Disaster Backup and Recovery
To minimize the effects of a disaster, you must create a disaster recovery plan to minimize downtime and data loss. You can achieve this by using a VMware-supported disaster backup and recovery solution or you can export the OVA files as described in this section.
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Record the media access control (MAC) address of each virtual machine in the cluster. Make sure that you save the addresses in both an on-site and off-site location.
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Back up each virtual machine in the cluster by exporting its OVA. Make sure that you store the exported OVAs in an off-site location.
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If a disaster occurs, restore one, two, or all three virtual machines that you have lost by deploying the exported OVAs.
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Before you turn on each restored virtual machine, update its MAC address.
Save the MAC Address of Each Virtual Machine
As part of your disaster backup and recovery plan, make sure that you record the MAC address of each virtual machine in the cluster. When you restore a backed up OVA, you must update the MAC address before you turn on the machine.
Procedure
Step 1 |
Open vSphere Client. |
Step 2 |
Right-click the virtual machine and click Edit Settings. |
Step 3 |
On the Hardware tab, select Network adapter 1 or the equivalent. |
Step 4 |
Record the value that is in the MAC Address field. |
Step 5 |
Save the address in both an on-site and off-site location. |
Step 6 |
Click Cancel. |
Step 7 |
Repeat Steps 2 through 6 for each virtual machine in the cluster. |
Export a Virtual Machine to an OVA
Make sure that you are prepared to recover from a disaster. On a regular basis, back up each virtual machine in the cluster by exporting its OVA.
Procedure
Step 1 |
Open vSphere Client. |
Step 2 |
Turn off the virtual machine:
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Step 3 |
Make sure that the virtual machine is selected and choose . |
Step 4 |
Enter a meaningful name for the file. |
Step 5 |
Choose a directory in which to save the file. |
Step 6 |
From the Format drop-down list, select Single file (OVA). |
Step 7 |
Enter a meaningful description for the file. Add a date, version, and reason for export to help you determine which file to restore later. |
Step 8 |
Click OK. |
Step 9 |
Repeat Steps 2 through 8 for each virtual machine in the cluster. |
Step 10 |
Store the OVAs in an off-site location. |
Restore a Backed Up OVA After a Disaster
Procedure
Step 1 |
In vSphere Client, verify that the virtual machine involved in the disaster does not appear in the virtual machines and templates inventory tree. |
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Step 2 |
If the virtual machine appears in the virtual machines and templates inventory tree, turn off and delete this virtual machine:
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Step 3 |
In the virtual machines and templates inventory tree, select the location where you want to deploy the backed up OVA. |
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Step 4 |
Choose . |
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Step 5 |
In the Source screen, browse to the location of the OVA, and then click Next. |
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Step 6 |
Verify the details in the OVF Template Details screen, and then click Next. |
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Step 7 |
In the Name and Location screen, enter a name for the template, select its location, and then click Next. |
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Step 8 |
In the Host / Cluster screen, select where you want to run the template, and then click Next. |
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Step 9 |
In the Storage screen, select where you want to store the virtual machine files, and then click Next. |
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Step 10 |
In the Disk Format screen, select the format in which you want to store the virtual disks, and then click Next. |
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Step 11 |
In the Networking Mapping screen, select the appropriate Destination Networks for OVA deployment, and then click Next. |
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Step 12 |
In the Properties screen, enter the properties that are appropriate for your network, and then click Next. |
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Step 13 |
On the Ready to Complete screen, make sure that Power on after deployment check box is unchecked.
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Step 14 |
Click Finish. |
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Step 15 |
Repeat Steps 1 through 14 for each virtual machine in the cluster that you need to restore. |
Update the MAC Address of Each Virtual Machine
After you restore a backed up OVA, you must update the MAC address before you turn on the virtual machine.
Procedure
Step 1 |
Open vSphere Client. |
Step 2 |
Right-click the restored virtual machine and click Edit Settings. |
Step 3 |
On the Hardware tab, select Network adapter 1 or the equivalent. |
Step 4 |
Under the MAC Address field, select Manual. |
Step 5 |
In the MAC Address field, enter the MAC address of the virtual machine that you recorded as part of your disaster backup and recovery plan. |
Step 6 |
Click OK. |
Step 7 |
Restart the virtual machine:
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Step 8 |
Repeat Steps 2 through 7 for each virtual machine in the cluster that you need to restore. |
Step 9 |
If you restored only one or two servers in the cluster, you must restart Tomcat on the server that was always up and running:
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Step 10 |
If you restored all three servers in the cluster, after each of the restored virtual machines have been restarted, restart all three virtual machines in the cluster. |