vRanger 7.8.3 - User Guide

Performing a full restore from manifest for a physical machine

Performing a full restore from manifest for a physical machine

vRanger offers the ability to restore a savepoint after it has been moved from a repository. This feature allows for greater flexibility when restoring a file or server after it has been moved to long-term tape backups. You may also use the Restore from Manifest feature to restore a server after transporting the savepoint to a secondary location.

Each savepoint contains a manifest file that can be used to restore the savepoint without access to the vRanger database. If the vRanger machine is lost, you may install a fresh installation of vRanger, and restore savepoints using this manifest file.

 

NOTE: The procedures in this topic apply to restoring from a physical machine savepoint manifest. For information on restoring a VM from a savepoint manifest, see Performing a full restore from manifest for VMware VMs.

To perform a full restore from a manifest for a physical machine, complete the following tasks:

•	Creating the boot media

•	Booting the target server

•	Creating a restore job

•	Selecting a savepoint from the manifest

•	Mapping disks

•	Setting the recurrence schedule

•	Configuring email notifications

•	Starting the restore job

Creating the boot media

Creating the boot media

To restore a savepoint to a physical machine, you must first boot the target server into the vRanger restore environment using the vRanger Restore images — ISO for CD, IMG for a bootable USB drive. You can download the restore image files — vzRestore-<version>.iso and vzRestore-<version>.img — from the Quest website.

This task is a procedure in Performing a full restore from manifest for a physical machine.

To create the boot media, complete one of the following procedures:

•	Creating a bootable CD

•	Creating a bootable USB drive

Creating a bootable CD

Complete the steps in the following procedure to create a bootable CD.

 

IMPORTANT: The procedures for creating a bootable CD differ widely depending on the operating system and software used. The following procedures show how to use the native Windows® 7 utility to create a bootable CD. If you have a different image burning application, follow the instructions for that application.

 

NOTE: This procedure requires a blank CD/DVD and a writable CD/DVD drive.

To create a bootable CD:

1	Insert the blank CD/DVD into the writable drive.

2	Download the vzRestore-<version>.img file from http://quest.com/products/vranger/.

3	If necessary, copy the vzRestore-<version>.iso file to the machine with the writable CD/DVD drive.

4	Right-click the ISO file, select Open with, and then click Windows Disk Image Burner.

5	From the disk burner drop-down list, select the drive containing the blank disk.

6	Click Burn.

Creating a bootable USB drive

Complete the steps in the following procedure to create a bootable USB drive.

 

NOTE: There are no native Windows® utilities for creating a bootable USB drive from an IMG file. The following procedure was created using a freeware application, Image Writer for Windows. Follow the instructions for your application.

To create a bootable USB drive:

1	Insert a blank USB drive into your USB port.

2	Download the vzRestore-<version>.img file from http://quest.com/products/vranger/.

3	If necessary, copy the vzRestore-<version>.img file to the machine with the blank USB drive.

4	In the Image Writer for Windows UI, browse to the vzRestore-<version>.img file.

5	In the Device drop-down list, ensure that the correct USB drive is selected.

6	Click Write.

7	Click Exit.

Booting the target server

Booting the target server

For vRanger to detect the target server, the target server must be booted into the vRanger restore environment and have a valid IP address. The vRanger Restore image is configured to use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) by default. If you are using static IP, some additional steps are required.

This task is a procedure in Performing a full restore from manifest for a physical machine.

To boot the target server, complete one of the following procedures:

•	Booting into the restore environment using DHCP

•	Booting into the restore environment using static IP

Booting into the restore environment using DHCP

Complete the steps in the following procedure to boot into the vRanger restore environment using DHCP.

To boot into the restore environment using DHCP:

1	Using the boot media created in the previous steps, boot the target server into the vRanger restore environment.

When the boot is complete, a list of available network devices and their connection status appears.

2	Do one of the following:

▪	If a DHCP server is available, the restore environment obtains its IP configuration automatically, and a prompt appears with the IP information. Record this information to use during the restore job creation process.

▪

If no DHCP server is detected, each Ethernet device shows as “Disconnected.” Select the preferred network device. If only one device is present, it is automatically selected. Press Enter to select the highlighted network interface. You are then prompted to select either Use DHCP, which attempts to obtain an IP address again, or Configure Static IP.

3	[Optional] If the vRestore environment does not contain the correct drivers for your hardware, enter a Linux® command prompt by pressing F1, and add them manually.

 

IMPORTANT: Do not reboot the target server or the IP configuration are lost.

Booting into the restore environment using static IP

Complete the steps in the following procedure to boot into the vRanger restore environment using a static IP address.

To boot into the restore environment using static IP:

1	Using the boot media created in the previous steps, boot the target server into the vRanger restore environment.

When the boot is complete, a list of available network devices and their connection status appears. If no DHCP server is detected, each Ethernet device shows as “Disconnected.”

2	Select the preferred network device.

If only one device is present, it is automatically selected.

3	Press Enter to select the highlighted network interface.

You are then prompted to select either Use DHCP, which attempts to obtain an IP address again, or Configure Static IP.

4	To configure a static IP address, select Configure Static IP.

5	In the Setting Static IP dialog box, enter the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway information, and then select Submit.

The target server is configured with the selected IP information.

6	[Optional] If the vRestore environment does not contain the correct drivers for your hardware, enter a Linux® command prompt by pressing F1, and add them manually.

 

IMPORTANT: Do not reboot the target server or the IP configuration is lost.

Creating a restore job

Creating a restore job

Creating a restore job starts the Restore Wizard, which guides you through the steps of completing the job.

This task is a procedure in Performing a full restore from manifest for a physical machine.

To create a restore job:

1	In the main vRanger UI, click My Repositories.

2	On the toolbar, click Restore from Manifest, and then click Restore from Physical Savepoint Manifest File.

The Restore Wizard starts.

3	On the Mode Selection page, populate the Job Name and Job Description fields.

4	Click Next.

The Savepoint Manifest Selection page appears.