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Executing VMware backups

VMware backups can either be executed immediately or scheduled. Scheduled backups are more typical – you create a calendar-based schedule which specifies when VMware virtual machine backups occur. In contrast to scheduled backups, immediate backups occur only once and are executed as soon as possible. Disk exclusions are in effect no matter how backups are run. In the Unitrends system, vApps are used for navigational purposes only. Unitrends does not support back up of vApps.

For details, see the following topics:

ClosedTo execute an immediate VMware backup

If you do not see resource pools, vApps, virtual machines, or navigation groups in the Navigation pane, click the Gear icon at the bottom of the Navigation pane, check Show Virtual Machines in Navigation Tree, and click Confirm.

Note:   Use this procedure only for virtual machines. To backup templates, see Protecting VMware templates.

1 Review the considerations and prerequisites in About VMware backups.
2 Select the vCenter, stand-alone ESX server, resource pool, vApp, navigation group, or virtual machine in the Navigation pane.
3 Click Backup from the main menu, then select the Schedule Backup tab. Click the reload arrows at the bottom to refresh the list of virtual machines.
4 Use the check boxes to select the virtual machines to backup.
5 If necessary, assign credentials. See Setting VM credentials for application-aware protection for details.
6 Choose the type of backup by selecting Full, Differential, or Incremental.
7 By default, backups are stored on the default device. To backup to a different device, select the device in the Available Devices area.
8 Click Backup at the bottom of the screen to initiate the backup process.

A separate backup is created for each virtual machine selected.

9 To view the status of the active backup operations, select Settings > System Monitoring > Jobs. To see the status of completed backup jobs, select Reports > Backups.
ClosedCreating VMware backup schedules

You can protect multiple virtual machines in a single schedule. To ensure data consistency, each virtual machine should be protected by only one backup schedule. When creating backup schedules, you can utilize the filtering feature for automatic addition of future virtual machines. Before you begin the procedures below, if you do not see resource pools, vApps, or virtual machines in the Navigation pane, click the at the bottom of the Navigation pane, check Show Virtual Machines in Navigation Tree, and click Confirm.

See the following topics regarding virtual machine backup schedules:

Note:  These procedures are for VMware virtual machines only. To protect VMware templates, see Protecting VMware templates.

ClosedTo create a VMware backup schedule
1 Review the considerations and prerequisites in Requirements and considerations for VMware backups.
2 Do one of the following:
• If you plan to use filters in your schedule, select the vCenter or stand-alone ESX server from the Navigation pane. Filters are used to dynamically add and remove VMs from the schedule. For details see Dynamic VMware protection.
• If you are not using filters, you can select the vCenter, stand-alone ESX server, resource pool, vApp, navigation group, or virtual machine from the Navigation pane.
3 Select Backup > Schedule Backup and then enter a unique schedule name and description.
4 In the Schedule area, select a backup strategy from the list. Choose from Incremental Forever (recommended), Full with Incrementals, Full with Differentials, or Custom.

For custom backup strategy, select the calendar icon to drag and drop the backup type icons onto the desired days. Select Confirm to save changes or Cancel to exit without saving.

5 Define the frequency at which backups of each type will run using the fields below each backup type.
6 (Optional) Set retention settings as desired. These settings apply to all selected VMs. To set different values for each VM, do not enter settings here. Instead, finish creating your backup schedule, then go to Settings > Storage and Retention > Backup Retention. For details see About retention control.

Modifying retention settings here also updates values displayed on the Backup Retention page. Once you modify this setting in the schedule, you cannot change it again from the schedule itself. Instead, make changes from the Backup Retention page as described in About retention control.

7 Do one of the following:
• If you want to use filters, proceed to step 8.
• If you do not want to use filters, skip to step 14.

Creating filters

8 Click Advanced Settings then check the box to Enable filter creation. This displays the Filter Creation window.
9 Select the desired container from the Select Container drop-down list. The containers refer to your VMware hypervisor, not containers created in the Unitrends interface.
10 Select the action for this filter from the Select Action drop-down list.
11 Enter the filter string to be associated with the container and action fields. For details see Dynamic VMware protection.

Note:   The use of colon, semi-colons, and backslashes is not supported for filter strings. Filter strings are not case-sensitive.

12 Click Add. Repeat step 9 - step 12 as needed, to add up to 10 filters per schedule.
13 Click Apply to display the virtual machines caught by the filters. If all desired VMs display in the VM list, proceed to step step 14.

If the displayed list of VMs does not meet your schedule requirements, edit the filters by selecting Edit filters. Select the red x to the right of the filter string to remove the filter. Once the filters have been updated, click Apply to display the virtual machines to be included in the schedule. Once the displayed virtual machines meet your requirements, proceed to step 14.

Completing the schedule

14 Select the virtual machines you wish to protect with this schedule. If you want to add new virtual machines to this schedule, select Auto-include new VMs.
15 If necessary, assign credentials. See Setting VM credentials for application-aware protection for details.
16 Click Save to create and enable the schedule.
ClosedTo view or modify a VMware backup schedule
1 Review the considerations and prerequisites in About VMware backups.
2 Select the vCenter, stand-alone ESX server, resource pool, vApp, navigation group, or virtual machine from the Navigation pane.
3 Click Backup from the main menu, then select the Schedule Backup tab.
4 In the Schedule Name field, select the desired schedule from the list.
5 Modify settings as desired and click Save. For a description of each setting, see To create a VMware backup schedule.
ClosedTo delete a VMware backup schedule
1 Review the considerations and prerequisites in About VMware backups.
2 Select the vCenter, stand-alone ESX server, resource pool, vApp, navigation group, or virtual machine from the Navigation pane.
3 Click Backup from the main menu, then select the Schedule Backup tab.
4 In the Schedule Name field, select the desired schedule from the list.
5 Click Delete Schedule.
ClosedTo enable or disable a VMware backup schedule
1 Review the considerations and prerequisites in About VMware backups.
2 Select the vCenter, stand-alone ESX server, resource pool, vApp, navigation group, or virtual machine from the Navigation pane.
3 Click Backup from the main menu, then select the Schedule Backup tab.
4 In the Schedule Name field, select the desired schedule from the list.
5 Do one of the following:
• To enable the schedule, check the Schedule Enabled box.
• To disable the schedule, uncheck the Schedule Enabled box.
6 Click Save.