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HP Recovery Manager Software for VMware vSphere manual About Virtual Copy Management

Models: Recovery Manager Software for VMware vSphere

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About Virtual Copy Management

NOTE: HP 3PAR Recovery Manager for VMware vSphere is not functional without the HP 3PAR Recovery Manager for VMware vSphere license. Additionally, the HP 3PAR Virtual Copy license is required for virtual copy operation and the HP 3PAR Virtual Lock license is required for using the volume retention policy.

HP 3PAR Recovery Manager for VMware vSphere allows you to take LUN-level virtual copies of Virtual Machines (VMs), datastores and remote copy groups. A datastore is created on one HP 3PAR volume, and a VM is created on one or more datastores. During VM virtual copy creation, Recovery Manager for VMware vSphere will identify all the underlying HP 3PAR volumes and take virtual copies simultaneously for all volumes to ensure consistency. Recovery Manager for VMware vSphere manages this set of virtual copies as a single entity. Remote Copy virtual copies are based at the Remote Copy group level (storage system), versus the virtual machine or datastore level (VMware perspective).

NOTE: VMware Tools must be installed on the Guest OS in order for HP 3PAR Recovery Manager for VMware vSphere to create successful VM/Application consistent virtual copies. Refer to VMware documentation for more information about VMware Tools setup instructions.

Virtual Copy Data Consistency

Several types of data consistency are possible for VM virtual copies and backup.

NOTE: The current version of HP 3PAR Recovery Manager for VMware vSphere supports system crash, VM and application consistent virtual copies.

•Crash Consistent - A simple virtual volume virtual copy without quiescing the memory blocks inside the guest OS results in a crash consistent virtual copy of the VM. Data not flushed will be lost, but all data written to the file system will be available. Sanity checking of file system (fsck) is needed after recovery.

•VM Consistent - All file system blocks are flushed from the memory of a VM before a virtual copy is taken. This ensures that no file system data is lost if the VM crashes. Checking of file system (fsck) is not required after recovery. No application data is flushed from memory before the virtual copy is taken

•Application Consistent - Application consistency is provided for HP 3PAR snapshots of Virtual Machines for data compatibility with supported applications.

Virtual Copy Policy

Recovery Manager for VMware vSphere allows the creation of virtual copy policies for VMs and/or datastores. Only one policy is permitted for every VM and/or datastore. Datastore and VM policies exist independently; meaning a VM’s policy is independent of the policy of the datastore(s) of virtual disks it is using.

In Recovery Manager for VMware vSphere, the virtual copy policy contains the following attributes:

•Maximum Number of Virtual Copy Sets - You can choose how many virtual copies to be retained. Once this limit is reached, the earliest virtual copy will be deleted to allow the latest virtual copy to be created.

•Enable expirable virtual copies - Allows you to specify that created virtual copies are removed according to a specified schedule and are not affected by the maximum count.

•Retain Virtual Copy Set - The supported number of hours, days, weeks, months, and years that a virtual copy set is retained.

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HP Recovery Manager Software for VMware vSphere manual About Virtual Copy Management, Virtual Copy Data Consistency
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Recovery Manager Software for VMware vSphere specifications

HP Recovery Manager Software for VMware vSphere is a powerful tool designed to enhance the data recovery process for virtualized environments. It provides enterprises with a reliable solution to protect critical workloads and ensure business continuity, particularly in environments that leverage VMware's virtualization technology.

One of the main features of HP Recovery Manager is its seamless integration with VMware vSphere. The software utilizes VMware’s vSphere Storage APIs, enabling users to perform efficient backups and streamline disaster recovery processes. This integration allows for quiesced snapshots, which ensure data consistency during the backup process by momentarily pausing applications, thereby capturing a reliable state of the data.

Another significant characteristic of HP Recovery Manager is its ability to perform rapid, point-in-time recovery. This functionality is crucial for minimizing downtime after data loss incidents. Organizations can restore entire virtual machines, specific files, or applications quickly, allowing businesses to resume operations without lengthy interruptions.

Management is simplified through a user-friendly interface, which helps administrators monitor and manage backup tasks from a central dashboard. This centralized approach reduces the complexity often associated with managing multiple backup solutions in a virtual environment. Additionally, HP Recovery Manager supports automation features, where users can schedule regular backups, thus ensuring that the most current data is always protected without requiring constant manual intervention.

The software employs advanced technologies such as deduplication, which reduces the amount of storage space required for backups by eliminating duplicate data. This feature not only optimizes disk usage but also enhances overall backup performance by allowing faster backup times.

Furthermore, HP Recovery Manager provides robust reporting and analytics capabilities. Users can generate detailed reports on backup and recovery operations, allowing for better compliance and auditing. These insights aid in capacity planning and performance tuning, ensuring that the backup infrastructure remains efficient and effective.

In summary, HP Recovery Manager Software for VMware vSphere offers a comprehensive suite of features that provide a highly effective solution for data recovery in virtualized environments. Its integration with vSphere, rapid recovery capabilities, user-friendly management, storage optimization through deduplication, and robust reporting functionalities make it a valuable asset for organizations looking to protect their critical data and ensure business continuity.