This article is to assist users about using IBM Spectrum Protect Plus as a backup replication for IBM Cloud Pak System [Intel rack].
IBM® Cloud Pak System
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IBM® Cloud Pak System is a system to help manage your resources in a cloud-computing environment.
The focus of the blog is on the procedure about the backup and recovery module which is a prevention feature in disaster recovery management to protect IBM Cloud Pak System against data loss.
IBM Spectrum Protect Plus (SPP)
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IBM Spectrum Protect Plus (now IBM Storage Protect Plus) is IBM Storage software that provides recovery, replication, retention and reuse for virtual machines, databases, applications, file systems, SaaS workloads and containers. Data can be copied to cloud-based object storage and on-premises storage including IBM Storage Protect and physical tape.
IBM Storage Protect Plus can be easily deployed as a virtual appliance or as a container application and the agentless architecture is easy to maintain. This modern data resilience solution unlocks the value of your data by improving the quality and speed of development, testing and analytics. Cost-effective data retention, data compliance and disaster recovery are achieved via data copy to both on-premises, cloud-based object storage and IBM Storage Protect, including support for physical tape.
IBM Spectrum Protect Plus feature utilization in IBM Cloud Pak System
IBM Spectrum Protect Plus protects running IBM Cloud Pak instances on Intel rack from disaster. Backup automation can be done on regular intervals for IBM Cloud Pak System vCenter virtual machine instances and can be restored on individual disks of virtual machine or a whole virtual machine any time depending on the requirement.
By using IBM Spectrum Protect Plus, we can restore the VM Disks to a specific backup taken or a complete VM backup can be restored , We can also restore VM backup to a new vCenter environment. Right now we are supporting the Disk restoration for IBM Cloud Pak System vCenter instances.
Note: Use latest versions of IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.14 and vSnap server 10.1.14 installer versions - these OVA images can be deployed directly on IBM Cloud Pak System 2.3.3.6 vCenter 6.7.
Reference document for IBM Spectrum Protect Plus installation as VA: 10.1.14
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/spp/10.1.14?topic=installing-spectrum-protect-plus-as-virtual-appliance
Setup post configuration:
Once the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus installation is done with vSnap Server, configure the VADP server on vSnap server itself or a new server depending on the requirement or the resources. See the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus Dashboard as follows:
Apply following workarounds for issues and known limitations related to vCenter VM backup and restore:
Go through this KC link : https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/cloud-pak-system-w3500/2.3.3?topic=mbr-backing-up-virtual-machines-using-spectrum-protect-virtual-environments-data-protection-vmware
After IBM Spectrum Protect Plus workarounds are applied, configure IBM Cloud Pak System VMware vCenter in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus
To get the credentials of IBM Cloud Pak System vCenter, run the "cn info" command on leader Platform System Manager ( PSM). We can also create new credentials from the IBM Cloud Pak System user interface. Go through this KC link for the same and choose the "IBM Spectrum Protect for Virtual Environments" option. Once the profile state is moved to available state, get the credentials and the vCenter IP address by clicking Show details in the Actions column.
By using above the vCenter credentials and IP address, configure the vCenter in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus and discover the vCenter resources in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. Use the following link to configure vCenter in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus:
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/spp/10.1.5?topic=vmware-adding-vcenter-server-instance
Once the configuration is successful, go to . Select the added vCenter and click Test the connection to validate the vCenter Server virtual machine.
The above image shows that the vCenter configuration on IBM Spectrum Protect Plus is successful.
For backup and restore of IBM Cloud Pak System vCenter instances, go through the following link:
Backup of vCenter VM: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/spp/10.1.5?topic=vmware-backing-up-data
We can also back up the individual VM disks or the complete VM at regular intervals of time by using the SLA policies (Gold, Silver, and Bronze policies depending on the requirement). For different types of SLA policies of backup, see https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/spp/10.1.14?topic=managing-sla-policies-backup-operations.
The above image mentions the creation of SLA policy of a particular vCenter VM instance. Once the policy is created, run the backup SLA policy for regular backups of a particular virtual machine. We can now see the status of backup or restore jobs on the Jobs and Operations page of the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus user interface as shown in the following image:
If a disaster happened like corruption/deletion of disks in VM, or if the configuration of VM is getting disturbed, we can restore the VM specific disks or Whole VM restore with the same IP address configuration details. For complete restore of vCenter virtual machines, go through this KC link: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/spp/10.1.14?topic=vmware-restoring-data
In IBM Spectrum Protect Plus ->