CLOUDBERRY ONLINE BACKUP HYPER-V GUIDE · Best Practices for Hyper-V Installations Backing up Hyper-V guest machines can become overly complicated at the best of times. To make it

Copyright 2019

CLOUDBERRY ONLINE BACKUP HYPER-V GUIDE

Official Partner of CloudBerry Lab in Australia & New Zealand

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Test My Backups [email protected] 1300 711 987 [email protected]

Table of Contents Hyper-V Overview ................................................................................................................................... 2

Supported Systems ............................................................................................................................. 2

Licensing .............................................................................................................................................. 2

Best Practices for Hyper-V Installations .............................................................................................. 2

Using CloudBerry Online Backup ............................................................................................................ 3

Creating a Backup Plan for Hyper-V .................................................................................................... 3

Restoring Hyper-V Guests and Data ................................................................................................. 11

Creating a Restore Plan ................................................................................................................. 11

Sales & Technical Support ..................................................................................................................... 17

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Hyper-V Overview The following guide provides all the details required to perform best practice backups and recoveries

of Hyper-V environments using CloudBerry Online Backup. This includes backing up to local and

cloud based storage; along with restoring guests into hosted Hyper-V hosts, Azure VM and Amazon

EC2 instances.

Supported Systems CloudBerry Online Backup VM supports backing up Hyper-V guests within the following

environments:

Windows Server 2019

Windows Server 2016

Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2

Windows Server 2008 / 2008 R2

Licensing To protect virtual machines using CloudBerry Online Backup; the VM Server subscription will be

required once the initial 15 day trial period has finished. The VM Server subscription allows for two

(2) sockets to be protected.

In the event that additional sockets are required to protect the Hyper-V environment; the VM Server

Socket subscription can also be added and enabled when a VM Server subscription is present. Each

VM Server Socket subscription protects an additional one (1) socket.

More on licensing can be found here.

Best Practices for Hyper-V Installations Backing up Hyper-V guest machines can become overly complicated at the best of times. To make it

as simple as possible; there are some guidelines that should be taken into account when configuring

the Hyper-V role within Windows.

Only install the Hyper-V role on the physical host

The whole idea of virtualised environments is to make the overall IT infrastructure more efficient

and reliable. This means that only the Hyper-V role should be installed on the physical machine; to

ensure that it’s not taking resources unnecessarily.

If there are other applications or roles installed on the Hyper-V host; they have the potential to

cause problems with the entire Hyper-V configuration. Even something as simple as rolling back a

bad update to a third party application could cause the entire host to be re-booted – meaning

downtime for all VM’s that are located on that host.

Enable Hyper-V Integration Services on each virtual machine

Hyper-V Integration Services provides the Hyper-V host and guest machines the ability to

communicate in a more streamlined way. One of the ways which integration services helps is

through backup. With the integration services installed; the Hyper-V host (and backup process

running on it) is able to communicate with guests during backup to ensure that all data is application

consistent.

https://testmybackups.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/TMB-COB-Licensing-Activation.pdf

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The other added benefit is that the guest machine will encounter little to zero downtime during

backup windows.

Keep the Hyper-V host and guest machines on separate domains

This is more of a pre-caution. If a Hyper-V guest (VM) is also a Domain Controller (DC); if it becomes

unusable then it’s possible that access to the Hyper-V host is prevented due to being unable to

contact the DC to authenticate properly.

Install CloudBerry Online Backup on the Hyper-V Host

The most efficient way to protect any Hyper-V environment is to run the backup from the physical

host – rather than on each individual VM. The reason for this is that all related backup information

for the guests is located in one area.

It’s a requirement that the software is installed on the Hyper-V host use all the Hyper-V functionality

within CloudBerry Online Backup.

Using CloudBerry Online Backup

Creating a Backup Plan for Hyper-V

The process for creating a backup plan that protects your Hyper-V guest machines is a fairly simple

process.

1. Launch the Hyper-V Backup Plan Wizard by clicking on Hyper-V on the navigation toolbar:

2. Select the type of backup destination to associate with the backup plan. There are two

options:

Local or Cloud Backup

This selection allows for the backup to be written directly to either local media; or a cloud

storage account.

Hybrid Backup

Using this option means that the backup will be backed up to two separate destinations – a

local device (NAS or hard drive) and cloud storage - during the one backup run.

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3. Select the backup storage destination that will be used to store the backups.

