vRanger 7.6.3 - User Guide

Configuring VSS tools using the manual method

Configuring VSS tools using the manual method

For Windows Server® 2003 VMs, the vRanger VSS Tools must be manually deployed to the target VM, using the following procedures.

 

NOTE: vzShadow.exe works with VMware® Tools. VMware Tools must be installed and running on the VM when using vzShadow.exe.

To configure VSS tools using the manual method:

1	On the vRanger machine, browse to the Client\VSS\VSSfor2k3 subdirectory in the vRanger installation location.

The default is C:\Program Files\Quest\vRanger\Client\VSS\VSSfor2k3.

2	In this directory, find the appropriate C++ Redistributable package and vzShadow.exe for the bit level of the source VM — the one you want to back up.

For 64-bit (x64) machines, choose:

vcredist_x64.exe (Microsoft C++ Redistributable)

vzshadow_x64.exe

For 32-bit (x86) machines, choose:

vcredist_x86.exe

vzshadow_x86.exe

3	On the source VM, start the vesicatories file to install the C++ Redistributable.

4	Depending on your system, move the appropriate file to the machine’s root directory — typically the C:\ directory.

For 64-bit operating system, copy vzshadow_x64.exe.

For 32-bit operating system, copy vzshadow_x86.exe.

5	Create a directory on the VM: C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\backupscripts.d\

6	In this directory, create a batch file called freeze.bat.

The following shows a sample batch file:

c:\vzshadow.exe x:

where x equals the drive that hosts the application — if there are multiple volumes on this VM, list all volumes, separated by colon and space (: ), as in:

c:\vzshadow.exe c: d: e:

When using vRanger with Quest Recovery Manager for Exchange 5.1 or later, use the following text for your batch file. This text creates an XML file that Recovery Manager for Exchange uses to identify vRanger savepoints with Exchange databases.

c:\vzshadow_64.exe -bc=x:\backup.xml x:

c:\vzshadow_86.exe -bc=x:\backup.xml x:

where X equals the drive that hosts the Exchange Server; if there are multiple volumes on this VM, list all volumes, separated by colon and a space (: ), as in:

c:\vzshadow_x86.exe -bc=c:\backup.xml c: d: e:

When VSS is triggered by VMware tools, the pre-freeze script runs vzShadow.exe.

Configuring a backup job

Configuring a backup job

vRanger uses a wizard to guide you through the process of creating a backup job. Each page of the wizard is explained in more detail in the topics that follow.

To configure a backup job, complete the following tasks:

•	Starting the Backup Wizard

•	Excluding VMs

•	Including hard disks of physical machines or VMs

•	Selecting a repository

•	Selecting a backup data transport method for VMware machines

•	Configuring backup options

•	Selecting a Retention Policy

•	Setting the recurrence schedule

•	Configuring email notifications

•	Starting the backup job

Starting the Backup Wizard

Starting the Backup Wizard

The first step to creating a vRanger backup job is to select the inventory node — physical server, VMware® vCenter™, host, backup group, and so on — that you want to back up. After selecting the node, you may start the Backup Wizard as described in the following procedures.

You may also create a custom grouping consisting of multiple physical servers or of existing objects from multiple hosts or vCenters. For more information, see Adding a custom backup group. Backup groups are treated the same as any other inventory node when it comes to creating backup jobs.

 

IMPORTANT: A backup group must contain only physical objects, only Hyper-V® objects, or only VMware® objects. You cannot combine VMware, Hyper-V, and physical objects into a single backup group.

To select an inventory node, complete one of the following procedures:

•	Selecting a node in the My Inventory view

•	Selecting a node in the My Jobs view

 

NOTE: If you want to back up more than one node, you need to first create a custom backup group. For more information, see Adding a custom backup group.

Selecting a node in the My Inventory view

Selecting a node in the My Inventory view

When working in the My Inventory view, starting the Backup Wizard creates a job to back up the selected inventory node or backup group. If a node s not selected, the Add icon on the toolbar is disabled.

To select a node in the My Inventory view:

1	In the My Inventory view, click the appropriate tab, VMware, Hyper-V, Physical, or vCloud, and then select the preferred node to select the object or backup group.

 

NOTE: When viewing the vCloud inventory, the only inventory object that can be selected for backup is a vApp.

2	Do one of the following:

▪	Right-click the selected node and select Backup <object name>.

▪	With the preferred inventory node selected, click the Add drop-down menu, and then click Backup Job.

The Backup Wizard starts.

3	In the Job Name field, enter a name for the backup job.

4	[Optional] In the Job Description field, enter a description for the backup job.

5	Click Next.

NOTE: If your selected inventory node contains only one server, skip to Including hard disks of physical machines or VMs. If your selected node contains multiple servers (such as a backup group or host), proceed to Excluding VMs.