If your single Provider VM fails, you can recover it from the latest backup of its internal vPostgres database only if you have configured the Provider Backup repository in your VMware Data Services Manager installation.

Recovering involves deploying a new Provider VM. You must deploy the new VM with the same version of the .ova, and the same IP address, as that of the original.

VMware Data Services Manager automatically transfers all trusted certificates to the new Provider VM after the backup is restored.

The procedure in this topic is performed by a vSphere administrator or DSM administrator.

Prerequisites

Before you recover the Provider VM, ensure that you can identify the following items:

  • The version of the original Provider VM, and that you have the corresponding .ova.
  • The IP address of the original Provider VM.
  • The S3 location and credentials for the Provider Backup Repo.

  • In the vSphere Client menu, click Administration > Client Plugins, select the existing Data Services Manager Plugin, and click Remove to delete the previously installed DSM plugin from vCenter Server.

Procedure

  1. Use the solution installer to deploy the identical provider version, and input the IP details matching those of the lost provider.

    For information, see Deploying the VMware Data Services Manager Plugin in vSphere Client.

    The DSM plugin is automatically installed in vCenter Server using the new Provider VM fingerprints.

  2. SSH to the newly deployed Provider VM and verify that all services are up and running.
  3. Edit the configuration file in /data/pgbackrest.conf, and add the following configuration: 
    [global]
repo1-path=<Path of the backup taken (for example, repo1-path=/provider-backups-87258dfc-7627-4327-8720-b8d9d0f13132)>
repo1-type=s3
repo1-s3-endpoint=<URL of the S3>
repo1-s3-bucket=<Bucket that contains provider backups>
repo1-s3-uri-style=path
repo1-s3-verify-tls=n
repo1-s3-key=<Placeholder>
repo1-s3-key-secret=<Placeholder>
repo1-s3-region=<PlaceHolder of AWS S3 else us-east-1>

repo1-retention-full=7
process-max=2
log-level-console=info
log-level-file=error
start-fast=y
delta=y

[main]
pg1-path=/data/vpgsql
  4. Save the pgbackrest.conf file.
  5. Run the following command to restore the Provider VM.
    Before you execute the command, ensure that you have used the accurate file location in the command. 
    restore-provider -c /data/pgbackrest.conf

    Wait until the restoration process is complete.

  6. Log out of the VM.
    Recovery might take some time.
  7. Log in to the VMware Data Services Manager console to verify the recovery process.
    If log in fails, recovery might still be in-progress. Wait a few minutes and try again.
  8. Select System Audit from the left navigation pane.

    This actions displays the System Audit Events view, a table that lists system audit events.

  9. Examine recent events listed in the table, and locate an Event Type that specifies Provider Restore Success that has an Event Time near the time of recovery.