This is a full-blown guide to cover the on-prem fully hoisted Azure Backup Server ( MARS/DPM ) configuration that we can use to back up our on-prem data onto the Azure Public Cloud. The second phase of this guide will focus on the recovery aspect of the files available in the Recovery Services vault to be restored via MARS. This product was previously known as Microsoft Data protection manager.
Backup is taken using a special agent called MARS (Microsoft Azure Recovery Services) agent installed on client servers. Files thus backed up via MARS will be stored locally and then moved on our Recovery Services Vault in Azure Cloud
Prerequisties
- Create a new Recovery Services Vault in Azure for on-prem only backup vault
- Configure Azure Backup Server
- Push Install Microsoft DPM agent ( backup agent ) to backup files from remote servers to Azure Backup Server
- Stage contents from Azure Backup Server on-prem to Azure Recovery Services Vault.
Creating Azure Backup Server
We begin by setting up a new recovery services vault for on-prem backups
Under Recovery Storage Vault properties Choose our Workload type as On-Premises and Click Prepare Instructure.
We will first install our Azure Backup Server ( Also called MARS ). We will need to pick up either the hypervisor as VMware or HyperV
Choose to download the Azure Backup Server ( MARS )
Download the Backup server
Extract all files from the downloaded bundle by clicking the .exe file
The .EXE will just join all these bin files into an executable setup.exe file format.
Choose a location to store the extracted files to
Click Extract
Finally finish the wizard
Launch setup.exe under the extracted folder and Choose to Install Azure Backup Server
Choose Next to continue
Click Check and Install to do a preinstall check. We will need to ensure we have.NET3.5 installed on our server
Choose the path to install the SQL server to
Provide a password for the SQL Database
Ignore MS Updates for now
Validate all settings and continue
Click install to begin the configuration
As seen the Backup Server has installed a Recovery Services Agent on our server
Go back to Azure Portal and download the vault credentials. We need this info to connect to our Azure Recovery Services Vault.
Proceed to the registration window to register the Backup Server with on-prem Azure.
Locate the vault credentials we downloaded earlier and click next
We will now need to provide a super-secret passphrase and ensure this passphrase is saved somewhere like Azure Keyvault
Wait for registration to finish and once done Azure Backup Server will begin its configuration
Our Azure Recovery Services Agent is registered and Azure will need a SQL server to hold all its backup config and catalog database
Click Next to Proceed with the installation
Wait for all services to come back online
We are now done with Installing Azure Backup Server on our on-premises
How to Do Initial Config on Azure Backup
We will now need a backup storage unit on our Azure Backup Server to hold the initial backups we are taking. This is then be staged across to Azure Recovery services vault.
Click New to begin creating a protection group for backing up our servers
Click Next to continue
We will just pick a folder to backup
We have an option of just storing the data locally and/or keeping a copy in the cloud.
Choose the retention required for images to be kept onsite
Pick the disk we created as our Backup to storage disk
Click Next to continue
Click Next to continue
Select the data to be protected online
Pick a backup schedule as needed
Choose the retention policy as needed
Click Next to continue
Validate all settings and click Finish
Our Protection Group is created
Our Backup Disk will be shown in this format.
How to Backup Data from remote servers using DPM Agent
Under production servers, choose Windows or VMware Servers
Choose to install agents
Choose a server to install backup agent to
Provide the DA account details to install software
Pick the option to reboot if required.
Agent is thus installed
Validate the agent name in control panel
As expected, we can now see our new server in our selection list.
Recover Data Using MARS Agent
Under the recovery tab, choose the server to restore data from.
Choose the missing files to restore
Restore to a location
Leave everything as default
Validate all settings and click Recover
Our files have been recovered
Restore data to Alternate Server
Once the AZ backup agent is installed on the new server, we just need to do the recovery from an alternate server as shown.
