Backup della macchina virtuale

Definizione di VM Backup

Il backup delle macchine virtuali (VM backup) is the process of backing up the macchine virtuali (VM) running in an enterprise environment. VMs usually run as guests on hypervisors that emulate a computer system, and allow multiple VMs to share a physical host hardware system. The most popular hypervisors are VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V, with other available hypervisors including cloud-based virtual machines.

Poiché le aziende fanno sempre più affidamento sulla virtualizzazione, le VM sono diventate una parte fondamentale degli ambienti IT aziendali. Le applicazioni aziendali, i database e persino i carichi di lavoro in container vengono eseguiti su VM e generano enormi quantità di dati che devono essere protetti utilizzando una solida soluzione di protezione dei dati. Le applicazioni che consentono alle aziende di eseguire il backup e il ripristino di tutti i file che compongono intere macchine virtuali sono denominate VM Backup.

Che cos’è il VM Backup?

Virtual machine backup is a data protection solution for VMs that performs similar functions to traditional backup solutions that are used physical servers.  Virtual machine backup applications can perform a full backup of all files in a VM, an incremental backup, or differential backup. The vm backup software needs to run frequently and periodically to protect VM files, configurations, and continuously changing data.  Modern vm backup software will utilize enhancement capabilities available through the hypervisor that allow for quicker backups with less impact on the virtual machine.

Concetti relativi al VM Backup

Di seguito sono riportati i concetti essenziali per comprendere le procedure di VM Backup:

• Differential backup – Backup of only the files that have changed since the last full backup.
• File-level backup – Backup that is defined at the level of files and folders.
• Full backup – A backup of all files.
• Full vm backup – A backup of all files that comprise an entire virtual machine, including disk images, configuration files, and others.
• Image-level backup – or volume level is the backup of the entire storage volume
• Incremental backup – Backup of only the files that have changed since the last backup, either full or incremental.
• Quiescing – A process to bring the data of the virtual machine to a state suitable for backups including, flushing of buffers from the operating systems memory cache to disk or other application specific tasks.

In cosa consiste il processo di VM Backup e come funziona?

Analogamente al backup dei server fisici, VM Backup protegge tutti gli elementi associati a una macchina virtuale. I backup delle macchine virtuali possono essere eseguiti in diversi modi, sia tramite un agente di backup installato nel sistema operativo guest, sia tramite l’integrazione con l’hypervisor che consente backup senza agente. Indipendentemente dalla destinazione del processo di backup della macchina virtuale, è necessario seguire attentamente i passaggi per garantire un backup corretto e la protezione dei dati. Le fasi principali di VM Backup includono:

• Discovery. One needs to discover the virtual machines in their environment
• Voce relativa al computer client. Creare una voce separata per ogni macchina virtuale
• Contrassegnare le macchine virtuali (VM) per il backup. Identificare le macchine virtuali da proteggere e gli agenti Virtual Server che eseguiranno il processo vmbackup
• Dischi associati. Identificare i dischi associati alle macchine virtuali contrassegnate per il backup
• Flussi di backup. Assegnare i flussi di backup ai proxy secondo una sequenza round-robin
• Scarica i dati. Utilizza gli agenti del server virtuale per scaricare i dati di backup
• Snapshot. Creare uno snapshot della macchina virtuale utilizzando l’API dell’hypervisor
• Backup. Completa la procedura di backup salvando una copia dei dati in un’altra posizione

Esecuzione del client di backup all’interno di una macchina virtuale.

Because a virtual machine is just like a physical machine, it can be backed up in the same manner as a physical machine using backup software running inside the virtual machine.  With this method, the backup agent performs quiescing of the virtual machine being backed up.  This is typically used for file-level backup of the data stored on the disk of the virtual machine.

This method has advantages and disadvantages.  Advantages can be there are no procedural changes or skills required since the backup agent is similar process to that of a physical server backup.  This method can help with consistency of application data for some business critical workloads like databases.  A disadvantage could be higher usage of the hosts resources as the backup operation is being carried out.  However, computer resources today are more capable and the backup software is less resource intensive.

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Esecuzione del client di backup sulla macchina host della macchina virtuale.

Because a virtual machine is made up of a few files, those files can back up through integration with the hypervisor.  This allows for the files that make up the virtual machine to be backed up as files, but with a few differences.  Since these files are being written to while the virtual machine is running, the VM must be power off, or a snapshot method must be used to backup the files.  This type of backup using snapshots can require quiescing of the virtual machine.  Different operating systems respond in different ways to produce crash-consistent, file-system consistent or application-consistent snapshots.

If your VM backups include transactional apps such as database and email servers, quiescing them to make sure that they are in a proper state for backup is referred to as application-consistent as an example.  Before a backup starts, the application is paused to ensure that any outstanding transactions and writes are written to disk. This step ensures that the server is aware of the operation and that no data will be lost if VM recovery is needed. Quiescing only works with applications that support the pausing and writing of pending data whenever necessary.

Perché il VM Backup è importante?

The amount of data created daily is staggering, and all of it must be stored and protected against loss. By 2025, it is estimated that 463 exabyte di dati will be created each day. Users expect to have the data they need accessible and available around the clock. Without virtual machine backup, it is fair to expect some data loss and application failure due to scheduled and unscheduled disruptions. Without vmbackup, many businesses would suffer and lose vital data due to extended disruptions and disaster recovery times. A vmbackup solution keeps the business engines running and brings them back to life faster after outages, ransomware attacks corruption, or any other event that damages their data.

Vantaggi del backup delle macchine virtuali

Digital data and applications are the drivers of business growth. Proteggere i carichi di lavoro critici per l’azienda e le relative macchine virtuali and data is vital for business survival. Data protection provide a safety net against data loss or corruption. Il VM Backup estende la protezione alle VM, which are the workhorse of modern IT, but often are overlooked by legacy backup solutions. Backing up VMs ensures your data, configurations, and files’ safety and enables faster recovery after disruptions. Modern vm backup software delivers full VM protection and contribute to business resiliency.