Configure and validate backups for Incus virtual machines

Configure the Incus hypervisor, create a VM group for the virtual machines that you want to protect, and associate the VM group with a backup plan. After you complete the configuration, run an initial backup to validate that protection is working.

Requirements

Before you configure backups:

• Prepare your Incus environment, including the access node required for Incus backup and restore operations.

• Configure credentials and permissions for Incus.

• Have the host name or IP address of the Incus environment available.

• Have a backup plan available, or create one during configuration.

For supported Incus versions, virtual machine types, storage pools, and storage volume content types, see Support.

Configure the Incus hypervisor

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

2. Click Add hypervisor.

3. Select Incus.

4. In Hostname / IP address, enter the host name or IP address of the Incus environment.

5. In Hypervisor display name, enter a descriptive name for the hypervisor.

6. From the Credential list, select the Incus credential that you configured for the environment.

7. From the Access nodes list, select the access node that you prepared for Incus data protection operations.

8. Continue to the VM group configuration.

Configure the VM group

Create a VM group to define the Incus virtual machines that you want to protect. You can select individual virtual machines or use rules to dynamically define the VM group content.

Select virtual machines

Use this method when you want to select specific virtual machines.

1. Enter a name for the VM group.

2. In the VM group content, browse the Incus environment.

3. Select the virtual machines that you want to protect.

4. Associate the VM group with a backup plan.

5. Complete the configuration.

Select virtual machines by using rules

Use rules when you want VM group membership to be based on Incus virtual machine attributes.

1. Enter a name for the VM group.

2. In the VM group content, create a rule.

3. Select one of the following rule types:

   • Browse: Select resources by browsing the Incus environment.

   • Custom attribute: Select virtual machines based on a custom attribute.

   • Project: Select virtual machines based on an Incus project.

   • Virtual machine name or pattern: Select virtual machines based on a virtual machine name or matching pattern.

4. Select the operator and specify or browse for the value to use for the rule.

5. If you configure multiple rules, select whether the virtual machines must match all rules or any rule.

6. Save the rule.

7. Associate the VM group with a backup plan.

8. Complete the configuration.

Validate the backup configuration

After you configure protection, run an initial backup to verify that the selected Incus virtual machines can be backed up successfully.

1. Verify that the Incus hypervisor and VM group appear on the Virtualization page.

2. Verify that the VM group contains the virtual machines that you want to protect.

3. Run an initial backup of the VM group.

4. Monitor the backup job and verify that it completes successfully.

After the initial backup completes successfully, you can further validate the protected data by performing a Restore guest files.