Many of you might be familiar with the backup job configuration, scheduling and restore process in Vembu BDR v3.0. Let us move forward and learn how to boot a flat VMDK file directly from an NFS (Network File System) share drive through the following screenshots walkthrough.
Backup Restore:
- Once configured backups for Disk image/ VMware/ Hyper-V are completed, proceed with the recovery progress using download as VMDK_FLAT and enter the restore location to a local drive.
- Check restore location and data to verify that the restore process completed successfully.
Enable Share Access:
- Enable NFS share permission to the restored data folder, and enter an NFS folder name (‘win7extended’) to make it shareable in the Network File System.
- The restored data folder with enabled NFS sharing, is shown below.
DataStore Creation:
- Login ESXi server to create datastore using NFS share.
- Under ‘Hardware’ → select ‘Storage’ and under ‘Datastores’ → select ‘Add Storage’.
- Select storage type as ‘Network File System’ and hit ‘Next’
- Update ‘Backup server name’, ‘NFS share location’ and ‘Datastore name’ and proceed.
- Verify the details entered and confirm VMFS datastore creation by clicking ‘Finish’.
- Verify that a datastore named ‘NFSsharemount’ has been created.
VM creation using NFS share datastore:
- Select New Virtual Machine and proceed with VM creation.
- Choose custom configuration to create VM.
- Enter VM name.
- Select datastore in ESXi server.
- Select VM version as 8.
- Choose guest operating system as Windows and select version.
- Proceed with default selections for CPUs, Memory, Network, SCSI controller.
- Choose to use existing virtual machine disk under ‘Select a Disk’ and proceed.
- Browse NFS share datastore – ‘NFSsharemount’ for existing disk selection and select the restored vmdk file.
- Proceed with advanced options and complete VM creation verifying settings.
- VM is created and booting fine from the NFS shared datastore.
Pre Requirement reference links:
- To enable NFS server:
- To enable NFS client:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/saponsqlserver/archive/2011/02/04/installation-amp-configuration-of-windows-nfs-client-to-enable-unix-to-windows-to-mount-a-unix-file-system.aspx
or
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753302%28v=ws.10%29.aspx
Take the Vembu BDR on a 30 day trial run and experience the power of restores:
https://www.bdrshield.com/try/
Direct questions, comments and suggestions to vembu-support@vembu.com
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