Converting from Azure to Azure Stack

When restoring Azure virtual machines, you can choose to restore the virtual machines to an Azure Stack deployment.

You can perform VM conversions from streaming backups, from secondary copies, or from IntelliSnap backup copies. You cannot perform a conversion from a Snap copy.

Before You Begin

• Before you convert a VM from a non-Azure hypervisor using a "restore as" operation, verify that the source VM meets the requirements for non-endorsed distributions. This verification is important because Linux VMs that are based on an endorsed distribution of Azure have the prerequisites that enable them to run on Azure, but VMs that originate from other hypervisors might not. For more information, see Information for Non-Endorsed Distributions.

• For Windows computers: enable the pagefile on the C: drive of the source VM. This will prevent you from receiving an error message when you reboot the destination VM.

• For Linux computers: Ensure that the fstab entry of the source disk should be based on disk UUID and not disk name. If it is not based on disk UUID, then the restored VM will not boot up.

• Configure a virtualization client for Azure Stack.

Procedure

1. From the CommCell Browser, expand Client Computers > virtualization_client > Virtual Server > instance > backup_set.

2. Initiate the restore from a subclient or backup set:

   • From a subclient: Right-click the subclient, and then select Browse and Restore.

   • From a backup set: Right-click the backup set, point to All Tasks, and then click Browse and Restore.

   The Browse and Restore Options dialog box appears.

3. Select Full Virtual Machine.

4. From the Restore as list, select Azure Stack.

5. Click View Content.

6. On the Client tab, from the list of backed-up virtual machines, expand a virtual machine, select a virtual machine to be restored, and then click Recover All Selected.

   The Restore VM wizard opens and displays the Destination page.

7. Specify the destination and the proxy for the restore operation:

   By default, the restore operation is performed using the preferred VSA proxy for the virtualization client.

   1. From the Virtualization Client list, select the client for the Azure Stack subscription.

      The Subscription Details area shows the subscription ID.

   2. From the Proxy Client list, select a VSA proxy that is not used by Azure or Azure Classic.

8. Click Next.

   The wizard displays the Virtual Machines page. The VM and Disk column shows the source virtual machines with disks underneath each virtual machine.

9. Specify parameters for the restore operation:

   1. In the VM and Disk column, expand each virtual machine to view the disks in that virtual machine.

   2. In the Change VM display name to column, enter the new display name for the virtual machine.

   3. Click in the Resource Group column, and then browse to specify the resource group for the restored VM.

   4. In the Storage Account column, select the storage account for a virtual machine or a disk.

      You can specify any storage account that is in the same region as the selected resource group.

   5. To specify other options, select one or more virtual machines and then, under the Settings column, click Configure.

      The Azure Stack Virtual Machine Configuration dialog box appears.

      As needed, specify other values:

      • VM Display Name: Displays the name of the virtual machine.

      • Resource Group: To specify the resource group for the restored VM, browse and select the resource group.

      • Storage Account: Select the storage account to use for all selected virtual machines or disks.

        You can specify any storage account that is in the same region as the selected resource group.

      • VM size: Select a size specification for the restored virtual machine.

        The Auto Select option uses the smallest VM size that can accommodate the disks, the memory, and the CPUs of the source VM. To expand the VM configuration, you can change the value.

      • Operating System: Leave the Auto Select option or select the same operating system as the source VM.

      • Azure Virtual Network Options:

        Create Public IP: If a public IP address is not required on restored VMs, clear this check box.

        Network Interface: To specify a network connection for the restored VM, browse and select a network interface.

        Specify any subnet that is in the same region as the selected resource group.

        Network Security Group: To specify a network security group for the restored VM, browse and select the group.

      Click OK to save and close the Azure Stack Virtual Machine Configuration dialog box.

10. Click Next.

    The wizard displays the Restore Options page.

11. Optional: Select restore options:

    • Power ON Virtual Machine after Restore: To start the virtual machine automatically after the restore is complete, select this check box.

    • Unconditionally Overwrite VM with the same name: To replace a virtual machine that has the same name at the specified destination, select this check box.

12. Click Next.

    The wizard displays the Job Options page.

13. Initiate the operation immediately or configure a schedule for the operation.

14. Click Next.

    The wizard displays a Summary page for the operation.

15. Click Finish.

What to Do Next

If the source VM had multiple disks, the disks after the first disk are added to the converted VM in an offline state. Bring the disks online manually. This approach avoids drive letter conflicts, because the conversion operation creates a temporary drive D:\ and assigns that drive to the converted VM.