Configure backups for a datacenter

In private cloud datacenters, Abiquo offers optional backup plugins that support popular backup systems, such as Veeam and Networker for use with VMware hypervisors. Abiquo also supports the use of VMware snapshots for instant backups.

For details of how to configure the backup plugins, see Abiquo Backup Plugins. Each backup plugin is a separate module that requires its own license.

To display backup policies in datacenters:

1. Go to Infrastructure → select datacenter → Servers view → Backup policies tab.

To work with a backup system in Abiquo:

1. In Infrastructure view, in a datacenter or public cloud region, go to Backup policies
2. Click the Backup manager button
3. Enter the details of the backup manager to define the connection to the backup system.

• • Abiquo does not fully validate the connection details so we recommend that you test the backup lifecycle. A connection will be made to the backup system when a user requests a backup operation. A connection will be made to the vCenter (Networker) when the user requests a restore.

For more details see GUI Create backup manager

When editing the backup manager, you can modify all values except the backup type. If you change the backup manager, future requests to the backup system will use the new values. 

To configure the backup properties:

1. Go to Infrastructure → select a datacenter → Backup policies
2. Click the Edit properties button and configure the backup properties.
   
   For more details see GUI Edit backup policies properties

Administrators create backup policies to present backups to cloud users for self-service. When users configure a VM, they can select å backup policy.

To create a new backup policy:

1. In your datacenter's infrastructure, go to Backup policies
2. Click the + add button and enter the details
   
   1. Code: this identifies the policy and it must be unique in the datacenter. Abiquo can use the Code attribute to match policies that the administrator already created in the backup system. See the backup plugin configuration documentation for more information
3. Go to Complete backup. Abiquo backup plugins only support complete backups
4. Select from the backup options to include in the policy
   

   1. Defined hour: The Veeam backup integration does not support this option

   2. Hourly: A backup at an interval of hours. Enter an integer less than 24

   
5. For each field in the backup type, choose how to set the values: 
   
   1. Fixed: set in backup policy
   2. Don't apply: set by backup system
   3. Define in VM: the user must set the value and will require the appropriate privileges to create a backup

    Veeam will always back up ALL disks when performing a complete backup. To prevent users from selecting individual disks:

   1. For the option to Select disks, select Don't apply

   2. Remove the user privilege to Manage virtual machine backup disks

For more details, see GUI Create backup policy.

After you create a policy, you must allow the tenants to use the policy for their VMs:

1. You will need to edit the enterprise and its Allowed datacenter on the Backups tab.
   See Configure an Enterprise in a Cloud Location#Allowatenanttousebackuppoliciesinadatacenter.
2. By default the privileges that allow users to configure backups of their VMs are only assigned to the Cloud Administrator role.
   Assign them to your user roles as required. See Privileges

Related pages

• Abiquo Backup Plugins
• User guide for VM backups: VM backups