Virtual Machine Backup

In ZStack ZSphere, the backup service is based on periodic scheduled backups. To perform a backup, you need to configure a backup plan. For more information, see New Backup Plan.

During executions of backup plans, the backup mode, backup chain length, backup data retention policy, and backup QoS all depend on the configured backup policy. For more information, see Backup Policy.

After you performed backups, you can use them to restore virtual machines. For more information, see Data Recovery.

Backup Policy

Backup Mode

ZStack ZSphere provides two backup modes:

Default Incremental Backup
You only need to customize the incremental backup policy, while the full backup policy is set by default. After 63 incremental backups, the system automatically performs a full backup, with a maximum backup chain length of 64.
Customized Incremental Backup
You need to customize both the incremental and full backup policies. By customizing the full backup policy, you can shorten the interval between full backups. Increasing the number of full backups shortens the backup chain and reduces the amount of backup data that needs to be merged during recovery.

Backup Cycle

The backup cycle determines the frequency of backup execution.

For the incremental backup policy, ZStack ZSphere provides multiple options including monthly, weekly, daily, hourly, and minute-based backups.
For the full backup policy, ZStack ZSphere supports monthly and weekly backups.

Execution Time

You can set more granular backup execution times, down to the minute level. For the incremental backup policy, when the backup cycle is set to monthly, weekly, or daily, you can set the incremental backup execution time. For the full backup policy, when the backup cycle is set to monthly or weekly, you can set the full backup execution time.

Backup by Month: If you set the execution time to 00:00 on the first day of each month, the incremental backup is executed at 00:00:00 on the first day of each month.
Backup by Week: If you set the execution time to 00:00 on Sunday and Tuesday of each week, the incremental backup is executed at 00:00:00 on Sunday and Tuesday of each week.
Backup by Day: If you set the execution time to 00:30, the incremental backup is executed at 00:30:00 every day.

Start Time

The backup plan begins at the start time and executes backups according to the configured backup cycle and execution time.

Retention Policy

Each successful backup generates a set of backup data used to restore virtual machine data to a previous point in time. To control the amount of backup data, you must specify a retention policy. Based on the backup scenario, ZStack ZSphere can set separate retention policies for local backup data and remote backup data.

Local Retention Policy:
- Retain by quantity: Retain a minimum of 1 local incremental backup data and 1 local full backup data.
- Retain by time: Retain a minimum of 1 day of local backup data.
Remote Retention Policy:
- Retain permanently: Remote backup data will not be automatically cleaned up.
- Retain by quantity: Retain a minimum of 1 remote incremental backup data and 1 remote full backup data.
- Retain by time: Retain a minimum of 1 day of remote backup data.

Note: For data generated beyond the retention policy, only the backup records are deleted, which does not affect the data security.

Advanced Settings

You can set a network QoS and disk QoS for VM backup plans. The QoS is unlimited by default.

Upstream Bandwidth/Downstream Bandwidth: Set the upper limit for network upload or download bandwidth. Units: Kbps/Mbps/Gbps. Range: 8Kbps to 30Gbps.
Disk Read Speed/Disk Write Speed: Set the upper limit for disk read or write speed. Units: MB/s, GB/s. Range: 1MB/s to 100GB/s.

Note: QoS settings should match the physical environment's network bandwidth and consider the bandwidth occupied by concurrent backups.

New Backup Plan

Prerequisites

Make sure the platform has sufficient authorized backup quota.
Make sure the virtual machines to be backed up are in a running or paused state and are not associated with any other backup plans.
You cannot associate a backup plan with a virtual machine. if it uses ZHPS distributed storage.

Procedure

In the left navigation pane, click Data Protection > Backup Plan.
On the Backup Plan page, click New Backup Plan.
In the New Backup Plan dialog, complete the basic configuration and backup configuration.
For Basic Configuration, set the following parameters:
Basic Information
- Name: Name of the backup plan.
- Description: Description of the backup plan.
- Data Center: Select a data center.
Backup Storage
- Local Backup Storage: Add local backup storage, with a maximum of 2 backup storage allowed for seamless failover.
- Sync to Remote Backup Storage: Disabled by default. You can choose whether to synchronize local backup data to a remote backup storage.
  Note: If enabled, ensure that remote backup storage has been added in advance on the platform. For more information, see Add Remote Backup Storage.
  - Remote Backup Storage: After enabling synchronization to remote backup storage, it displays the name and available capacity of the remote backup storage.
Backup Object
- Backup Object Type: Select Virtual Machine.
- Virtual Machine: Add virtual machines that need to be backed up, and set the backup priority as needed.
  Note:
  - The number of selected virtual machines must not exceed the authorized backup quota.
  - If the selected virtual machine already has backup data, creating a new backup plan will not additionally consume authorized backup quota.
  - By default, the entire VM is backed up. However, shared disks and RDM disks attached to VMs are excluded form backup.
Review the configuration and click Next.
For Backup Configuration, set the following parameters:
Backup Policy
- Backup Mode: Select default incremental backup or customized incremental backup as needed.
- Incremental Backup Policy: Customize the incremental backup policy, including the backup cycle and execution time.
- Full Backup Policy: When the backup mode is set to customized incremental backup, you need to customize the full backup policy, including the backup cycle and execution time.
- Maximum Backup Chain Length: Display the length of the backup chain under the current policy, with a maximum length not exceeding 64.
- Start Time: Set a start time for the backup plan.
For more information about backup policies, see Backup Policy.
Retention Policy
- Local Retention Policy: Set the local backup retention policy by quantity or time.
- Remote Retention Policy: After enabling Sync to Remote Backup Storage, this parameter must be set. You can set the remote retention policy as permanently or by quantity or time.
For more information about retention policies, see Backup Policy.
Advanced Settings
- Backup QoS: Disabled by default. When enabled, you can set bandwidth QoS or disk QoS.
For more information about backup QoS, see Backup Policy.
Review the configuration and click OK.

What to do next

After you performed backups, you can use them to restore virtual machines. For more information, see Data Recovery.

View Backup Plan and Data

During executions of backup plans, you can monitor the progress and get real-time updates on the backup activities. For more information, see View Backup Plan Executions.

During executions of backup plans, a series of backup data is generated, and you can view the backup data for protected resources. For more information, see View VM Backup Data.

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