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Restore ONTAP data from backup files with NetApp Backup and Recovery

Contributors netapp-mwallis
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Backups of your ONTAP volume data are stored as snapshots, on replicated volumes, or in object storage. You can restore data from any of these locations at a specific point in time. With NetApp Backup and Recovery, you can restore an entire volume, a folder, or individual files as needed.

Note To switch to and from NetApp Backup and Recovery workloads, refer to Switch to different NetApp Backup and Recovery workloads.

  • You can restore a volume (as a new volume) to the original system, to a different system that's using the same cloud account, or to an on-premises ONTAP system.

  • You can restore a folder to a volume in the original system, to a volume in a different system that's using the same cloud account, or to a volume on an on-premises ONTAP system.

  • You can restore files to a volume in the original system, to a volume in a different system that's using the same cloud account, or to a volume on an on-premises ONTAP system.

You need a valid NetApp Backup and Recovery license to restore data to a production system.

To summarize, these are the valid flows you can use to restore volume data to an ONTAP system:

  • Backup file → restored volume

  • Replicated volume → restored volume

  • Snapshot → restored volume

Note If the restore operation does not complete, wait until the Job Monitor shows "Failed" before you retry the restore operation.
Note For limitations related to restoring ONTAP data, see Backup and restore limitations for ONTAP volumes.

The Restore Dashboard

You use the Restore Dashboard to perform volume, folder, and file restore operations. To access the Restore Dashboard, select Backup and recovery from the Console menu, and then select the Restore tab. You can also select More button > View Restore Dashboard from the Backup and recovery service from the Services panel.

Note NetApp Backup and Recovery must already be activated for at least one system and initial backup files must exist.

The Restore Dashboard provides two different ways to restore data from backup files: Browse & Restore and Search & Restore.

Comparing Browse & Restore and Search & Restore

In broad terms, Browse & Restore is typically better when you need to restore a specific volume, folder, or file from the last week or month — and you know the name and location of the file, and the date when it was last in good shape. Search & Restore is typically better when you need to restore a volume, folder, or file, but you don't remember the exact name, or the volume in which it resides, or the date when it was last in good shape.

This table provides a feature comparison of the two methods.

Browse & Restore Search & Restore

Browse through a folder-style structure to find the volume, folder, or file within a single backup file.

Search for a volume, folder, or file across all backup files by partial or full volume name, partial or full folder/file name, size range, and additional search filters.

Does not handle file recovery if the file has been deleted or renamed, and the user doesn't know the original file name

Handles newly created/deleted/renamed directories and newly created/deleted/renamed files

Quick restore is supported.

Quick restore is not supported.

This table provides a list of valid restore operations based on the location where your backup files reside.

Backup Type Browse & Restore Search & Restore

Restore volume

Restore files

Restore folder

Restore volume

Restore files

Restore folder

Snapshot

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Replicated volume

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Backup file

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Before you use either restore method, configure your environment to meet the resource requirements. See the following sections for details.

See the requirements and restore steps for the type of restore operation you want to use: