Configuring Auto-Scaling for Azure VM Access Nodes

Configuring auto-scaling for Azure VM access nodes includes identifying the access node that will manage auto-scaling and the hypervisor that represents the Azure subscription where the auto-scaled access nodes are deployed.

Create an Access Node to Manage Auto-Scaling

You must have an Azure VM access node that manages only auto-scaling. You can use an existing Azure VM access node, but that access node must not manage other data protection operations.

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

2. Click Add server, and then specify host name, credentials, and OS type.

3. Select Virtual Server from the package list.

4. Select a backup plan, confirm the installation path, and then enable Reboot if required.

5. Click Install, and then refresh the Servers page.

Create an Empty Server Group That Specifies Network and Permissions Settings

This server group specifies the network and permissions settings that auto-scaled access nodes inherit.

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

2. Click Add, enter a name for the server group, and then select Manual association.

   Important

   Don't select servers. The server group must remain empty.

3. Click Save.

Create an Azure VM Hypervisor to Deploy the Auto-Scaled Access Nodes In

This hypervisor represents the Azure subscription where auto-scaled access nodes are deployed.

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

2. Click Add hypervisor, and then select Microsoft Azure.

3. Enter a name for the hypervisor and your Azure subscription ID.

4. Configure access using a managed identity or Azure app+secret.

5. Select the access node you created.

6. Click Save.

Specify VM Provisioning Settings

Initially, you specify a set of VM provisioning settings for a single hypervisor. Then, you can apply the settings to other hypervisors.

Start the VM Provisioning Settings Wizard

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

2. On the Hypervisors tab, click the hypervisor to specify VM provisioning settings for.

3. On the Configuration tab, in the Access node section, click VM provisioning settings.

   The VM provisioning settings dialog box appears.

4. Move the Associate existing VM provisioning settings toggle key to the left.

5. Click Next.

   The Provisioning Settings wizard appears.

Server and Resource Groups Page

1. From the Server groups list, select the empty server group you created.

2. From the Resource group list, select the Azure resource group to create and to assign the access nodes to.

3. From the User assigned identity list, select the user-assigned managed identity to assign to the access nodes.

   The Commvault software will use this identity to authenticate with your Azure environment. The identity must be assigned the roles and permissions that are required for the software to perform data protection operations. For more information, see Configuring Access to Azure Resources.

4. To use the VM provisioning settings for the current hypervisor as the default settings for all Azure hypervisors, move the Set as system default settings toggle key to the right.

   If you enable this setting, when users select a hypervisor, they see a visual indication that these settings are the default settings.

5. To disable creating a public IP address for the provisioned access nodes, move the Create public IP address toggle key to the left.

   By default, the toggle key is selected and creates a public IP address on the provisioned access nodes.

   Note

   For connection with the CommServe computer, the default ports 8400 and 8403 must be open on the access nodes in the network security group rules.

6. Click Next.

Region Page

Specify the regions to create access nodes in.

1. Click Add.

   The Add region dialog box appears.

2. From the Region list, select the region to the create the access nodes in.

   If you add multiple regions, the additional access nodes will be created in the same region as the workload VMs. Access nodes will not be created in a different region from the workload VMs.

3. From the Virtual network list, select a virtual network (VNet) for the access nodes.

4. From the Subnet list, select a sub network of the virtual network.

5. From the Security group list, select a security group.

6. Click Save.

7. Click Next.

Access Nodes Page

1. Specify how you want the size of the access nodes to be determined:

   • To have the Commvault software select the size, move the Auto select VM size toggle key to the right.

   • To specify the VM size in these provisioning settings, move the Auto select VM size toggle key to the left.

   • To allow the user to select the VM size when the starting the provisioning job, do the following:

     1. Move the Auto select VM size toggle key to the left.

     2. Move the Choose size while launching job toggle key to the right.

2. In Maximum number of access nodes, enter the maximum number of access nodes that can be created in each region to back up the VMs in the region.

   The default value is 10. The maximum number is 100.

3. For Select operating system, select the OS for the access nodes.

4. Click Next.

Advanced Settings Page

1. To specify a network gateway for the access nodes to communicate with the CommServe server, in Network gateway, enter the gateway in the hostname:port format.

2. To associate users and/or user groups with the VM provisioning settings, from the Security list, select the users and/or user groups.

3. For User approval, select a user to send an email for the user's approval.

   When the user approves, then the create access node job launches.

4. For Workflow, you can select a workflow to run after the access nodes are successfully provisioned.

   Provisioning workflows run only when access nodes are provisioned using the manual Create Access Node workflow. They do not run when access nodes are auto-scaled. Provisioning workflows start immediately after the access nodes are provisioned. Pre- and post-workflows start after VM settings are modified.

5. For Tags, to add tags for the access nodes, do the following:

   1. Click Add

      The Add tag dialog box appears.

   2. For Workload type, specify which workloads to add the tag to:

      • General: All access nodes.

      • Virtualization: Access nodes for Virtualization workloads.

      • Office 365: Access nodes for Office 365 workloads.

      • MediaAgent: Access nodes for MediaAgent workloads.

   3. In Key and Value, enter the key and value for the tag.

6. Click Next.

Summary Page

1. Review the summary of the provisioning settings.

2. Click Submit.