Restoring from a backup restores the backup to a newly created database VM. You name this database, choose the datastore location, and have the option to configure its management policies.
VMware Data Services Manager supports restoring from a backup file, or from a specific point of time in a backup file. The restored instance is owned by the user who performs the restore operation.
The backup from which you want to restore may reside on local or cloud storage. A restore operation that you trigger from a backup that is available in local storage will likely take less time to complete.
Restoring from a Backup File
Prerequisites
Before you restore a backup, ensure that you can identify the backup file that you wish to restore from.
Procedure
Perform the following procedure to restore a backup to a new database:
Select Databases from the left navigation pane.
This action displays the Database view, a table that lists the provisioned databases.
Examine the databases listed in the table, identify the database for which you want to restore a backup, and navigate to that table row.
Click the database Instance Name.
The database information Details tab displays.
Select the Backup tab.
This action displays backup information for the database, including the backup policy, and the daily backup time, backup retention periods, and back up files when data protection is enabled.
Locate the Backup Files section of the pane.
Examine the backups listed in the table, identify the backup file that you wish to restore from, and navigate to that table row.
Click the three dots in the Actions column, and select Restore from the pop-up menu.
The Restore Database dialog displays.
Set the following properties for the new database VM on which the backup will be restored:
Property Name Value Backup Name The name of the backup file to restore. (Read-only) Namespace The Namespace that will be assigned to the restored database VM. (Read-only) Restore VM Name The name to assign to the new database VM. Enable Automated Backups Select Enable Automated Backups to automatically initiate a daily backup of the restored database VM and save it to local and cloud/remote storage. Daily Backup Time When Enable Automated Backups is checked, the time of day to back up the database VM. Local Backup Days When Enable Automated Backups is checked, the number of days to retain a backup on local storage. Remote Backup Days When Enable Automated Backups is checked, the number of days to retain a backup on cloud/remote storage. Enable Minor Version Upgrade Click the checkbox to enable automated minor version database software updates to the database. Maintenance Day When Enable Maintenance Window is checked, the maintenance window day of the week. Maintenance Time When Enable Maintenance Window is checked, the time of day in which to start the maintenance window. Maintenance Duration When Enable Maintenance Window is checked, the duration of the maintenance window (hours). Click RESTORE.
VMware Data Services Manager initiates a management operation of type RESTORE_DB, and adds an entry for the new database in the Databases view table.
Note: Restoring a backup to a new database can take some time.Monitor the progress of the task in the Operations tab or in the Database Operations view:
Locate the RESTORE_DB operation type and click it.
Select the State History tab to view the subtasks of the operation and their status.
If the operation fails, select the Error Info tab to examine the returned error information.
Note: VMware Data Services Manager does not automatically clean up on error. If the operation fails, you are responsible for deleting the database.
If the operation completes successfully, the new database created from the restored backup displays in the Databases view.
Restoring from a Point in Time
A point in time recovery (PITR) restores a backup at a specific point in time to a new database VM.
You can restore a backup from any point in time within your backup retention period.
Prerequisites
Ensure that you can identify the backup file and the date/time from which you want to restore.
Procedure
Perform the following procedure to restore from a point in time to a new database VM:
Select Databases from the left navigation pane.
This action displays the Database view, a table that lists the provisioned databases.
Examine the databases listed in the table, identify the database for which you want to restore to a specific point in time, and navigate to that table row.
Click the database Instance Name.
The database information Details tab displays.
Select the Backup tab.
This action displays backup information for the database, including the backup policy, and the daily backup time, backup retention periods, and back up files when data protection is enabled.
Locate the Backup Files section of the pane.
Examine the backups listed in the table, identify the backup file that you wish to restore to a point in time, and navigate to that table row.
Click the three dots in the Actions colum, and select PITR from the pop-up menu.
The PITR Backup dialog displays.
Set the following properties for the new database VM on which the point in time backup will be restored:
Property Name Value Backup Name The name of the backup file to restore. (Read-only) PITR VM Name The name to assign to the new database VM. VM Datastore The VM datastore configuration. Application Network The network on which client applications will access the restored database VM. Enable Automated Backups Select Enable Automated Backups to automatically initiate a daily backup of the restored database VM and save it to local and cloud/remote storage. Daily Backup Time When Enable Automated Backups is checked, the time of day to back up the database. Local Backup Days When Enable Automated Backups is checked, the number of days to retain a backup on local storage. Remote Backup Days When Enable Automated Backups is checked, the number of days to retain a backup on cloud/remote storage. PITR Restore Point Select the time to which you want to restore from the backup file; choices are Oldest Available Time, Latest Available Time, or Custom Time. If you select Custom Time, you have to enter Restore Date and Restore Time. Enable Minor Version Upgrade Click the checkbox to enable automated minor version database software updates to the database VM. Maintenance Day When Enable Maintenance Window is checked, the maintenance window day of the week. Maintenance Time When Enable Maintenance Window is checked, the time of day in which to start the maintenance window. Maintenance Duration When Enable Maintenance Window is checked, the duration of the maintenance window (hours). When Enable Maintenance Window is off and Enable Minor Version Upgrade is on, software updates are applied in the default maintenance window (6 hours starting each Saturday at 23:59).
Click PITR.
VMware Data Services Manager initiates a management operation of type PITR_RESTORE_DB, and adds an entry for the new database in the Databases view table.
Note: Restoring to a point in time to a new database VM can take some time.Monitor the progress of the task in the Operations tab or in the Database Operations view:
Locate the PITR_RESTORE_DB operation type and click it.
Select the State History tab to view the subtasks of the operation and their status.
If the operation fails, select the Error Info tab to examine the returned error information.
Note: VMware Data Services Manager does not automatically clean up on error. If the operation fails, you are responsible for deleting the database VM.
If the operation completes successfully, the new database VM created from the PITR backup displays in the Databases view.
Connecting to the Restored Database VM
You may have applications or clients that now must connect to the new, restored database VM. If so, Connecting to a Database describes how to obtain the information that you need for your apps and clients to make the connection to the new database.
