NetBackup™ for VMware Administrator's Guide

The dialog contains the following fields:

• NetBackup Recovery Host

  The recovery host transfers the virtual machine files to the VMware destination that is specified in other fields on this dialog. The default for the recovery host is the backup host that backed up the virtual machine.

  Consider the following when selecting a recovery host:

  • To use the original VMware backup host for the recovery, verify that the backup host still exists. The original backup host may have been removed or reconfigured after the backup occurred.

  • The current processing load on the host that you want to use may be a factor. The recovery host undergoes significant I/O activity when it restores a virtual machine.

  • The network connection between the recovery host and the destination datastore may limit the type and speed of data transmission. For example, to use the SAN transport mode, the recovery host must have access to the appropriate LUNs in the datastore.

• Media Server

  You can use this option to select a media server that has access to the storage unit that contains the backup image. An example of such an environment is a Media Server Deduplication Pool (MSDP) with multiple media servers.

  Note:

  If the storage unit that contains the backup image is not shared with multiple media servers, this option is grayed out.

• Transport modes

  Determines how the data is sent from the recovery host to the VMware datastore. The appropriate mode depends on the type of connection between the NetBackup recovery host and the VMware datastore.

  More information is available about these options.

  See Recovery Options dialog box.

• vCenter Server

  Specifies the vCenter server for the restored virtual machine. To use the original vCenter Server (the default), verify that the original vCenter server still exists.

  To use a different vCenter Server, consider whether it is compatible with the virtual machine you want to restore. If you attempt to restore to an earlier vSphere server that does not support the virtual machine's hardware version, note: The VMware Tools component converts the virtual machine to an earlier hardware version. But the restore may fail if the virtual machine uses devices that only the later hardware version supports.

  In other cases, you can use the Retain original hardware version option on the Virtual Machine Options dialog.

  The restore may finish faster if you use the SAN transport mode with a restore ESX server (bypassing any vCenter servers).

  When choosing a target host for the restore, note the following:

  • If NetBackup has credentials to a vCenter server but does not have credentials to a restore ESX server, you can perform the restore. NetBackup uses the vCenter credentials to access the ESX server but does not send the virtual machine data through the vCenter.

    Note:

    If you use the SAN transport mode for the restore, the restore job may take longer than expected.

    The credentials must give NetBackup full access privileges to the vCenter server.

    See Adding NetBackup credentials for VMware.

  • If NetBackup has credentials to a vCenter server as well as to a VMware restore ESX server, the restore may complete faster. In this case, by default NetBackup communicates with the restore ESX server during data transfer. You can select a vCenter folder in which to place the restored virtual machine. The credentials must give NetBackup full access privileges to the restore ESXi server.

    Select the vCenter Server, and click Change to select the VMware restore ESXi server.

    Note:

    NetBackup uses the selected vCenter to create the virtual machine. NetBackup then writes the .vmdk files directly to the ESX server using the Restore ESX Server credentials to that server.

  • If NetBackup has credentials to an ESX server, you can designate that server as the target for the restore. The credentials must give NetBackup full access privileges to the ESX server.

    Select None for the vCenter Server, and click Change to select the ESX server.

    Note:

    To restore to an ESX server, the ESX must be standalone, not managed by vCenter. To restore to an ESX under vCenter, NetBackup must have VMware restore ESX server credentials for the ESX. Select the vCenter, and click Change to select the VMware restore ESX server.

• ESX Server/Cluster

  Specifies the ESX server or cluster on which the restored virtual machine is to reside. To use the original ESX server or cluster (the default), verify that the original ESX server or cluster still exists.

  Click Change to browse for a different ESX server or cluster.

  See Select ESX server dialog box (restore to alternate location).

• Datacenter

  Shows the VMware data center containing the selected ESX server.

• Folder

  A folder is a logical entity within the vCenter that contains VMware objects, such as datastores, networks, and virtual machines.

  By default, this field shows the VMware folder that contained the virtual machine when the virtual machine was backed up. If you select a different ESX server to which to restore the virtual machine, this field changes to None. You must then click Change to select a folder within the data center for the restored virtual machine.

  See Select Folder dialog box (restore to alternate location).

• Display Name

  Specifies the VMware display name for the restored virtual machine. The default is the display name that the virtual machine had when it was backed up.

  The display name must be unique for the vCenter Server where the virtual machine is restored.

  Note:

  If a virtual machine with this display name already exists at this location (or at the original location), you are prompted to click Overwrite the existing virtual machine. You cannot restore the virtual machine if the result is two virtual machines with the same display name on the same vCenter server.

• Resource Pool/vApp

  Use this option to have the restored virtual machine assigned to either a VMware resource pool or to a vApp. Resource pools manage the host's CPU and memory. vApps are logical containers for virtual machines, and also share some functionality with virtual machines.

• Datastore/Datastore Cluster

  Specifies the VMware datastore or datastore cluster that contains the virtual machine configuration files. Click Change to make a selection.

  This datastore (sometimes called the vmx directory) contains the configuration files that describe the virtual machine, such as *.vmx files. Active snapshots of vmdk files are also stored on this datastore.

  Note:

  The Datastore field shows the name of the datastore that contained the virtual machine data when the virtual machine was backed up. Even if the datastore was in a datastore cluster, the field shows the name of the datastore, not the datastore cluster. When the virtual machine is restored, NetBackup determines how the datastore is currently configured (in a cluster or not) and configures the virtual machine accordingly.

• Use the same datastore/datastore cluster for all VMDKs

  This option assigns all the restored virtual machines to the datastore or datastore cluster that is selected in the Datastore/Datastore Cluster field.

  If this option is not selected, you assign the VMDKs to specific datastores or datastore clusters in a later dialog (the Storage Destination dialog).