Deploying a VMware File Recovery Enabler for Linux

A File Recovery Enabler for Linux (FREL) enables virtual machine data to be browsed from a backup for the source virtual machine (VM), with support for ext2, ext3, ext4, XFS, JFS, HFS, HFS Plus, and Btrfs file systems. Use the open virtual appliance (OVA) template supplied by Commvault to create a virtual machine that contains the File Recovery Enabler.

The File Recovery Enabler for Linux package is deployed as a MediaAgent in restore-only mode, and does not consume a license. The client does not appear in the Client Computers list unless the Show Unlicensed with software (Restore only Clients) option is selected in User Preferences.

Before You Begin

• Before creating a virtual machine for Linux file restores, install the latest available service pack for Commvault on the CommServe host and Virtual Server Agent.

• Use the latest available version of the Access Node and MediaAgent (FREL) template. The template version must match the service pack version.

• To verify the version of VMware software that is required to support this feature, see System Requirements.

• Requirements for the ESX server where the File Recovery Enabler is deployed:

  • Deployment uses 4 GB of RAM

  • Deployment uses 4 vCPUs

  • Disk requirements: 80 GB (thin or thick provisioned)

  You must deploy the OVA from the vCenter, not from the ESX host.

• Verify that network communication is enabled so that the VMware servers, the CommServe system, and the machine where the File Recovery Enabler is deployed can communicate with each other.

• If a firewall is used, see Entering Required Firewall Settings.

• The virtualization client must refer to a vCenter user with permissions defined as described in User Accounts.

• The following vSphere permissions are required to enable deployment or reconfiguration of a File Recovery Enabler for Linux:

  Category	Available Permissions
  vApp	Import
  vApp	vApp application configuration
  vApp	vApp instance configuration

• The following Commvault permissions must be assigned for the CommServe user account in the CommCell Console:

  Category	Permission	Usage
  Global	Administrative Management	Enables the CommServe user (identified as CS User Name below) to deploy the File Recovery Enabler in the CommServe system.
  Client	Agent Management	Enables the File Recovery Enabler to be added to a client computer group.

Considerations

• The File Recovery Enabler can be deployed on the same vCenter and ESX server that is used for VMware backup, or on any other vCenter or ESX server with which the File Recovery Enabler can establish a connection. You must deploy the OVA from the vCenter, not from the ESX host.

• Live recovery is only supported for recovery from backups using magnetic disk libraries, not from backups to tape libraries.

• Live browse and file recovery operations are not supported for XFS realtime subvolumes.

• With Service Pack 8 or later, live browse and recovery is supported for subvolumes of Btrfs file systems.

• The File Recovery Enabler for Linux supports NFS version 3.

• After deploying the File Recovery Enabler, download and install HotFixes for the installed service pack.

• The 11.20 version of the File Recovery Enabler for Linux runs on CentOS 8, which does not support Btrfs file systems. To perform live browse and restore operations for VM guest files with Btrfs file system data, use an earlier service pack version of the FREL that runs on CentOS 7.x.

Procedure

1. Go to Cloud Services, log in, access the Download Center, and select Virtualization under Category. Download the Access Node and MediaAgent (FREL) package that is at the same service pack level as the installed service pack, and save it to a location that is accessible from the vCenter.

2. In vCenter, click the File menu and select Deploy OVF Template.

   You must deploy the OVA from the vCenter, not from the ESX host.

   The Deploy OVF Template wizard opens and displays the Select an OVA template page.

   Note

   When you deploy an OVA template with vCenter 6.5, the wizard page titles are different and configuration options appear in a different sequence from the following steps, but the information you need to provide is the same.

3. Browse to the location where the Access Node and MediaAgent (FREL) template file is located and select that file, and then click Next.

   The Select a name and folder page appears.

4. Enter a name for the virtual machine (for example, VM_LinuxFileRecoveryEnabler), select a location, and then click Next.

5. The Select a compute resource page appears.

6. Select a resource pool (optional) and an ESX server, and then click Next.

   The Review details page appears.

7. Review the template details, and then click Next.

   The Select storage page appears.

8. Select the virtual disk format, select a datastore, and then click Next.

9. The Select networks page appears.

10. Select the source and destination networks as needed, and then click Next.

    The Customize template page appears.

