Azure Stack HCI

General

Azure Stack HCI requires agent installation on each cluster node. The process is very simple, the rest of the configuration is similar to other suppliers. With RCT (also known as CBT in other virtualization platforms) both full and incremental backups are supported for this hypervisor.

For Microsoft Windows Server 2016 or later versions, the resilient change tracking (RCT) feature is used by default to back up virtual machines (VMs). RCT makes it possible to detect changes that happened at specific points in time as opposed to scanning the entire disk for any possible changes. Using RCT, it is possible to accelerate incremental backups by as much as 50% (compared to technologies available in Windows Server 2012). The changes are tracked at the data block level. Only blocks that have changed since the last backup operation are candidates for the next incremental backup.

RCT reduces the risk of loss of information by storing bitmaps using a more resilient strategy. RCT implemented in Hyper-V accomplishes this by generating three different bitmaps – one in the memory, and the other two on the disk. Disk backups are available when a power outage or migration occurs. The usual memory backup is granular and accessible when VM is running. To be specific, the RCT file is utilized when the server is running normally. However, when VM is moved to a different host or a power failure occurs, the bitmap stored in memory is no longer available. In such cases, the Modified Region Table (MRT) file is utilized. The MRT file is more granular and contains all information on changes that were committed to the disk. The files are attached to VHD (X) and may be moved along with the machine. In effect, RCT not just reduces backup time but also offers greater resilience through enhanced block tracking mechanisms when compared to most other backup solutions designed for virtual environments.

Note:

  • Agent installation requires .NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher.

  • Agent requires Visual C++ Redistributable 2013 and 2015 when using Dell EMC Data Domain as backup destination

  • Storware Backup & Recovery supports backup for Hyper-V 2016 and newer versions (also non-GUI).

  • VM backup operations with RCT require the Hyper-V VM to be Version 6.2 or later.

  • Hyper-V 2016 does not support the disk exclusion feature during export operation (because of WMI Framework version 14393). Therefore, the disk of the virtual machine will be cloned to the export directory and deleted later in the execution.

  • Instead of using accounts for authentication, in the case of Hyper-V, we only use the password provided during the agent installation. So for the username in the Storware Backup & Recovery dashboard, you can use even a non-existent name.

Agent installation

Agent installation is required on each Azure Stack HCI node

  • Type path to install Hyper-V Agent. And accept it by clicking Next.

  • Provide a password for secure communication (you will need it to add Hyper-V to Storware Backup & Recovery). And accept it by clicking Next.

  • Click Next to start the installation.

  • If Windows UAC prompts you about installation, accept it by choosing Yes.

  • Click Finish to end installation.

Adding a hypervisor manager

  • Go to Storware Backup & Recovery WebUI Virtual Environments -> Infrastructure -> Hypervisor Managers and click on button Create.

  • In the "Add New Hypervisor" window fill the following fields:

    • Choose type: Microsoft Hyper-V / Azure Stack HCI

    • Infrastructure - select Failover Cluster

    • Host address in URL form eg. https://10.40.0.61

    • Password - use the same as what you set during the installation agent process.

    • A number of disk export threads - parameters that can help with data transfer speed. We recommend starting backups with the default value of 2 and making any changes based on the observation of the environment.

Instant Restore

To use an instant restore feature, backup destination from which VM will be restored, has to be of a synthetic type.

Environment with Active Directory

In order to be able to use instant restore the Storware Backup & Recovery nodes have to be added to a domain.

Prerequisites

  • Fully qualified domain name (e.g. stor.lab)

  • NetBios domain name ( e.g. STORLAB)

  • Domain Administrator Account

  • Installed packages:

    • samba-winbind

    • samba

Configuration

  1. Check if DNS records point to an Active Directory DNS server and check if the search domain is set correctly

    [root@vpro-node ~]# cat /etc/resolv.conf
#Generated by NetworkManager
search aw.lab
nameserver 10.30.2.120
nameserver 10.30.2.121

If it is not configured, you need to either manually set it in a resolv.conf file or change it using your network management software e.g. for NetworkManager use nmtui.

  1. Configure kerberos in /etc/krb5.conf. Example configuration is below.

    [logging]
  default = FILE:/var/log/krb5libs.log
  kdc = FILE:/var/log/krb5kdc.log
  admin_server = FILE:/var/log/kadmind.log

[libdefaults]
    default_realm = stor.lab
    dns_lookup_realm = false
    dns_lookup_kdc = true

  2. Make sure Your time is set correctly if not configure it either manually using timedatectl or use ntpd

  3. Make sure correct hostname is set (not localhost)

    [root@vpro-node ~]# cat /etc/hostname
vpro-node

  4. Check if hostname has correct ip address assigned to it.

    [root@vpro-node ~]# cat /etc/hosts
127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost
10.30.2.112     vpro-node.stor.lab       vpro-node

  5. Configure samba. Make sure to enter correct domain name in the realm field and correct NetBios name in the workgroup field and idmap fields. Set also the correct network interface on which samba will be exposed in the interfaces parameter.

    [global]
  bind interfaces only = Yes
  dedicated keytab file = /etc/krb5.keytab
  disable spoolss = Yes
  interfaces = lo eth0
  kerberos method = secrets and keytab
  load printers = No
  min domain uid = 0
  printcap name = /dev/null
  realm = stor.lab
  security = ADS
  server max protocol = SMB2_02
  template homedir = /home/%U
  template shell = /bin/bash
  username map = /usr/local/samba/etc/user.map
  winbind enum groups = Yes
  winbind enum users = Yes
  winbind nss info = rfc2307
  winbind refresh tickets = Yes
  winbind use default domain = Yes
  workgroup = STORLAB
  idmap config * : range = 2000-9999
  idmap config storlab:backend = ad
  idmap config storlab:schema_mode = rfc2307
  idmap config storlab:range = 10000-999999
  idmap config storlab:unix_nss_info = yes
  idmap config * : backend = tdb
  guest ok = Yes
  map acl inherit = Yes
  printing = bsd
  vfs objects = acl_xattr

  6. Create a user.map file in the path configured in the username map parameter of smb.conf file with the following content

    !root = STROLAB\Administrator
!vprotect = *

  7. Join the domain using the following command, You will be prompted for the password so type in the domain administrator's password:

    [root@vpro-node ~]# net ads join -U administrator
Password for [STORLAB\administrator]:
Using short domain name -- STORLAB
Joined 'VPRO-NODE' to dns domain 'stor.lab'

  8. Append the winbind entry to the following databases in the /etc/nsswitch.conf file

    passwd: files winbind
group:  files winbind

  9. Enable and start winbind service

    systemctl enable winbind --now

Environment without Active Directory

Create samba configuration in /etc/samba/smb.conf file with the following entries

[global]
    guest account = vprotect
    security = USER
    server max protocol = SMB2_02
    idmap config * : backend = tdb

Using instant restore from web UI

Go to the Instances page and select the restore button next to the virtual machine which you want to restore. From the context menu, select Instant Restore

In the window that appears you can change the default options and then perform Restore.

Quiet Agent installation

You can use Hyper-V Agent installer parameters to install it without user interaction

  • Agent password parameter: PASS=YourPassword

  • Transport Method (choose one of three options) TRANSPORT=[HTTP|HTTPS|BOTH]

Complete installation command

Hyper-V-Agent-Installer.msi /qn PASS=YourPassword TRANSPORT=HTTPS

Note: /qn are standard msi parameters and stand for: q - quiet installation n - no user interface

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