Quick Start Guide for KVM Backup & Recovery

Quick Start Guide for KVM Backup & Recovery

About KVM Backup & Replication

BDRShield provides a robust and reliable solution for protecting KVM-based virtual environments. It supports full and incremental backups, flexible scheduling, offsite replication, and centralized management. Whether securing local, remote, or cloud environments, BDRShield ensures comprehensive data protection and seamless recovery for KVM workloads.

Getting Started

Step 1: Planning

Required Components:

  • BDRShield Backup Server
  • KVM host

System Requirements (Backup Server): Windows Server 2012 R2 Core (Standard or Datacenter) & above. To learn more, refer to the System Requirements.

Supported Platforms (KVM Host): Debian Linux (64-bit), RedHat Linux (64-bit). To learn more, refer to the Supported Platforms.

Port Configuration: To learn more, refer to the Port Configuration.

Step 2: Deploying Backup Server

BDRShield Backup Server is the central management component for configuring, scheduling, managing backups and recovery across virtual, physical, cloud, and SaaS environments. This server has to be installed and hosted on a dedicated machine.

Installation Options:
  1. BDRShield Backup Server Installation on Windows
  2. BDRShield Backup Server Installation on Linux
  3. BDRShield Backup Server Installation on Docker containers

After installation, access the server via http://<IP Address>:6060 or http://localhost:6060. 

Watch BDRShield Backup Server Installation on Windows Video.

Configuring KVM Backup & Recovery

Step 1: Creating a Storage Repository

  1. BDRShield supports on-premise storage options and remote solutions, including DAS, NAS, SAN. You can navigate to the Infrastructure -> Backup Repository tab choose Block Storage. Refer to Block Storage Repository to learn more.
Watch creating Block Storage Repository video

  1. BDRShield also supports public cloud services like Amazon S3, Azure Blob, Google Cloud, and S3-compatible platforms such as Wasabi, MinIO, and Backblaze. You can navigate to the Infrastructure -> Backup Repository tab choose Object Storage. Refer to Object Storage Repository to learn more.

Step 2: Adding KVM Backup Sources

To integrate KVM virtual machines (VMs) with BDRShield for backup and replication:

  1. Navigate to Data Source -> Servers & Endpoints -> Add Host.
  2. Click on Add KVM, and provide the necessary credentials and KVM host details.
  3. For detailed steps, refer to the Adding KVM Backup Sources documentation.

Watch the Adding KVM Backup Sources Video.


Step 3: Configuring Backup Jobs

After adding KVM sources, configure the backup jobs:

  1. Navigate to Backup -> Configure Backup -> Virtual Machines -> KVM.
  2. Define a unique name for the backup job and select the backup repository.
  3. Choose the KVM virtual machines you want to back up.
  4. Set the backup schedule (full or incremental) based on your requirements.
  5. Define additional settings such as retention policies, backup encryption, and compression.
  6. Save the configuration. The backup will run automatically according to the defined schedule.

For detailed instructions, refer to the KVM Backup Configuration guide.

Step 4: Recovering Backups

To restore KVM virtual machines (VMs) from a backup using BDRShield:

  1. Navigate to Recovery -> Restore Backup Data in the BDRShield Backup Server.

  2. Choose the specific backup job that contains the KVM VM to be restored.

  3. Identify and select the desired restore point from the available backups.

  4. Follow the prompts to start the recovery process, restoring the VM to its original or alternate location.

For a detailed walkthrough, refer to the KVM Backup Recovery Guide.

Step 5: Managing Backups

In BDRShield Backup Server, managing KVM backup jobs is straightforward:

  1. Access Backup Jobs:
    Navigate to Backup -> List Backup Jobs to view all configured jobs for KVM virtual machines.

  2. Perform Job Operations:

    • Search: Quickly locate specific backup jobs.
    • Edit: Modify job settings such as schedules or backup repositories.
    • Suspend/Resume/Abort: Pause, restart, or stop backup jobs as needed.

  3. Adjust Schedules:
    Update the frequency and timing of existing backup jobs to meet your requirements.

  4. Generate Reports:
    Create detailed reports summarizing backup activity, job statuses, and any issues encountered.

For comprehensive instructions, refer to the Managing Backup Jobs Guide.

Step 6: Reporting & Notification

The Reports section provides insights into automatically generated reports for KVM Backup, including backup and recovery status, job summaries, and error logs. Notifications can also be configured to inform users about backup operations and issues.

Navigate to the Reports tab in BDRShield Backup Server. To learn more, refer to Reporting & Notifications.

Watch the demo video to understand the detailed process of KVM.


Secondary Copy for KVM

Secondary Copy - Offsite Copy

The Offsite Copy feature allows you to configure Offsite Copy/Disaster Recovery (DR) jobs, where backup data is replicated to a remote server. This ensures data availability and business continuity in case of site failure.

To learn more, refer to the Secondary Copy - Offsite Copy guide.

Watch the Secondary Copy - Offsite Copy video.


Purchase & Manage Licenses

Licensing in BDRShield allows efficient management of KVM backups, ensuring smooth operations through activation, renewal, and allocation of licenses. For detailed instructions, refer to the Purchase & Manage License guide.

Watch the Purchase & Manage License video.