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Restoring VMware templates

Once a template has been backed up, it can be restored as a template or as a new virtual machine. If you restore a template backup as a virtual machine, Unitrends creates a new virtual machine from the template and restores it to the ESX server that you select during the restore process. For details, see these topics:

ClosedTo restore a template
1 Select the template in the Navigation pane, and click Restore.
2 Select a recovery point by selecting the highlighted day in the calendar. Then select the associated recovery point time.
3 Click Next (Select Options). [Next (Select Files/Items) is disabled because file-level restores cannot be performed for templates.]
4 The Restore from Backup of Client step displays. Enter a unique name for the template or accept the default name that displays in the Virtual Machine Name box. If the name is not unique, the restore fails. Check Restore as Template?

Note:  Instant Recovery? is disabled because it is not supported for templates.

5 All disks’ metadata is restored by default, including metadata for excluded disks. Uncheck Restore Excluded Disks Meta Data? to prevent excluded disks’ metadata from being restored. If you choose to restore all metadata, it is important to note that the template and all the virtual hard drives will be recovered to the selected datastore. Ensure enough space is available on the datastore for all the virtual hard drives (including excluded drives) to be recovered.
6 Select an ESX server from the Available ESX Servers list. The selected template can be restored to the original ESX server or to any other ESX server that is part of a registered vCenter server. Note that the target ESX server must be the same version as or newer than the original ESX server that hosted the template. It is highly recommended to perform recovery of the virtual machines to an ESX server version that matches the original ESX server.

Note:   You cannot restore a template to an ESX server that is not managed through vCenter. If you select a standalone ESX server, Restore as Template? is disabled.

7 Select a Datastore on the ESX server to which the template will restore. (A list of resource pools does not display because templates do not belong to resource pools as they do not require resources.)
8 Click Restore to initiate the restore. Every restore initiates two jobs: the first restores the configuration files or metadata for the template being restored; the second restores the data.
9 To view the status of the restore jobs click on Settings > System Monitoring > Jobs.
ClosedTo restore a template as a virtual machine
1 Select the template in the Navigation pane, and click Restore.
2 Select a recovery point by selecting the highlighted day in the calendar. Then select the associated recovery point time.
3 Click Next (Select Options). [Next (Select Files/Items) is disabled because file-level backups and restores cannot be performed for templates.]
4 The Restore from Backup of Client step displays. Enter a unique name for the new virtual machine or accept the default name that displays in the Virtual Machine Name box. If the name is not unique, the restore fails. Uncheck Restore as Template?
5 All disks’ metadata is restored by default, including metadata for excluded disks. Uncheck Restore Excluded Disks Meta Data? to prevent excluded disks’ metadata from being restored. If you choose to restore all metadata, it is important to note that the new virtual machine and all the virtual hard drives will be recovered to the selected datastore. Ensure enough space is available on the datastore for all the virtual hard drives (including excluded drives) to be recovered.
6 Select an ESX server from the Available ESX Servers list. The selected template can be restored as a new VM to the original ESX server or to any other ESX server that is registered or part of a registered vCenter server. Unlike templates, new VMs created from templates can be restored to a standalone ESX server. Note that the target ESX server must be the same version as or newer than the original ESX server that hosted the template. It is highly recommended to perform recovery of the virtual machines to an ESX server version that matches the original ESX server.
7 Optionally, select a resource pool or vApp to restore to. If no resource pool or vApp is selected, the new VM is restored to the root of the ESX host.
8 Select the Datastore on the target ESX server.
9 Click Restore to initiate the restore. Every restore initiates two jobs: the first restores the configuration files or metadata for the virtual machine being restored; the second restores the data.
10 To view the status of the restore jobs click on Settings > System Monitoring > Jobs.