Backing Up Azure ARM VMs with Backup and Site Recovery

Cloud-AzureIn my previous post titled Backing Up Azure ARM VMs with new Azure Recovery Services, I discussed a new feature set which was in Preview (A.K.A. beta). Before the Preview of Azure Recovery Service, we could backup “Classic” Azure VMs (virtual machines) by using Azure Backup, but not VMs created with the newer Azure Resource Monitor (ARM). Azure Recovery Service was not feature-complete, but it was the first time we could backup Azure VMs built using the new Azure Resource Monitor (ARM).

The public preview of Azure Recovery Service was a success, and now we have a final version with a new name: Backup and Site Recovery allows administrators to backup virtual machines whether hosted in Azure or on-premises on your servers on Hyper-V or VMware. Backup and Site Recovery can also backup data files and even services such as Exchange and SharePoint.  Think of this as a combination of Azure Site Recovery (classic) and Azure Backup (classic) into one unified tool.

Long gone are the limitations we saw in the preview. For example, we can now backup Azure VMs which use SSD drives for storage. Here is what you can backup using Backup and Site Recovery:

  • Azure Virtual Machines
  • On-Premise Hyper-V Virtual Machines
  • On-Premise VMware Virtual Machines
  • On-Premise Files and Folders
  • On-Premise Microsoft SQL Server
  • On-Premise Microsoft SharePoint
  • On-Premise Microsoft Exchange
  • On-Premise Server System State
  • Bare Metal Recovery of On-Premise Servers

Backup jobs can be customized and scheduled per your needs. Retention policies can be adjusted to keep data up to 9,999 months.  That is over 833 years!

 

Getting Started with Backup and Site Recovery

Step 1: Create an Azure Backup and Site Recovery Vault

Before you can back up anything, first create a Backup and Site Recovery Vault.

  1. Click on New and search for Backup and Site Recovery. Select the item shown below then click on the Create button.
  2. Give your Recovery Service vault a unique name, choose a subscription to bill to, and select the Resource Group you would like to use (or create a new one if you would like).

    Make sure to choose the location appropriately. If you plan on backing up Azure VMs, make sure you create the vault in the same location zone as your VMs. For example, if you have VMs in the East US 2 zone, then your vault should be set up in the East US 2 zone.
  3. Click on the Create button. Your new Backup and Site Recovery Vault will be ready in just a moment.

Step 2: Start Backing Up Azure Virtual Machine using the Azure Backup and Site Recovery Vault

Now that you have created a Backup and Site Recovery Vault, you can start backing up your servers.

  1. Open the Backup and Site Recovery Vault you set up in the previous section.
  2. In the Getting Started section, click on Backup.
  3. Keep defaults for Backup Goal section and click on the OK button.
  4. Either choose the default backup policy, or create your own, then click on the OK button.
  5. Select VMs to be backed up then click on the OK button. Keep in mind that you only see VMs which exist in the same location zone as your Backup and Site Recovery Vault.

Robert Borges

About Robert...

I have been in the IT industry since 1993 focusing mainly on networking. Though I got an early start as an amateur computer enthusiast and wrote my first database app at age 12, I started my professional career working in the MIS department of one of the largest liquor distributors in the northeast. I started out there as a systems operator on the company’s two mainframe systems. From there I moved into PC support, and help design and implement the company’s first client-server network… This was back in the days of Win NT 3.51 when I worked on my first migration to Windows NT 4.0 server.

From there I went on to work with Novell 3.x and 4.x along with Windows domains and Microsft's brand new Active Directory. Working my way up from technician to specialist, to an administrator, and eventually all the way up to Sr. Engineer. I spent many years working for MSPs/consulting firms, 9 of which I owned and operated my own firm.

Over the years, I have worked with (at an expert level) various versions of Windows client and server operating systems (including Windows 11 and Windows Server 2019); various virtualization technologies (Hyper-V, VMware, etc.); MS-SQL server 6.5- 2014 R2; Exchange 4-2019, and much more.  Over the years I have built a lot of experience around the Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 cloud environments.

I am now CTO at Infused Innovations where our team is focusing on helping clients build a Secure Intelligent Workplace through InfoSec (Zero Trusts Framework), Modern Workplace, and Business Intelligence.

I have been heavily involved in the IT user group community, including serving as president of the board of Boston User Groups, Inc., and president of IT-Pro User Group. In 2017/2018 Microsoft awarded me the Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Award, with a focus of Microsoft Azure cloud, for my efforts in the IT community.

I am in a constant state of learning about new products, and new versions of products. Many of which we end up implementing in lab environments and sometimes for our clients. I have a very broad range of expertise and experience. It is my goal to share some of this experience on this blog to help enrich the IT community.

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