Workflow 4: Run backups (and restore and clone, if needed)

About this task

The steps in this workflow are condensed and simplified. Details about each step are included in the appropriate documentation.

Concepts

Protecting VMs and datastores

Protecting Microsoft SQL Server databases

Protecting Microsoft Exchange Server databases

Protecting Oracle databases

Protecting SAP HANA databases

Protecting Microsoft Windows file systems

Protecting custom applications

Steps

Define backup strategy.
Determine which databases, files, VMs, or datastores you want to back up. Also determine when you want backups to occur, how many backup copies you want to retain, how long you want to retain backup copies, and whether you want scripts executed before or after backup operations.

Create or select backup policies.

Policies define the backup type, frequency, retention, and replication.

Note: For SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere, before creating policies or resource groups you must use the VMware vSphere web client GUI to add the SVMs on which the VMs are located. In the VMware vSphere web client GUI, click Storage Systems >

Add Storage System and complete the wizard.

To create policies for...	Do the following...
SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere (for VM and datastore host-level backups)	In the VMware vSphere web client GUI, click Policies, then click New Policy in the toolbar. Enter the required information on each page of the wizard.
All other plug-ins (for application-consistent backups)	In the SnapCenter GUI, click Settings > Policies > New. Enter the required information on each page of the wizard.

Create resource groups, attach policies, and create schedules.

Resource groups define the resources to be backed up, the policy to be used, and the backup schedule.

To create resource groups for...	Do the following...
SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere (for VM and datastore host-level backups)	In the VMware vSphere web client GUI, click Resource Groups and then click (Create Resource Group). Enter the required information on each page of the wizard.
All other plug-ins (for application-consistent backups)	In the SnapCenter GUI, click Resources, select a plug-in, then select either Database or File Systems from the View drop-down list. Click New Resource Group, and then enter the required information on each page of the wizard.

Run backups.

Resources in resource groups are automatically backed up according to the policies and schedules that are associated with the resource group. You can also backup individual resources or resource groups on demand.

To run backups for...	Do the following...
SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere (for VM and datastore host-level backups)	In the VMware vSphere web client GUI, click in the toolbar, and then select SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware from the drop-down list. In the left Navigator pane, click Resource Groups, then click the Objects tab. Select the resource group you want to back up, and then click (Run Now) in the toolbar. If the resource group has multiple policies configured, then in the Backup Now dialog box, select the policy you want to use, and then click Yes. Click OK to start the backup. Note: You can only back up resource groups, not individual VMs.
All other plug-ins (for application-consistent backups)	In the SnapCenter GUI, click Resources, select a plug-in, then select the type of resource from the View drop-down list. Select one or more specific resources to back up, and then enter the required information on each page of the wizard.

To run backups for...

Do the following...

SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere (for VM and datastore host-level backups)

In the VMware vSphere web client GUI, click in the toolbar, and then select SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware from the drop-down list.
In the left Navigator pane, click Resource Groups, then click the Objects tab.
Select the resource group you want to back up, and then click (Run Now) in the toolbar.
If the resource group has multiple policies configured, then in the Backup Now dialog box, select the policy you want to use, and then click Yes.
Click OK to start the backup.

Note: You can only back up resource groups, not individual VMs.

All other plug-ins (for application-consistent backups)

In the SnapCenter GUI, click Resources, select a plug-in, then select the type of resource from the View drop-down list.
Select one or more specific resources to back up, and then enter the required information on each page of the wizard.

If needed, restore backups.
In the event of data loss, you can restore data from one or more backups to your active file system. File system restore operations copy data from a specified backup to the original location of the file system. Database restore operations copy data and logs to a specified database.
If needed, clone backups.
Clone operations create a copy of a backup.