modifying an existing VFC using the instructions described in Modifying a virtual failover client.
Manually auditing the VFC is a two part process that involves setting the VFC to go into audit mode and then accessing the VFC in audit mode to verify that it boots successfully. The procedures for accessing the VFC in audit mode vary depending on the location of the VFC. After you have finished auditing the VFC, you must take it out of audit mode, so virtual restores to the VFC can resume.
See the following topics for instructions:
Follow these steps to perform the audit process.
1 | In the appliance managing the virtual failover client (VFC), select Settings > Instant Recovery > Windows. |
2 | Click on the VFC. |
3 | Check the box next to Set the virtual failover client to go into audit mode and click Confirm. |
• | You see a message that the client will enter audit mode. |
• | If there is a restore in progress, the client will not go into audit mode until the restore completes. |
4 | Click OK. |
5 | Click Refresh at the bottom of the screen. |
You see that the client is now in audit mode: the audit column is Yes, the State column is audit, and the Access field displays the port number (for a VFC residing on a Recovery Series appliance) or IP address (for a VFC residing on an external hypervisor) that is used to connect to the client.
6 | To connect to the client so you can verify that it is functioning as expected, proceed to To turn off audit mode for a virtual failover client. |
Note: Applications on the VFC requiring network access are not fully functional in audit mode.
Procedures for accessing a virtual failover client (VFC) in audit mode vary depending on its location. See one of the following for instructions on accessing the VFC in audit mode:
Note: You must use a VNC viewer to access the VFC in audit mode on a Recovery Series appliance. For details, see Accessing a virtual failover client. Instructions can vary depending on your VNC viewer.
1 | Set the virtual failover client (VFC) to go into audit mode (see To set the virtual failover client to go into audit mode). |
2 | Open a VNC viewer. |
3 | Enter the IP address of the appliance in the Server field, followed by a colon and the VNC port number, such as: 192.168.101.19:5905. |
4 | Click Ok. You see the Windows login screen indicating that the VFC is available. |
5 | Enter the credentials for the Windows client and press Enter. |
6 | After verifying that the VFC is running with its restored data, turn off audit mode. For instructions, see To turn off audit mode for a virtual failover client. |
Note: Applications on the VFC requiring network access are not fully functional in audit mode.
Use the instructions described in this section to access a virtual failover client (VFC) in audit mode on an external hypervisor. If you access the VFC before it has booted, you might see the first screen of the Windows Integrated Bare Metal Recovery Wizard. This screen displays because the instant recovery and integrated bare metal recovery features use the same ISO image to boot a recovered Windows machine. You should not attempt to complete the steps on the bare metal screen. After several seconds, the login screen for the original client displays.
1 | Set the VFC to go into audit mode (see To set the virtual failover client to go into audit mode). |
2 | Connect to your hypervisor. |
3 | Locate the VFC in the list of virtual machines, and access it the same way you access all VMs on the hypervisor. |
4 | Enter the credentials for the Windows client and press Enter. |
5 | After verifying that the VFC is running with its restored data, turn off audit mode. For instructions, see To turn off audit mode for a virtual failover client. |
Note: Applications on the VFC requiring network access are not fully functional in audit mode.
1 | On the Unitrends appliance managing the VFC, select Settings > Instant Recovery > Windows. |
2 | Select the VFC in the list of WIR clients. The modify a VFC window displays. |
3 | Uncheck the box next to Set the virtual failover client to go into audit modeand click Confirm. If backups completed for the original client while the VFC was in audit mode, it enters the Restore state when audit mode is turned off. If there are no backups to restore, its state is Idle. |