If a local backup is not available, you can recover from a backup copy. The same recovery operations that are used for local backups are supported for backup copies, but recovering from backup copies requires additional steps. These steps vary depending on the backup copy target. See the following table for procedures by backup copy target:
Important! Once you have imported a backup copy to your appliance, you have 72 hours to utilize the backup. After 72 hours, the imported backup is subject to standard appliance purging rules. In most cases, the backup will be purged quickly because the original backup date is used in determining which backups to purge next.
Backup copy target | Recovery procedure |
---|---|
Unitrends Cloud |
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Managed service provider |
Contact the service provider. |
Unitrends appliance |
|
Third-party cloud (Amazon, Google, or Rackspace) |
|
NAS |
|
FC |
|
iSCSI |
|
Attached disk |
|
Tape |
Use your source backup appliance to recover files or entire backup copies from the Unitrends Cloud. Once you have reviewed the considerations and requirements in this section, proceed to one of the following recovery procedures:
• | To import a backup copy from the Unitrends Cloud |
• | To recover files from an asset-level backup copy by using the File Browser |
• | To recover files from an asset-level backup copy by using Search Files |
• | Recovering files from virtual machine backups |
To recover from the Unitrends Cloud, you either import the backup copy to the source appliance or recover files directly from the Unitrends Cloud.
Notes:
• | Recovering files from the Cloud downloads the selected file(s) in a .zip file. The total size of the file(s) you download in one recovery cannot exceed 500MB. To recover multiple files that are less than 500MB each, you can run separate recovery procedures to ensure that the download size does not exceed this 500MB limit. |
• | For some host-level backup copies, the file-level recovery object creates a CIFS share. If a CIFS mount is available, you can recover larger files by mounting and browsing this CIFS share (rather than downloading to a .zip file). |
Supported recovery operations vary by backup type:
• | For all backup types - Import the backup copy from the Unitrends Cloud to the source appliance, as described in To import a backup copy from the Unitrends Cloud. Once the backup copy has been imported, recover it just like you would any other local backup. |
• | For asset-level backups - Use these additional options to recover files directly from the Unitrends Cloud: |
– | Browse a backup copy in the Unitrends Cloud and download selected file(s) in a .zip file. For details, see To recover files from an asset-level backup copy by using the File Browser. |
– | Search for files in asset-level backup copies and download selected file(s) in a .zip file. For details, see To recover files from an asset-level backup copy by using Search Files. |
• | For host-level backups of Windows or Linux VMs - Browse a backup copy in the Unitrends Cloud and download selected file(s) in a .zip file. For details, see Recovering files from virtual machine backups. |
The following requirements and limitations apply:
Requirement or limitation |
Description |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Source appliance |
The source appliance must meet the following requirements:
|
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Recovering files directly from the Unitrends Cloud |
You can recover files directly from backup copies in the Unitrends Cloud. The selected file(s) are downloaded a .zip file. The following limitations apply:
Note: For some host-level backup copies, the file-level recovery object creates a CIFS share. If a CIFS share is available, you can recover larger files by mounting and browsing this CIFS share (rather than downloading to a .zip file). |
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Recovering from imported backup copies |
To recover entire backup copies, you must first import the backup copy to the source appliance. Once imported, you recover from the imported backup copy as you would from any other local backup. Note: Importing a backup copy from the Cloud can take quite some time. The duration of the import is impacted by various factors, such as the size of the backup copy, bandwidth, and download speed. |
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Maximum number of recovery jobs |
The number of active recovery jobs that can run simultaneously on a Unitrends Cloud target is limited to prevent the target from becoming overloaded. If you attempt a recovery and this limit has been met, a message displays indicating that the recovery task will not start. If you see this message, cancel the job by removing its recovery object and try again later. To cancel the job:
Recovery objects display on the tab with the following details: the name of the asset for which the object was created, the status of the object, the date and time it was created, the length of time it has existed on the appliance, and whether it can be accessed through iSCSI or CIFS.
|
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Browser and UI session |
Persistent browser and UI sessions are required during file recovery from the Unitrends Cloud. While the recovery is in progress, closing the browser or logging out of the appliance UI causes recovered data to be inaccessible. If you close the browser or UI session during the recovery, you must create a new job. File recovery jobs cannot be restarted. Note: Persistent browser and UI sessions are NOT required while importing a backup copy from the Cloud. While an import is running, closing the browser or UI does not impact the job. |
1 | Log in to the source appliance. |
2 | Click Recover > Backup Catalog. |
3 | In the Filter Backups area to the right, select Backup Copy (Hot) in the Type list. |
You must select this Type to view backup copies in the Unitrends Cloud.
