Manage backup policies
VM backup is a stable disaster recovery functionality. The backup file for a VM will not be lost if 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.
Depending on the backup time, VM backup includes the following types:
Backup now—Allows for manual data backup in real time. See "Back up a VM."
Scheduled backup—Backs up data through backup policies. When a backup policy is applied to a VM, the system backs up the VM or VM disk as scheduled and generates a backup file.
Restrictions and guidelines
The system does not back up permission information, boot priority, automatic migration settings, and GPU 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.
Snapshots do not support changed block tracking (CBT) backup. If you restore a VM with snapshots by using a CBT backup file, the snapshots of the VM will be lost.
To avoid backup failure, do not change the running state of a VM during a CBT backup.
Add a backup policy
On the top navigation bar, click Security.
From the left navigation pane, select Data Security > Backup Center > VM Backup.
Click the Backup Policies tab.
Click Add.
Configure the parameters as described in "Parameters."
Click OK.
Edit a backup policy
On the top navigation bar, click Security.
From the left navigation pane, select Data Security > Backup Center > VM Backup.
Click the Backup Policies tab.
Click Edit in the Actions column for a backup policy.
Configure the parameters as described in "Parameters."
Click OK.
Delete a backup policy
On the top navigation bar, click Security.
From the left navigation pane, select Data Security > Backup Center > VM Backup.
Click the Backup Policies tab.
Click Delete in the Actions column for a backup policy.
In the dialog box that opens, click OK.
Enable a backup policy
On the top navigation bar, click Security.
From the left navigation pane, select Data Security > Backup Center > VM Backup.
Click the Backup Policies tab.
Click Start in the Actions column for a backup policy.
In the dialog box that opens, click OK.
Disable a backup policy
On the top navigation bar, click Security.
From the left navigation pane, select Data Security > Backup Center > VM Backup.
Click the Backup Policies tab.
Click Disable in the Actions column 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 Security.
From the left navigation pane, select Data Security > Backup Center > VM Backup.
Click the Backup Policies tab.
Click Delete in the Actions column 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 Security.
From the left navigation pane, select Data Security > Backup Center > VM Backup.
Click the Backup Policies tab.
Click a backup policy.
Click Delete in the Actions column for a disk in the Disks Using the Backup Policy area.
In the dialog box that opens, click OK.
Parameters
Basic Info
Name: Specify a name for the backup policy.
Description: Specify a description for the backup policy.
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 Pools: Specify the location where the backup file is saved.
Data: Select the backup type.
Full VM—Backs up the disk data and configuration files for a VM. You can restore the entire VM by using the backup file.
Disk Level—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.
CBT Backup: Select whether to enable CBT backup for the VM. CBT backs up only the data that has changed since the last backup, which saves time and system resources. To use CBT backup, make sure the VM is created on CAS E0525 or later and uses intelligent (QCOW2) disks and single-level image files.
Take Effect Now: Set whether to enable the backup policy after creation.
Full Backup
Frequency: Select the execution frequency of full backup.
Started At: Select the execution start time.
To: 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.
Backups to Save: 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 Type: 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. Differential backup is not supported when CBT backup is enabled.
Disk Read Rate Limit: Specify the limit on the read rate of the storage volume that stores the VM disk files.
Disk Write Rate Limit: Specify the limit on the write rate of the storage volume that stores the backup file.
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.
Days: Select the backup execution day.
Started At: Select the execution start time.
To: 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.