# Configuring Multi-Region Backups for VMware Cloud Director VMs

The most cost-effective way to protect VMware Cloud Director VMs that reside in multiple regions is to create a multi-region backup plan, assign the backup plan to your VM groups, and then block cross-region backups for your hypervisors. With this configuration, if the Commvault software detects that a backup job will incur egress charges (by moving data from one region to another), the backup job fails.

## Prerequisites

- When you block cross-region backups for VMware Cloud Director VMs:

  - IntelliSnap backup of VMs is not supported with a multi-region backup plan assigned to a VM Group. Only streaming backup of the VMs is supported.

  - The Commvault software automatically picks appropriate access node and MediaAgent based on region and subnet configuration of the ESX server.

- Configure an access node for each region that you specify in the backup plan.

- Set the workload region at the storage level associated with the backup plan.

## Step 1: Create a Multi-Region Plan

Create a backup plan that includes all the regions that your VMs reside in.

### Start the Plan Wizard

1. From the Command Center navigation pane, go to Manage > Plans.

   The Plans page appears.

2. Click Create plan, and then select Backup.

   The Create backup plan wizard appears.

3. Specify whether to create a new backup plan or to use an existing base plan.

4. In Plan name, enter a name for the backup plan.

5. Click Next.

   The Backup destinations page appears.

### Specify Backup Copies, Storage, and Retention for the First Region

1. Click Add copy.

   The Add copy dialog box appears.

2. In Name, enter a name for the primary copy of the backups for the first region.

3. From the Storage list, select the storage for the backups.

   You can use the Air Gap Protect cool storage class for creating secondary copies, but not for creating primary copies.

4. For Retention rules, specify the amount of time to retain the backups.

5. To specify additional backups for the primary copy of the backups, such as weekly full backups, move the Extended retention rules toggle key to the right, and then add rules.

6. Click Save.

7. Move the Multi-region toggle key to the right.

8. From the Region list, select the region.

### Specify Backup Copies, Storage, and Retention for the Other Regions

1. Click Add destinations for another region.

2. Specify backup copies, storage, and retention for the other regions, using the same steps as for the first region.

## Step 2: Assign the Multi-Region Backup Plan to Your VM Groups

For each VM group that contains VMs that you want to protect, use the following steps to assign the multi-region backup plan.

1. From the Command Center navigation pane, go to Protect > Virtual machines.

   The Overview page appears.

2. On the VM groups tab, click the VM group.

   The VM group page appears.

3. In the Summary section, for Plan, click the edit button, select the multi-region backup plan, and then click Submit.

## Step 3: Block Cross-Region Backups for Your Hypervisors

For each hypervisor, use the following steps to block cross-region backups.

1. From the Command Center navigation pane, go to Protect > Virtual machines.

   The Overview page appears.

2. On the Hypervisor tab, click the hypervisor.

   The hypervisor page appears.

3. On the Configuration tab, move the Restrict cross-region backups toggle key to the right.

×

Loading...