Editor's note
A strong VMware virtual recovery and backup plan consists of several elements and requires frequent testing to make sure it will work properly when the time comes.
Different strategies, VMware products, features and third-party tools all come into play when protecting data in the virtual infrastructure. Admins should employ configuration best practices and take advantage of snapshot technology to reduce downtime in the event of a failure.
Tools like VMware Site Recovery Manager and vSphere Data Protection can assist in these efforts. Products like Quest Software's Vroom can also help manage, monitor, and protect data and applications.
With the recent increase in ransomware attacks and outages, it's more important than ever before to consider all the strategies and tools at your disposal when reviewing and implementing a virtual recovery and backup plan.
1Use snapshots to defend and resurrect VMs
Using snapshots to restore VMs to a particular point in time is a popular way to back up data and protect against failures. Although snapshots are useful, they need to be properly managed so they don't cause unforeseen issues. Learn the role of snapshots in a larger VMware virtual recovery and backup strategy and the common issues admins encounter when using them.
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Know when to use snapshot technology
A snapshot isn't a stand-alone backup replacement, but it can enhance your data protection strategy. Read this expert tip to learn more about snapshot advantages and drawbacks. Read Now
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VMware snapshot size and other causes of slow snapshots
Snapshots offer multiple restore points for VMs, but they include some complications. Poor performance can stem from the VMware snapshot size and other root causes. Read Now
2Adopt VMware Site Recovery Manager to ease DR efforts
Site Recovery Manager (SRM) automates failover and provides disaster recovery (DR) testing. Admins overseeing complex virtual infrastructures can prioritize VMs so they automatically restart in a specific order when a failure occurs. Navigate the ins and outs of SRM and understand how to use it alongside other technologies and features to strengthen your VMware virtual recovery and backup strategy.
3Get to know VMware's vSphere Data Protection tool
The vSphere Data Protection (VDP) tool can be a key component of your VMware virtual recovery and backup plan if you use it correctly. Learn the ins and outs of this product and its updates. Also, navigate everything from how to configure VDP and enable certain features to troubleshooting common issues and using it alongside other tools in the data center.
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Address capacity issues in vSphere Data Protection
Before you can realize the full benefits of deduplication in VMware vSphere Data Protection, you have to back up a certain amount of data. Read Now
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VMware VADP and vSphere Data Protection FAQs
VStorage API for Data Protection replaced VMware Consolidated Backup and VMware Data Recovery. It works with vSphere Data Protection and other tools. Read Now
4Evaluate recovery and backup products from other vendors
Just because you're working in a VMware environment doesn't mean that the tools VMware offers are the only ones you can use to support a virtual recovery plan. There are several third-party tools that aid in backup and disaster recovery and the market is constantly changing. Keep up to date on your options and evaluate them based on your current and future needs.