Offload to secondary backup storage

The vSnap server is the primary backup location for snapshots. All IBM Spectrum Protect Plus environments have at least one vSnap server. Optionally, you can offload snapshots from a vSnap server to secondary backup storage.

The following secondary backup storage targets are available for offload operations:

IBM Cloud™ Object Storage (including IBM Cloud Object Storage Systems)
Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3)
Microsoft Azure
Repository servers (for the current release of IBM Spectrum Protect Plus, the repository server must be an IBM Spectrum Protect server)

These targets support the following storage types. The storage type that you use depends on factors such as your recovery time and security goals.

Object storage: Object storage is a method of storing data in which data is stored as discrete units, or objects, in a storage pool or repository that does not use a file hierarchy but that stores all objects at the same level.; Object storage is an option when you offload data to an IBM Spectrum Protect server or a cloud storage system. When snapshot data is offloaded to object storage, a full copy is created during the first offload operation. Subsequent copies are incremental and capture cumulative changes since the last offload.; Offloading snapshots to object storage is useful if you want relatively fast backup and recovery times and do not require the longer-term protection, cost, and security benefits that are provided by tape or cloud archive storage.
Tape or cloud archive storage: Tape storage means that data is stored on physical tape media or in a virtual tape library. Tape storage is an option when you offload data to an IBM Spectrum Protect server. By storing tape volumes at a secure, offsite location that is not connected to the internet, you can help to protect your data from online threats such as malware and hackers.; Cloud archive storage is long-term storage method that copies data to one of the following storage services: Amazon Glacier, IBM Cloud Object Storage Archive Tier, or Microsoft Azure Archive.; When you offload data to tape or to a cloud storage system, a full copy of the data is created.; Offloading snapshots to tape or cloud archive storage provides extra cost and security benefits. However, because offloading to these storage types requires a full data copy, the time required to copy data increases. In addition, the recovery time can be unpredictable and the data might take longer to process before it is usable.

For information about how snapshot data is copied to object storage and archival storage for each cloud storage system, see Cloud requirements.

Adding secondary backup storage and creating backup policies

To offload data to secondary storage, the following actions are required:

Action	How to
To offload data to a repository server Set up IBM Spectrum Protect Plus as an object client in the IBM Spectrum Protect server environment. Add the storage to IBM Spectrum Protect Plus.	See Configuring an IBM Spectrum Protect server as an offload target and Adding a repository server as a backup storage provider.
To offload data to cloud storage, add the storage to IBM Spectrum Protect Plus.	Follow the instructions for your selected storage type: Adding Amazon S3 cloud storage as a backup storage provider Adding IBM Cloud Object Storage as a backup storage provider Adding Microsoft Azure cloud storage as a backup storage provider Adding a repository server as a backup storage provider
Create a backup policy that includes the storage.	See Create backup policies.

Example deployments

The following figure shows IBM Spectrum Protect Plus deployed in two active locations. Each location has inventory that requires protection. Location 1 has a vCenter server and two vSphere datacenters (and an inventory of virtual machines) and Location 2 has a single datacenter (and a smaller inventory of virtual machines).

The IBM Spectrum Protect Plus server is deployed in only one of the sites. VADP proxies and vSnap servers (with their corresponding disks) are deployed in each site to localize data movement in the context of the protected vSphere resources.

Bi-directional replication is configured to take place between the vSnap servers at the two sites.

Snapshots are offloaded from the vSnap server at the secondary site to cloud storage for long-term data protection.

This figure depicts IBM Spectrum Protect Plus components in two locations — Figure 1. IBM Spectrum Protect Plus deployment across two geographical locations with offload to cloud storage

The following figure shows the same deployment as the previous figure.

However, in this deployment, snapshots are offloaded from the vSnap server at the secondary site to IBM Spectrum Protect for long-term data protection.