11. Enter the following information:

    • IP Configuration:

      Note

      The following fields need to be entered when the File Recovery Enabler is being deployed using a static IP address, or with DHCP if there is a possibility that the DHCP server in your environment provides incorrect or incomplete DNS information. The fields below override any DNS configuration that is obtained from the DHCP servers.

      • Use DHCP: Select this option or enter values for the Static IP Address, Netmask, and Gateway.

      • DNS Search Suffix: Identifiers for domains to be supported. You can enter multiple search suffixes separated by whitespaces.

      • Nameserver 1: IP address for the primary name server.

      • Nameserver 2: IP address for the secondary name server.

    • Client Configuration:

      • Client Name: Short name for the virtual machine (for example, VM_LinuxFileRecoveryEnabler).

      • Client Hostname: Host name or IP address for the client. If you selected Static IP Address, then you must enter a resolvable hostname.

      • New password for 'root': Password for the root user of the virtual machine.

      • Client Group Name: Name of a client computer group; the File Recovery Enabler is assigned to that group if the group exists (the name is case sensitive).

      • Automatic OS updates: Select this option to enable automatic OS updates.

        By default, automatic updates are applied daily for security updates. To modify the security level, perform the following steps after the FREL has been deployed:

      • Modify the /etc/dnf/automatic.conf file to use one of the following options with the upgrade_type option, as shown in the last line of the following example:

        [commands]
        #  What kind of upgrade to perform:
        # default                            = all available upgrades
        # security                           = only the security upgrades
        upgrade_type = security

      • Run thesystemctl restart dnf-automatic command to apply the specified security level.

    • CS Configuration:

      • CS Client Name: Short name for the CommServe system. This entry is case sensitive.

        Note

        The short name for the CommServe system is found in the CommCell Name field of the CommCell Properties dialog box (go to CommCell Browser, right-click the CommServe node, click Properties, and then select the General tab). This entry is case sensitive.

      • CS Hostname/IP: Host name or IP address for the CommServe system. This entry is case sensitive.

        Note

        The host name for the CommServe system is found in the CommCell Host Name field of the CommCell Properties dialog box (go to CommCell Browser, right-click the CommServe node, click Properties, and then select the General tab). This entry is case sensitive.

      • CS Username: User name for the CommCell Console.

      • CS Password: Password for the CommCell Console user.

    • Firewall Configuration - Indicate whether the CommServe system is behind a firewall and enter values for Option 1, Option 2, or Option 3:

      • Is CS behind a firewall?: Select this option if a firewall is enabled on the CommServe system.

      • [Option 1] CS firewall port (client can connect to CS): Enter the tunnel port number the client can use to open a connection to the CommServe system.

      • [Option 2] Client firewall port (CS can connect to client): Enter the tunnel port number the CommServe system can use to open a connection toward the client.

      • For Option 3, enter all of the following values:

        [Option 3] Proxy Clientname (CS reachable via proxy)

        [Option 3] Proxy Hostname (CS reachable via proxy)

        [Option 3] Proxy Port number (CS reachable via proxy)

      • If an HTTP proxy is used for communication between the CommServe host and the File Recovery Enabler, provide the following information:

        HTTP Proxy Hostname

        HTTP Proxy Port

12. After verifying the information, click Next.

13. On the Ready to Complete dialog, review the deployment options and click Finish.

14. Configure a default File Recovery Enabler for Linux to use for UNIX-based file restores as described in Specifying the Default File Recovery Enabler for Linux for a Virtual Server Instance, and an ESX server to host the NFS datastore as described in Identifying a Proxy ESX Server for the File Recovery Enabler.

Updating the File Recovery Enabler

As needed, the OVA template for the File Recovery Enabler is updated to include operating system updates and enhancements. To ensure that the File Recovery Enabler contains all critical fixes and features, upgrade the CommServe host and Virtual Server Agent to the most recent service pack, and download the OVA template for the File Recovery Enabler at the same service pack level to deploy the File Recovery Enabler.

To upgrade a File Recovery Enabler for Linux to the latest release, update the Commvault software to the latest release on the client computer. For instructions, see Installing a Feature Release Remotely Using the CommCell Console.

What To Do Next

Perform the following additional tasks:

1. Verify the registration for the File Recovery Enabler VM.

2. Review Cache Requirements to ensure that there is sufficient space for file recovery data.

3. If a firewall is used, enter Required Firewall Settings.

4. Optional: Instead of deploying the File Recovery Enabler as a virtual machine, you can convert a Linux MediaAgent to a File Recovery Enabler for Linux.