Backup and restore types

Data Protection for VMware provides multiple backup and restore functions.

Backup types

The following backup types are available:

Incremental-forever incremental backup: Backs up the blocks that changed since the previous backup (full or incremental). The most recent incremental is appended to the previous backup. If a full backup does not exist for this virtual machine (VM), a full backup is automatically performed. As a result, you do not have to verify that a full backup exists.

Incremental-forever full backup: Creates an image of an entire VM. After the full backup is taken, there is no requirement to schedule additional full backups. When full is selected, VM templates that are unchanged since the last backup are also included.

Snapshot differential backup operations are not supported in the VMware environment. You cannot run snapshot differential backup operations of a file system that resides on a NetApp filer on a host where the Data Protection for VMware data mover is also installed.

Restore types

The following restore types are available:

File restore: Use the IBM Spectrum Protect file restore interface to restore files with a web-based interface. File owners can search, locate, and restore files from a VM backup without administrator assistance.
Fast VM revert: The VM is restored from a persisted snapshot that is on the hardware storage and is available when the restore operation completes. This restore type is available only for VMs that are in a VVOL datastore and can be completed from the IBM Spectrum Protect vSphere Client plug-in or the command line. For more information, see How Virtual Volumes are used in a virtual environment.
Restore: The VM is restored from a backup that is on the IBM Spectrum Protect server and is available when the restore operation completes. The entire VM is restored to the state it that it existed in when originally backed up.
Instant restore: The VM is restored from a backup that is on the IBM Spectrum Protect server and is available when the restore operation completes. The entire VM is restored to the state it that it existed in when originally backed up.
Instant access: A temporary VM is created for verification of the backup data, but the virtual machine is not restored.; This restore type requires that you manually dismount the VM when you are finished with it. To dismount the VM, see Dismounting a virtual machine.