> Documentation > End User Access > Command Center > Virtualization and Cloud > Replication for Virtual Machines > Replication Configuration Methods > VM Group Replication

Creating a Replication Group

A replication group is a set of virtual machines that can be replicated to a recovery target (also called a destination or secondary site). You can replicate from streaming backups or VMware IntelliSnap backups:

  • From streaming backups, VMs can be replicated to all supported hypervisors. For more information, see Cross-Platform Feature Support.

  • From VMware IntelliSnap backups, VMs can be replicated to VMware using Live Sync Direct.

    When you configure Live Sync Direct from VMware IntelliSnap backups, failback operations are only supported if the IntelliSnap configuration uses the Virtual Server Agent Snap engine. Failback operations are not supported if you use a hardware snapshot engine, regardless of whether the live sync operation is performed from a snap copy or a backup copy.

Before You Begin

  • Verify that you have a source hypervisor and a destination hypervisor for the replication group.

  • Review the configuration options for adding source and destination hypervisors, creating a replication target, and configuring a replication group:

  • Create a replication target for the destination site.

  • For traditional live sync, virtual machines must have been backed up at least once to be added to a replication group.

    This requirement does not apply for Live Sync Direct.

  • For Amazon destinations, when replication uses an Amazon instance as the VSA proxy and does not specify a bucket, you must provide guest instance credentials for each guest instance on the Override options page for the replication group, including the domain or computer name, username, and password.

Procedure

  1. From the navigation pane, go to Configuration > Replication.

    The Replication page appears with the Groups tab selected.

  2. In the upper-right area of the tab, click Configure replication group, and then select Virtualization.

    The Configure replication group page appears.

  3. Select one of the following options:

    • Live Sync: Replicate from streaming backups.

    • Live Sync Direct: Replicate from VMware IntelliSnap backups.

      With Live Sync Direct configurations, a maximum of three VM snapshots are retained on source VMs.

    • Live Sync IO: Perform block-level replication for VMware.

      See Configuring a Replication Group for Live Sync I/O.

    The Configure replication group wizard opens and displays the Content page.

  4. Enter the required information for the destination hypervisor.

  5. Click Next.

    The Target page appears.

  6. Enter the required information for the destination hypervisor.

  7. Click Next.

    The wizard displays the Override options page.

  8. Click Yes to override settings for specific VMs.

  9. To change the destination settings for specific VMs, select the VMs from the Virtual machine list.

  10. Click Next.

    The Summary page appears and displays the settings for the group definition.

  11. Click Finish to create the replication group.

Result

The wizard creates a replication schedule and a replication group that includes the selected source VMs.

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