Best Practices for Backing up vCenter Server

Topic

This discusses the best practice method of backing up a vCenter Server instance to a Datto device.

Environment

  • VMware vSphere
  • Datto SIRIS

Description

The vCenter Server instance can be backed up at the file level to a Datto device using the vCenter Server Management Interface. This is the preferred method of backing up the instance, opposed to an Image based backup. The limitations of using an image based backup for a vCenter server are covered in the VMware documentation here: Considerations and Limitations for Image-Based Backup and Restore (external link).

Create a NAS share

A NAS share will need to be created on the Datto device as a backup target for the File based backup of the vCenter Server. For step by step instructions on creating the NAS share, refer to: Creating and Protecting Network Shares With a Datto Appliance.

Create a File Based Backup

File-based backups can be scheduled for vSphere 6.7 and later. This schedule is used to perform periodic backups and can be set up with information about the backup location, recurrence, and retention for the backups. Doing so with the created NAS share as the target will allow the Share backups to also take place, recording the information and replicating it offsite (if enabled).

VMware's process of creating the File-Based backup schedule: Schedule a File-Based Backup (external link).

NOTE  It would be best to have the share's backup schedule offset from the vCenter File-Based backup, so it begins after the vCenter backup completes.

A manual backup can also be initiated for the vCenter, using the Server Management Interface, in the event that one is needed outside the set schedule. This process is covered here: Manually Back Up vCenter Server by Using the vCenter Server Management Interface (external link).

To restore from the file based backup, create a local File Restore from the preferred snapshot of the NAS share. For more information on creating the File Restore, please refer to: Performing a local File Restore.

Once the data is accessible from the Datto device, follow the process outlined in the VMware documentation here: Restore vCenter Server from a File-Based Backup (external link).

Additional Resources