NOTE: If you selected Hybrid Backup in step 2; you’ll be asked to provide the Local Backup

Storage first and then the secondary/cloud storage second.

4. Name the backup plan to something that is easy to identify.

We also recommend ticking ‘Save backup plan configuration to the backup storage’ so that

it’s easily recovered in future.

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5. Select the Hyper-V guests to back up.

There are three different options available to choose from:

Back up all Virtual Machines

This will automatically select all virtual machines located on the Hyper-V host. Any additional

VM’s created in the future will automatically be selected.

Backup only running Virtual Machines

This will only back up VM’s which are switched on and are running when the backup begins.

Backup selected Virtual Machines

Allows for complete user control. Specifically choose if each individual VM is to be backed up

or not within this backup plan.

6. Choose to encrypt and compress the backup files.

Compressing the backup will reduce the overall storage space required for the backup and

also decrease backup times due to smaller amounts of data being transferred to the backup

destination.

Backups that are encrypted are done so using AES encryption. The various key lengths

determines the strength of the encryption. The longer the key length; the hard it is to break.

However there is also a trade off as it’ll take longer for the backup to complete.

NOTE: Encryption passwords can’t be recovered by our team. The password is required

when performing data restores and recoveries.

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7. Set the Retention Policy for the backup plan.

The page of the wizard allows for the user to set the version control on the files backed up.

There are two different options to choose from:

Use defaults

This will use the global retention policy that’s already been set. To check these settings; click

on the ‘options’ link provided.

Specify custom retention policy for backup plan

Allows a user to specify the retention policy for just the current backup plan. The options

available are:

Delete versions older than

Configure how old the oldest version of a file should be. Tick the option ‘Always

keep the last version’ if at least one copy of the file is required regardless of how old

it is.

Keep number of versions (for each file)

This outlines how many individual copies of a file should be kept at one time. When

the limit is exceeded; the oldest copy will be removed regardless of when it was

created.

8. Schedule when the backup plan should run.

There are three main options available to indicate when a backup plan is executed.

No schedule (run manually)

Fairly straight forward. This will mean the user will need to start the backup for it to run.

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Specific Date

Allows a user to indicate a specific date and time when the backup plan is executed. Great

for meeting data compliance requirements.

Recurring

Backup plan is executed automatically on a specific schedule. Can set frequency, start time

and regularity the software runs the backup plan without user intervention.

There are additional options available which are applicable to all three scheduling options

above. Set a hard run time for the backup until it’s forced to stop by the software and also to

execute any missed backups.

9. Schedule a Full backup.

Similar to the recurring option in step 8; a user can force a full backup to be written to the

backup destination. When using block-level backups; the only time a full copy of the data is

made is during the first time a backup plan is run (by default).

There is also the option to force a full backup when a percentage of the total data set is

being backed up due to it having changed (50% is default).

It’s recommended to run regular full backups to ensure that older versions of files are

available on storage that’s being used for block level backups.

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10. Set any pre and post backup actions.

In some instances; there may be some requirement for a script to be executed before or

after a backup plan. There are three options available:

Pre-backup action

User can specify where the script file is located that to be run before the backup plan begins.

There is also a radio button option to either stop the backup if the pre-backup action fails or

continue regardless of the pre-backup action outcome.

Post-backup action

User can define a script or task that occurs once the backup plan has completed.

There is also a radio button option to run the post-backup action if the backup plan was

successful or execute regardless of the backup result.

Backup chain

If running multiple backups plans within one CloudBerry Online Backup installation; a user

can choose to automatically run the next expected backup plan once the current plan has

finished.

As with the pre and post backup tasks; the option to only run when current backup

completed successfully or continue regardless of its result are available.

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11. Configure Backup Report Notifications.

CloudBerry Online Backup is able to send backup reports to a user defined e-mail address

configured in the MBS console.

To receive notifications for this backup plan; tick I want to receive notification email when

backup completes and select when to receive notifications by clicking the applicable radio

button:

When backup fails

A notification will only be sent when a backup plan has encountered a warning or

error.

In all cases

A notification report will be emailed each time the backup plan is run.

Add entry to Windows Event Log when plan completes

CloudBerry Online Backup can write an event into the Windows Event Log to notify when a

backup completes and its result. The two options available are the same as above.

This is useful for those using RMM software to monitor and provide alerts when specific

events on the system occur.

