Pre-requisites to create VM from backup
Following are the prerequisites to create virtual machine from backups.
Configured BMR primary server
First, you need to enable the BMR server on your NetBackup primary server. For details on how to enable BMR server, See Configuring BMR Master Server.
Client's BMR enabled backup
Configure NetBackup policy for BMR. Enable the check box for BMR for the Collect disaster recovery information option in backup policy attributes. For details, See Configuring policies to back up BMR clients.
BMR backup policy requires at least OS volumes added as part of backup selection. In case of Windows, Boot, System Volume, and System State need to be added under backup selection list.
Note:
For user convenience, in the backup selection, ALL_LOCAL_DRIVES option is made available by default that considers all the client volumes during backup.
After enabling BMR in backup policy, take an initial FULL backup.
Hypervisor-specific tools ISO file
The VM creation process requires hypervisor-specific tools ISO file so that during VM creation it configures required device drivers into VM system. Usually, the Hypervisor vendor provides their tools ISO file on their website and hypervisor server. For example, in case of VMWare ESX server 5.0, the associated tools ISO can be located on your ESX server as well as can be downloaded from the VMWare website. See, the following examples given.
Tools ISO path on ESX server: /vmimages/tools-isoimages/windows.iso
Website location:
http://packages.vmware.com/tools/esx/5.0latest/windows/x86_64/index.html
It is a MUST to have this tools ISO file on VIC host. Virtual machine creation wizard prompts for full directory path of this ISO available on VIC.
Hypervisor server name registration in NetBackup
You need to register your Hypervisor server with NetBackup where the VM needs to be created. This registration requires Hypervisor server admin credentials. Refer to the following sample GUI of VMWare vCenter server registration.
VIC (NetBackup recovery host) name registration in NetBackup
For VMWare type Hypervisor, Virtual Image Converter host name needs to be registered in NetBackup master server property named VMWare Access Host. Refer to the following sample GUI of VMWare Access Host registration.
