Managing backup schedules for a host or cluster machine

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You can select a schedule to specify how often and when to automatically back up virtual machines (VMs) in a Hyper-V host or cluster.

About this task

Schedules are set up by the IBM Storage Protect server administrator to automatically back up VMs.

To enable schedules to be used for Data Protection for Microsoft Hyper-V, the IBM Storage Protect server administrator must set up a list of schedules that are specifically for backing up Hyper-V VMs. The schedule definition must include the following parameters and options:

  • The -domain.vmfull="all-vm" option must be specified in the option string. No other parameters are required for the -domain.vmfull option.
  • The schedule must contain the ACTION=BACKUP and SUBACTION=VM parameters.
For example, the administrator defines a schedule with the following DEFINE SCHEDULE server command:
define schedule hyperv_domain_name schedule_name 
description=schedule_description action=backup subaction=VM 
starttime=NOW+00:10 schedstyle=Classic period=1 perunits=Weeks 
durunits=minutes duration=10 options='-vmbackuptype=hypervfull 
-mode=IFIncremental -domain.vmfull="all-vm"'
The Hyper-V administrator then associates a data mover with the schedule by using the Backup Management window. The -asnodename= option is automatically added to the schedule definition. For example, for a stand-alone host, the following option is added:
-asnodename=Hyper-V_host_HV_TGT
For a cluster environment, the following options is added:
-asnodename=clustername_hv_tgt

Depending on the system configuration, the node name can also contain a prefix and suffix. For more information, see Customizing node names.

Tip: The server administrator can also use the IBM Storage Protect Operations Center to define the Hyper-V schedule.
If some VMs need to be excluded, include the -vm parameter in the -domain.vmfull option in the option string. For example, to back up all VMs but exclude the VM named TestVm1, specify the following parameters in the option string:
-domain.vmfull="all-vm;-vm=TestVM1"

T include a single VM in scheduled backup operations, specify the following parameters in the option string. In the following example, the VM is named TestVM1:

-domain.vmfull="all-vm;-vm=*;vm=TestVM1"

You set the backup policy for a host or cluster by associating a backup schedule with the host or cluster. You can also remove the schedule association from a host or cluster.

In a cluster environment, the selected schedule applies to all hosts in the cluster. You cannot assign a different schedule to a host that is part of a cluster.

Procedure

  1. Start the Data Protection for Microsoft Hyper-V Management Console
  2. In the navigation pane, click a stand-alone host or cluster from the navigation pane.
  3. In the Actions pane, click Backup Management.
    A summary of the schedules is displayed in a table. The following properties of the schedules are displayed:
    Schedule Name
    The name of the schedule.
    Repeats
    How often the schedule repeats.
    Host Names
    A list of hosts that correspond to the data mover nodes that are associate with the schedule.
    Description
    A description of the schedule.
  4. Select a schedule in the Backup Management window and take one of the following actions.
    • To associate the selected schedule with the cluster or host and refresh the window, click Assign Schedule.

      When a schedule is assigned to a cluster or host, the -asnodename in the option string in the schedule definition is specified with the target node (hostname_HV_TGT or clustername_HV_TGT). Only the relevant schedules for this target node are shown or schedules that are not associated with any other target nodes are shown.

      The target node name can also contain a prefix and suffix. For example, prefix_hostname_HV_TGT_suffix or prefix_clustername_HV_TGT_suffix.

    • To remove the selected schedule association from the cluster or host, click Unassign Schedule.

      When you remove the schedule association from the cluster or host, the asnodename option is removed from the option string in the schedule definition and the nodes related to the cluster or host are removed from the association.

  5. Click Close to close the window.