Configuring LUN-based snapshots and proxy backup

Configuring Storage : Configuring snapshots and backups : Configuring LUN-based snapshots and proxy backup

This section describes how to configure LUN-based backups.

If you have previously configured LUN-based backups, we recommend migrating to server-based backups (available as of version 4.6). The wizards on the Configure > Data Protection: Backups page simplify the process of configuring and managing ESXi and Windows server backups. You can back up all Edges or specific Edges, and at a more granular level you can back up all servers or VMs, or a specific server. For details, see Configuring backups for specific VMware ESXi or Windows servers.

For details and instructions on migrating from LUN-based backups to server-based backups, see the SteelFusion Design Guide.

This section describes the following topics:

• LUN-based snapshot configuration overview

• Configuring snapshots for storage arrays

• Configuring handoff hosts

• Configuring snapshot schedule policies

• Defining branch and proxy hosts

• Configuring snapshots for LUNs

• Applying a snapshot schedule policy to a LUN

• Configuring application-consistent snapshots for a LUN

• Configuring proxy backup for a LUN

• Troubleshooting

LUN-based snapshot configuration overview

The process for setting up LUN-based snapshots is as follows:

1. Determine snapshot support for your storage array.

The Core supports snapshot configuration for storage arrays from specific providers (Dell EqualLogic, EMC VNX, NetApp, HP 3PAR, IBM Storwize v7000, and IBM XIV/Spectrum Accelerate). However, if your storage array is different, you can use the handoff hosts feature to point to a host that takes the snapshot using scripts. For details, see Configuring handoff hosts.

For details about storage array support in general, see the SteelFusion Design Guide.

2. Define the storage array details for the snapshot configuration.

Before you can configure snapshot schedules, application-consistent snapshots, or proxy backup servers for specific LUNs, you must specify for the Core the details of the storage array, such as IP address, type, protocol, and so on.

You add storage array definitions in the Storage Arrays tab in the Configure > Data Protection: Snapshots page. For details, see Configuring snapshots for storage arrays.

3. Configure the backup proxy and storage array for snapshots.

In conjunction with the Core configuration, you must separately configure the proxy server and storage array for backup. For details, see the SteelFusion Design Guide.

4. Define snapshot schedule policies.

Snapshot schedule policies are predefined schedules that can later be applied to snapshot configurations for specific LUNs.

You define snapshot schedule policies in the by choosing Configure > Backups: Snapshots and selecting the Snapshot Schedule Policies tab. This step isn’t required for configuring and performing backups. For details, see Configuring snapshot schedule policies.