4 | Enter other filter options as desired. |
5 | Click Filter. |
• | Assets with backup copies meeting the filter options you specified display in the Backup Catalog list. |
• | Expand an asset to view its backup copies. |
• | Backup copies that reside in the Unitrends Cloud are purple and the description Backup Copy (Hot) on Target displays when you hover over the backup copy icon. |
• | If your source appliance is also being used as a backup copy target appliance, the catalog lists both the copies of local backups that are stored in the Unitrends Cloud and the hot backup copies that are stored on this appliance (that were received from another appliance). Hover over the backup copy icon to determine whether this backup copy resides in the Unitrends Cloud or on this appliance. Backup Copy (Hot) indicates that the backup copy is stored on this appliance. Backup Copy (Hot) on Target indicates that the backup copy resides in the Unitrends Cloud. |
6 | Select the Backup Copy (Hot) on Target copy you wish to import. |
7 | Click Import to Source. |
The Import Backup Copies dialog displays. This lists the backup copies to import.
Notes:
• | Selecting a copy of a full backup imports only the full backup. |
• | Selecting a copy of an incremental backup imports the full backup and the incrementals up to and including the selected backup. |
• | Selecting a copy of a differential backup imports the differential and the associated full backup. |
• | For more information about backup groups, see Backup groups. |
8 | Click Import. |
The message Starting Import displays.
9 | Click OK to continue. |
Selected backup copies are imported to the appliance.
10 | To verify that the import is complete, check for the backup copies in the Backup Catalog: |
• | Filter the display to view imported backups (Type = Imported Backup). |
• | Imported hot backup copies are purple and the description Imported Backup from Target displays when you hover over the backup copy icon. |
11 | (Optional) Recover from the imported backup copy as you would from any regular backup. |
Note: The appliance purges the oldest backups when space is needed. Because imported backup copies are often older than others on the appliance, they are retained for 72 hours before becoming eligible for purging. Be sure to recover from imported backups within the first 72 hours.
See these topics for recovery options and instructions:
You can recover a Unitrends appliance backup copy from the source backup appliance (release 9.1 or higher) or from the backup copy target appliance. See these topics for details:
You can recover from hot backup copies that are stored on a Unitrends target appliance by running the standard recovery procedures on the target appliance. Use the applicable recovery procedures, but run them from the target appliance and select a hot backup copy (instead of a regular backup or imported backup). For details on viewing hot backup copies, see To view the hot backup copies stored on the target appliance below.
Recovery procedures require that you select a target asset where the backup copy will be recovered. Only assets that have been added to the target appliance can be used as recovery targets. Be sure to add the desired target asset before running the recovery procedure. (See the adding assets procedures in Managing protected assets for details.)
Once you've added the target asset, proceed to one of these topics for detailed recovery procedures:
• | Recovering Host-level Backups |
• | Recovering Asset-level Backups |
• | Recovering Application Backups |
• | Recovering NAS Backups |
Note: For iSeries, you cannot recover directly from a hot backup copy. Instead, you must import the backup copy to the source appliance. See To recover a Unitrends appliance backup copy from the source appliance for details.
1 | Log in to the target appliance and select Recover > Backup Catalog. |
2 | In the Filter Backups area to the right, select Backup Copy (Hot) in the Type list. |
3 | Enter other filter options as desired. |
4 | Click Filter. |
• | Assets with backup copies meeting the filter options you specified display in the Backup Catalog list. The source appliance where the backup originated displays in the Appliance column. |
• | Expand an asset to view its backup copies. |
• | Hot backup copies are purple and the description Backup Copy (Hot) displays when you hover over the backup copy icon, as shown here: |
• | If your target appliance is also being used as a backup appliance and its local backups are being copied to a hot backup copy target, the catalog lists both the hot backup copies stored on this appliance and any backups that were copied from this appliance to the hot backup copy target. (The hot backup copy target could be another appliance or the Unitrends Cloud). |
– | You can recover the backup copies that are stored on this appliance as you would any other local backup. |
– | To determine whether the backup copy is stored on this appliance, hover over the backup copy icon to display more information. If the backup copy is labeled Backup Copy (Hot), it can be recovered using the standard backup recovery procedures. If the backup copy is labeled Backup Copy (Hot) on Target, you must recover it using the To recover a Unitrends appliance backup copy from the source appliance procedure below. |
Use this procedure to import a Unitrends appliance backup copy to the source backup appliance. Once the backup copy has been imported, proceed to the applicable procedure to recover from the imported backup copy.