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12. A Summary of all the settings configured within the wizard is now provided.

13. The backup plan is now successfully created.

Tick run backup now to execute the backup plan straight away.

Click Finish to complete the wizard.

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Restoring Hyper-V Guests and Data

Creating a Restore Plan 1. Launch the Restore Wizard by clicking on Restore on the navigation toolbar.

If restoring to a VM hosted on Amazon EC2, MS Azure or Google Cloud then you can click the

option to the right to also launch the wizard – although the wizard will ask to confirm the

destination anyway.

2. Once the wizard is launched; click Next on the welcome screen.

3. Select the backup storage where the Hyper-V backup to restore is located and click Next.

The software will then read which backups are available to provide the applicable options

available further into the restore plan.

4. Name the restore plan.

There are two options to choose from on this screen:

Run restore once

Used if the restore is a once off process; will run once and no settings will be saved once

restore is completed.

Save restore plan

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Allows for the restore plan to be saved within CloudBerry Online Backup so that it can be

quickly run again in future; or even run on an automatic schedule.

If using this option; you’ll be able to provide a name for the restore plan.

5. Select Restore Hyper-V Virtual Machine on the Type of Data page and click Next.

6. Select the Restore Point which is to be used by the restore plan.

There are three different options available:

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Latest Restore Point

Uses the last backup that was taken to restore Hyper-V guests from.

Point in time

Allows a user to restore the Hyper-V guest machines from the last backup to be taken before

the time and date specified.

Manually

Allows users to choose the specific files and version from all those available on the backup

drive.

7. Select VM’s to restore by ticking the box next to the applicable VM in the file list.

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8. Select where to restore the Hyper-V VM’s.

There are four different options to choose from here.

NOTE: Options on this screen may vary depending on the storage account type used.

Restore as Hyper-V machine

Use this when restoring guests back into a machine running the Hyper-V role.

Restore to Amazon Web Services

Will restore the VM data directly into AWS as either an EC2 machine, EBS volume or Amazon

Machine Image

Restore to Microsoft Azure

Will restore the VM data directly into Azure as a VM or Data Disk.

Restore to Google Cloud Platform

Will restore the VM data into a Google Cloud Instance, Image or Disk.

9. Configure the location where the VM files are to be restored.

Since CloudBerry can’t create and restore a VM directly into the Hyper-V Management

Console; this is why the option to restore to original location is disabled.

A user must specify a folder location to restore the files into.

Save this location as default destination for future restore.

If this is going to be the common restore repository for any future restores; users can choose

to make this file path as the default of any future restore plans by ticking.

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Overwrite existing files will mean that the restored files will replace any files currently in the

restore folder that are named the same. If selecting this option; it’s also possible to specify

to restore only new files which aren’t currently present in the folder.

10. If the backup being restored from is encrypted, tick the box to Decrypt encrypted files with

the following password and enter the password in the text boxes provided.

Once the password is entered as required, or if the backup isn’t encrypted click Next.

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14. Configure Backup Report Notifications.

CloudBerry Online Backup is able to send backup reports to a user defined e-mail address

configured in the MBS console.

To receive notifications for this backup plan; tick I want to receive notification email when

backup completes and select when to receive notifications by clicking the applicable radio

button:

When backup fails

A notification will only be sent when a backup plan has encountered a warning or

error.

In all cases

A notification report will be emailed each time the backup plan is run.

Add entry to Windows Event Log when plan completes

CloudBerry Online Backup can write an event into the Windows Event Log to notify when a

backup completes and its result. The two options available are the same as above.

This is useful for those using RMM software to monitor and provide alerts when specific

events on the system occur.

11. A Summary of all the settings configured within the wizard is now provided.

12. The Restore plan is now successfully created.

Click Finish to complete the wizard.

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The Restore Plans tab will now be displayed with the newly created Restore plan showing in

the list. To run the restore, click the Play button to the right of the plan listing.

Sales & Technical Support Test My Backups provide sales and technical support in Australia and New Zealand. To efficiently get

help with any sales or technical enquiries; use the steps outlined on the Test My Backups Support

page.

https://testmybackups.com/cloudberrylab/support/

Documents

CLOUDBERRY ONLINE BACKUP HYPER-V GUIDE · Best Practices for Hyper-V Installations Backing up Hyper-V guest machines can become overly complicated at the best of times. To make it