Configuring Provider Backup Settings

VMware Data Services Manager uses an internal vPostgres database to keep track of Provider state. You configure the object storage repository and bucket in which VMware Data Services Manager stores backups of this database by setting the Provider Backup Repo.

Note: Recovering a Provider VM requires that you have configured the Provider Backup Repo. Provider Repo settings must be configured before configuring the Provider Backup Repo.

The Provider Backup Repo requires a minimum of 15 GB of available space.

When you configure a Provider Backup Repo, VMware Data Services Manager records the transaction logs every one minute. Additionally, VMware Data Services Manager takes a full backup of the internal vPostgres database every 7 days and takes an incremental backup every 12 hours until the next weekly cycle. The backups have a retention policy of 8 days; VMware Data Services Manager will automatically delete a backup when it exceeds this age. Thus, configuring Provider backup settings enables quick recovery of Provider data.

VMware Data Services Manager stores the Provider backups in a folder named provider-backups-<node-id> in the Provider Backup Repo bucket that you configure. The full and incremental backup files use the following naming formats:

yyyy-mm-dd-hh-mm-full-id-<database-instance-name>

And

yyyy-mm-dd-hh-mm-inc-id-<database-instance-name>

Note: VMware Data Services Manager does not manage the Provider backup files; when you configure a Provider Backup Repo, you are responsible for deleting any backups that you no longer require directly from S3.

Configuring the Provider Backup Repo

Prerequisites

Before you configure the Provider backup repository, ensure that you have the object store credentials on hand, and that you can identify and have pre-created the bucket.

The Provider backup repository endpoint must be resolvable by the DNS server specified at the time of Provider VM deployment.

Note: You must ensure that the repository has a minimum of 15 GB of available space at all times.

Procedure

Perform the following procedure to configure or update the Provider Backup object store repository:

1. Select Settings from the left navigation pane.

   This actions displays the Settings view, Information pane.

2. Select the Storage Settings tab to view and configure or update the the Provider backup repository settings.

3. In the table of the External Storage, click the three vertical dots on in the Action column of the Provider Backup Repo Url row, and then select Configure or Update from the pop-up menu.

   The Configure Settings or Update Settings form displays.

4. Set or update the desired properties:

   Property Name	Value
   Setting Type	The name of the object store setting - Provider Backup Repo Url. (Read-only)
   Storage Type	Select the type of storage from the drop-down list. You can choose S3_COMPATIBLE_STORAGE or AWS.
   Storage URL1	Provide an https URL to the secure S3 object store. Only an https URL is accepted.
   AWS Region	If you selected the AWS storage type, specify the AWS region for the object store.
   Access Key	The access key for the object store.
   Secret Key	The secret key for the object store.
   Bucket Name	The name of the bucket.

   ¹ If you selected the AWS Storage Type, refer to the Amazon Simple Storage Service documentation describing the URL endpoints for specific regions.

5. Click CONNECT.

6. Click ACCEPT or DECLINE on the thumbprint(s) of the Provider backup repository if you are configuring it for the first time.

7. If you click ACCEPT, you can SAVE or UPDATE to apply the settings. If you click DECLINE, you can update the properties again, and then perform Steps 5 and 6.

Removing the Provider Backup Repo Setting

When you remove the Provider Backup Repo setting, VMware Data Services Manager stops backing up the Provider internal vPostgres database.

Note: If you remove the Provider Backup Repo setting, you no longer have the capability to recover the Provider VM in your VMware Data Services Manager installation.

Perform the following procedure to remove the Provider Backup object store repository setting:

1. Select Settings from the left navigation pane.

   This actions displays the Settings view, Information pane.

2. Select the Storage Settings tab.

3. Navigate to the table row that identifies the Provider Backup Repo Url.

4. Click the three dots in the Actions column, select Remove from the pop-up menu.

   The Delete Provider Backup Setting form displays.

5. If you are certain that you want to remove the setting, click CONFIRM.

   Note: You can no longer recover the Provider VM in your VMware Data Services Manager installation.