vCenter 6.5 file based Backup and Restore process

                         vCenter 6.5 file based Backup and Restore process

Hello Everyone,

This article is for how to take VCSA 6.5 file based Backup and Restore process in case of vCenter server appliance got failed due to any O/S or application issues.

VCSA 6.5 has in-built feature available with management interface of vCenter server appliance 6.5 (VAMI) page. With this native Backup and Restore VCSA 6.5 features removes the dependency on third-party native backup tools to backup and restore vCenter server appliance. Native Backup feature of VCSA 6.5 supports the backup and restore of vCenter server appliance and also can take backup and restore of platform services controller.

This native backup and restore feature of VCSA 6.5 helps you to protect vCenter data and helps us to reduce the downtime required for to restore the vCenter management stack. Backup of VCSA 6.5 process collects the important files into tar bundle and compress the bundle to reduce the load on the network. You have option to encrypt the compressed file before transmission the backup files to the backup storage location as well. You can specify the password during encryption and specify the same password to decrypt the file during the restore process.

First of all, we will start with the backup of VCSA 6.5 appliance through VAMI console of vCenter appliance.

In the Summary tab, Click on “Backup” to start the backup of the vCenter Sever appliance.

VCSA backup can be backed and sent up to different location using different protocols:

·         FTP

·         FTPS

·         HTTP

·         HTTPS

·         SCP

Here, I choose SCP option for backup. Choose SCP from drop down and fill all details.

CLICK NEXT

During VCSA backup, Minimum set of data needed to restore the appliance will be backed up by default. This includes the data such as OS, VC services, vCenter Server database,  inventory and configuration. In addition to that, you can also choose to backup additional things such as Historical data( Stats, Events, alarms and tasks ) in the vCenter Server database.

CLICK NEXT

Review the backup option selection and Click on Finish.

CLICK FINISH

Backup Task finished successfully.

So, backup task completed successfully. Now, we look at the backup folder which files are stored there. See below snap-in.

Restore vCenter Server Appliance 6.5

We are done with the backup of the vCenter server appliance 6.5. Restore the VCSA 6.5 from the backup file if it is required. Restore process is the straight forward process. Restore needs to be performed from the VCSA 6.5 installation media.  

There is a important point here to make a note that VCSA 6.5 installer versions should be the same as the current VCSA 6.5 version then only we can restore the VCSA otherwise Restore process can not be initiated.

For Example- If your current VCSA 6.5 version is 15259038 then you need to run the same version installer for restore process.


Launch the VCSA 6.5 installer, Click on Restore to restore VCSA from a previously created vCenter Server appliance backup.

Specify the backup location details and credentials to retrieve the backup metadata information. 

Restores option will restore vCenter server appliance to a brand new appliance with the existing backup data.

In this Restore process, it will first deploy new VCSA appliance and then copy the backup data to this new brand VCSA appliance.

That's all, stay tuned, Cheers...