Restoring a virtual machine

You can restore a virtual machine (VM) from a backup that is on an IBM Spectrum Protect™ server.

About this task

During the restore operation, the VM is shut down and deleted before it is restored from the VM backup that is stored on the IBM Spectrum Protect server. The restore operation then re-creates the VM such that its content and configuration is identical to what it was when the backup occurred. Even though the VM is shut down before it is deleted, it is a good practice to manually shut down the VM before you start the restore operation to bring any in-progress application activities to an orderly stop.

You can use the Data Protection for Microsoft Hyper-V Management Console to restore data to a new VM or replace the existing VM with the restored data.

Procedure

  1. Start the Data Protection for Microsoft Hyper-V Management Console.
  2. In the navigation pane, click a host in the cluster or host view.
  3. Select a VM from the VM table in the Virtual Machines view. For example, click a VM whose data protection status is Normal.
    Tip: If you need to restore a VM that was deleted but whose backup is still available on the IBM Spectrum Protect server, select a VM with the Deleted status.
  4. In the Actions pane, click Restore.
  5. Complete the following pages in the Restore wizard as applicable. The pages that are provided depend on the options that you select in the wizard.
    Wizard page Action
    Before you begin

    Click Next to start the wizard.
    Select restore point

    The highlighted dates on the calendar contain restore points. Restore points are VM backups that are available for restore operations. Some VMs have more than one restore point per day.

    Select a date and a restore point from the Available restore points list. The size of the VM is listed next to an available restore point. The VM is restored to the state in which it existed when it was backed up.

    Select options Create a VM or replace the existing VM with the data from the selected restore point. The following options are available:
    Create a new virtual machine
    Create a VM with the data from the selected restore point. This option is the default.
    Replace an existing virtual machine
    Replace the existing VM with the data from the selected restore point. The VM identifiers are maintained.
    Virtual machine name
    If you are creating a VM, the default name for the new VM is the original VM name appended with the date of the restore operation. If you do not want to use the default name, enter a VM name that is not already used by another VM in the Hyper-V host or cluster in the entry field.

    If you are replacing an existing VM, the original VM name is shown. You cannot update it.

    Restore virtual machine to
    If you are creating a VM, select a host to which the VM can be restored.

    If you are replacing an existing VM, the VM is restored to the host that owns the VM. This field is not selectable.
    Select storage

    The page appears only if you are creating a VM with the data from the restore point.

    Enter the location on the host where you want to create the VM. The default location is C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Hyper-V\Virtual Machines.
    Summary Review the options that you selected in the wizard. Click Next to start the restore operation.
    Results Click Finish to close the wizard.

Results

The restore operation that you started is displayed in the task list at the bottom of the Virtual Machines view or Schedule History view.

After the restore operation is completed, the VM is restored in the location that you selected.

What to do next

For a host that is in a cluster, if you restored a deleted VM or if you restored a VM with a new VM name, you must configure the restored VM for high availability by using Microsoft Failover Cluster Manager, System Center Virtual Machine Manager, or PowerShell cmdlets. For instructions about configuring a VM for high availability, see the Microsoft documentation.