To import the backup copy, both the source backup appliance and the backup copy target appliance must be running version 9.1 or higher.
1 | Log in to the source backup appliance. |
2 | Select Recover > Backup Catalog. |
3 | In the Filter Backups area to the right, select Backup Copy (Hot) in the Type list. |
4 | Enter other filter options as desired. |
5 | Click Filter. |
• | Assets with backup copies meeting the filter options you specified display in the Backup Catalog list. The source appliance where the backup originated displays in the Appliance column. |
• | Expand an asset to view its backup copies. |
6 | Click to select the backup copy. |
7 | Click Import to Source. |
The Import Backup Copies dialog displays. This lists the backup copies to import.
Notes:
• | Selecting a copy of a full backup imports only the full backup. |
• | Selecting a copy of an incremental backup imports the full backup and the incrementals up to and including the selected backup. |
• | Selecting a copy of a differential backup imports the differential and the associated full backup. |
• | For more information about backup groups, see Backup groups. |
8 | Click Import. |
To monitor the import's progress, click Jobs > Active Jobs.
9 | Once the import completes, recover from the imported backup copy as you would from any regular backup. |
Note: The appliance purges the oldest backups when space is needed. Because imported backup copies are often older than others on the appliance, they are retained for 72 hours before becoming eligible for purging. Be sure to recover from imported backups within the first 72 hours.
To access the imported backup copy:
• | In the Backup Catalog, be sure that the Imported Backup Type is selected in the filter options. |
• | Imported hot backup copies are purple and the description Imported Backup from Target displays when you hover over the backup copy icon. |
• | See the following for recovery options and instructions: |
– | Recovering Host-level Backups |
– | Recovering Asset-level Backups |
– | Recovering Application Backups |
– | Recovering NAS Backups |
– | Recovering iSeries Backups |
Backup copies stored on external media are known as cold backup copies. Cold backup copies reside on cloud storage managed by third-party vendors or on other off-site targets, such as eSATA, tape, and NAS devices.
Before you can recover from a cold backup copy, you must import the data from the backup copy target to the source backup appliance. You can either import the entire backup copy or import selected files (supported for asset-level backup copies only):
• | To import the entire backup copy, see To import a cold backup copy. Once you have imported the backup copy, it displays in the Backup Catalog with the label Imported Backup. You can then select this backup and follow the same recovery steps you would use for recovering from a local backup. |
• | To import selected files from an asset-level backup copy, see these procedures: Recover files from a cold backup copy by using Search Files or Recover files from one cold backup copy by using the File Browser.The appliance creates and imports a selective backup containing only the files you picked. |
1 | On the backup copy target, load the media containing the backup copy you wish to import. |
• | If the job copied to multiple drives or tapes, be sure to load all drives or tapes that were loaded when the backup copy job ran. The appliance writes across all drives or tapes and all must be present to perform the import. |
• | If you are using tapes that are not labeled with barcodes, each tape must be inserted into the slot where it resided during the backup copy job. |
2 | Log in to the backup appliance. |
3 | Click Recover > Backup Catalog. |
4 | In the Filter Backups area to the right, select Backup Copy (Cold) in the Type list. |
5 | Enter other filter options as desired. |
6 | Click Filter. |
• | Assets with backup copies meeting the filter options you specified display in the Backup Catalog list. |
• | Expand an asset to view its backup copies. |
7 | Click to select the backup copy. |
8 | Click Import to Source. |
The Import Backup Copies dialog displays. This lists the backup copies to import.
Notes:
• | Selecting a copy of a full backup imports only the full backup. |
• | Selecting a copy of an incremental backup imports the full backup and the incrementals up to and including the selected backup. |
• | Selecting a copy of a differential backup imports the differential and the associated full backup. |
• | For more information about backup groups, see Backup groups. |
9 | Click Import. |
To monitor the import's progress, click View Jobs.
10 | Once the import completes, recover from the imported backup copy as you would from any regular backup. |
Note: The appliance purges the oldest backups when space is needed. Because imported backup copies are often older than others on the appliance, they are retained for 72 hours before becoming eligible for purging. Be sure to recover from imported backups within the first 72 hours.
To access the imported backup copy:
• | In the Backup Catalog, be sure that the Imported Backup Type is selected in the filter options. |
• | Imported cold backup copies are light blue and the description Imported Backup displays when you hover over the backup copy icon, as shown here: |
• | See the following for recovery options and instructions: |
– | Recovering Host-level Backups |
– | Recovering Asset-level Backups |
– | Recovering Application Backups |
– | Recovering NAS Backups |
– | Recovering iSeries Backups |