Configuring Storage : Configuring snapshots and backups : Configuring backups for specific VMware ESXi servers : Server-based backup configuration overview
  
Server-based backup configuration overview
In the Configure > Data Protection: Backups page, you can configure data protection settings for connected Edges using the Create New VM Backup Policy wizard. You can choose to back up all Edges or specific Edges, and at a more granular level you can back up all servers or a specific server. From the Backups page, you can configure, manage, and monitor your backups.
At the top of the Backups page, the Backup Policy Coverage pane displays the VMs, ESXi servers/VMware vCenters, and Edges that currently have a configured backup policy. In this pane, an Edge is only considered to be protected when all of its servers are covered by backup policies.
Figure: Backups page
The following steps describe the general process for configuring snapshots for ESXi servers:
1. Add the ESXi server on the Edge.
You can add an ESXi server to the Edge in the Configure > Manage: SteelFusion Edges page. Expand the desired Edge to display controls that include the Servers tab. For details, see To modify an existing Edge configuration.
2. Specify the storage array.
The controls in the Configuration tab enable you to specify the storage array where the current export resides and to apply a static name that is prepended on the names of snapshots. For details, see Configuring a storage array for snapshot access.
3. Add a backup proxy server.
Adding a backup proxy enables backup integration directly from the data center. The Core clones the snapshot specified for data protection and mounts the cloned server on the backup proxy. The backup software then communicates with the proxy server to perform the backup. For details, see Managing backup proxies.
4. Create a backup policy.
The wizard in the Configure > Data Protection: Backups page enables you to create an ESXi server backup policy including the policy name, backup schedule, and backup proxy. For details, see Creating a backup policy.
5. Verify the backup policy.
Using the Backups report in the Reports > Data Protection: Backups page, you can verify that the new backup policy is working as expected. For details, see Verifying a new backup policy.
Note: Because each backup operation takes approximately two minutes to complete, enabling the hourly option for more than 30 servers can result in an increasing number of nonreplicated snapshots on Edges.