Azure Backup management
Azure Backup announced a Recovery Services vault, based on the Azure Resource Manager model. Using which customers can backup Classic as well as Resource Manager virtual machines using custom defined backup policies. In this, the customers can manage backup policies and model them to meet their changing requirements from a single window. Thus, making Azure Backup an enterprise-level backup solution for Azure virtual machines.
Features of Azure Backup
Azure Backup provides:
- Firstly, expertise for viewing all backup policies in a Recovery Services vault from a single window.
- Secondly, the ability to add a new policy from the policy list view.
- Thirdly, the ability to edit a backup policy to match the modified backup schedule and retention requirements.
- It also provides the ability to add items to a backup policy and add more virtual machines to an existing backup policy in a single click.
- Lastly, you can delete the backup policy that is not in use.
Backup Azure VMs with the Azure Backup service
You can back up Azure VMs using various methods:
- Firstly, using Single Azure VM. The instructions in this explain how to back up an Azure VM directly from the VM settings.
- Secondly, Multiple Azure VMs. In this, you can set up a Recovery Services vault and configure backup for multiple Azure VMs.
However, before proceeding further you should learn the process of backup and verifying support requirements. Also, get a brief overview of Azure VM backup.
Azure VM agent installation
Azure Backup instals an extension on the VM agent running on the machine for backing up Azure VMs. The agent, on the other hand, will be operating if your VM was generated from an Azure Marketplace image. If you construct a custom VM or migrate a machine from on-premises, you may need to manually install the agent in some circumstances.
- If you require to install the VM agent manually then follow the Windows or Linux VMs instructions.
- After installing the agent, when you enable backup, Azure Backup installs the backup extension to the agent. And, it updates and patches the extension without user intervention.
Back up from Azure VM settings
- Firstly, sign in to the Azure portal and then select All services. And, in the Filter, type Virtual machines, and select Virtual machines.
- Secondly, from the list of VMs, select the VM you want to back up.
- On the VM menu, select Backup.
- Then, in the Recovery Services vault, select Select existing, and select a vault only if you already have a vault. However, if you don’t have a vault, select Create new. And, specify a name for the vault. And, it is created in the same region and resource group as the VM. so you cannot modify these settings after enabling backup directly from the VM settings.
- After that, in Choose backup policy, do one of the following:
o Leave the default policy. This backs up the VM once a day at the time specified. And, retains backups in the vault for 30 days.
o Select an existing backup policy if you have one.
o Create a new policy, and define the policy settings.
- Then, select Enable Backup. This associates the backup policy with the VM.
- Now, you can track the configuration progress in the portal notifications.
- After completing the job, in the VM menu, select Backup.
- Lastly, after enabling backup, an initial backup runs. There you can start the initial backup immediately, or wait until it starts in accordance with the backup schedule.
Running a backup immediately
- For running backup immediately, in the VM menu, select Backup > Backup now.
- Then, in Backup Now, use the calendar control to select until when the recovery point will be retained > and OK.
- Lastly, the portal notifications let you know the backup job has been triggered. For monitoring backup progress, select View all jobs.
Reference: Microsoft Documentation