Manage backup policies
VM backup is a stable disaster recovery functionality. The backup file for a VM will not be lost when the VM image file is damaged or deleted.
When VM data loss occurs because of server or storage device failure, software bug or virus, or misoperations, you can use the backup file to restore a VM.
You can select back up VMs in real time or perform scheduled backup as needed. For more information about real-time backup, see "Back up VMs in real time."
Restrictions and guidelines
The system does not back up permission information, boot priority, or automatic migration settings of VMs.
For VMs that use block devices as disks or use raw disks, online backup, incremental backup, and differential backup are not supported.
Add a backup policy
On the top navigation bar, click VMs, and then select VM Policies > Backup Policies from the navigation pane.
Click Add.
Set the parameters as described in "Parameters."
Click Finish.
Edit a backup policy
On the top navigation bar, click VMs, and then select VM Policies > Backup Policies from the navigation pane.
Click the Edit icon
for a backup policy.
Edit the parameters as described in "Parameters."
Click Finish.
Delete backup policies
On the top navigation bar, click VMs, and then select VM Policies > Backup Policies from the navigation pane.
Click the Delete icon
for a backup policy.
In the dialog box that opens, click OK.
Enable a backup policy
On the top navigation bar, click VMs, and then select VM Policies > Backup Policies from the navigation pane.
Click the Enable icon
for a backup policy.
In the dialog box that opens, click OK.
Disable a backup policy
On the top navigation bar, click VMs, and then select VM Policies > Backup Policies from the navigation pane.
Click the Disable icon
for a backup policy.
In the dialog box that opens, click OK.
Remove a VM from a backup policy
On the top navigation bar, click VMs, and then select VM Policies > Backup Policies from the navigation pane.
Click the Delete icon
for a VM in the VMs Using the Backup Policy area.
In the dialog box that opens, click OK.
Remove a disk from a backup policy
On the top navigation bar, click VMs, and then select VM Policies > Backup Policies from the navigation pane.
Click the Delete icon
for a disk in the Disks Using the Backup Policy area.
In the dialog box that opens, click OK.
Parameters
Basic Info
Disk I/O Threshold: Specify the maximum VM disk I/O during backup. If the backup start time is reached, the system starts to back up a VM that uses this backup policy only when the I/O throughput of the VM falls down to or below this threshold. If the I/O throughput of the VM exceeds the threshold, the system does not back up the VM until the next backup time is started. This parameter takes effect only when the VM to be backed up is in running state.
Backup Location: Select a backup destination. Options include Local Directory and Remote Server.
If you select Local Directory, configure the following parameter:
Backup Directory: Specify the directory to store the backup file.
If you select Remote Server, configure the following parameters:
IP Address: Enter the IP address of the remote server.
Username: Enter the username for logging in to the remote server. Make sure the account has read and write access to the server. If you select the FTP mode, you must create the account on FTP Server of the remote server. If you select the SCP mode, you must create the account on the OS of the remote server.
Password: Enter the password for logging in to the remote server.
Backup Directory: Specify the directory to store the backup file.
Connection Mode: Select the mode for connecting to the remote server. Options include FTP and SCP. If you select FTP, only Server-U, VsFTP, and IIS servers are supported.
Connectivity: Test connectivity of UIS and the remote server.
Type: Select a backup type.
VM Backup—Backs up the disk data and configuration files for a VM. You can restore the entire VM by using the backup file.
Disk Backup—Backs up only one or multiple disks of a VM. Its configuration files are not backed up. You can restore only the disks by using the backup file.
Take Effect Now: Set whether to enable the backup policy after creation.
Full Backup
Frequency: Select the execution frequency of full backup.
Start Time: Select the execution start time.
End Time: Select the execution end time. If the start time is later than the end time, the backup is finished the next day. If full backup is not completed until the end time is reached, the system stops this backup task after the VM backup is finished and waits for the next backup to start.
Files to Retain: Specify the number of backup files to retain locally or on the remote server. If the leave this field empty, all backup files are retained.
Backup Settings: Enable incremental or differential backup.
Incremental—Performs incremental backup on the basis of full backup. This mode only backs up files that have changed since the previous backup.
Differential—Performs differential backup on the basis of full backup. This mode only backs up files that have changed since the full backup.
Disk Read Rate Limit: Specify the limit on the disk read rate during backup. If you leave this field empty or enter 0, the disk read rate is not limited.
Disk Write Rate Limit: Specify the limit on the disk write rate during backup. If you leave this field empty or enter 0, the disk write rate is not limited.
Temp Directory: Enter the temporary directory used during backup. If the directory you specify does not exist, the system automatically creates the directory during backup.
Compress: Set whether to compress the disk image during backup.
Incremental/Differential Backup
Frequency: Select the backup execution frequency.
Start Time: Select the execution start time.