Adding Existing Backup Repositories

NAKIVO Backup & Replication allows you to add an existing Backup Repository to a new copy of the product.

Note
During the import process, NAKIVO Backup & Replication searches for the NakivoBackup folder in the specified location. If your Backup Repository is located in E:\backup\NakivoBackup, you should specify the following path: E:\backup

To import an existing Backup Repository, do the following:

  1. In the main menu, click Settings.

  2. Go to the Repositories tab and click +.

  3. Click Add existing backup repository in the dialog box that opens.

  4. The Add Existing Backup Repository wizard opens. On the Type page of the wizard, select one of the following Backup Repository types: 

    • Local Folder

    • CIFS Share

    • NFS Share

    • Cloud & S3-Compatible Storage

    • SaaS

    • Deduplication Appliance

  5. When you select Cloud, the Vendor page opens. Select the cloud storage vendor from the following options:

    • Amazon S3

    • Microsoft Azure

    • Wasabi

    • Backblaze

    • Amazon EC2

    • Generic S3-compatible storage

  6. When you select Deduplication Appliance, the Device page opens. Select the device from the following options:

    • Dell EMC Data Domain Boost

    • HPE StoreOnce Catalyst

    • NEC HYDRAstor

  7. On the Name & Location page of the wizard, fill out all the necessary fields as described in the article for the corresponding Backup Repository type.

  8. On the Options page of the wizard, depending on the repository type, the following options can be available for configuration:

    • Encryption password: If the Backup Repository is encrypted, type in the encryption password.

    • Enable automatic repository self-healing: Leave this option selected to automatically trigger repository self-healing in case the product detects symptoms of problems in the backup infrastructure (such as incorrect timestamps on metadata and data files). You can deselect this option and run self-healing manually.

    • Run full data verification on schedule: When this option is selected, the product runs full verification of all data available in the Backup Repository based on the specified schedule. The product reads each block of data to ensure that it is identical to the data block that was read on the source VM during the backup process. This way the product verifies each recovery point in the Backup Repository.

      Backup verification is a time-consuming process and consumes CPU of the Transporter assigned to the Backup Repository. It is recommended to schedule backup verification during non-working hours.

    • Run repository self-healing on schedule: You can select this checkbox to additionally run repository self-healing based on a schedule. You can configure the schedule by clicking the schedule link when the option is selected. The default schedule is set to run every day at 11 AM.

    • Reclaim unused space on schedule: You can select this option to run the Backup Repository space reclaim process based on a schedule. You can configure the schedule by clicking the schedule link when the option is selected. The default schedule is set to run every Saturday at 12 PM.

    • Enforce explicit file system sync: When this option is selected, explicit sync with the file system is enforced during all backup operations to this repository. This setting is considered more reliable but may lead to lower performance on some storage devices.

    • Detach this repository on schedule: Select this option if you want to detach and then reattach the Backup Repository based on a schedule. Detaching a Backup Repository saves its data and metadata in a consistent state and stops the product interaction with the Backup Repository (so that it can be copied or moved). You can use this feature, for example, for the disk-to-disk-to-tape (D2D2T) data protection approach: backups are stored on a disk for fast operational recovery and copied to a tape (while the repository is detached) for archiving and long-term storage.

    • Delete and re-create the repository on attach: When this option is selected, all data in the Backup Repository is erased prior to attaching it to the product. As a result, jobs that write to this Backup Repository create full VM backups. You can use this option, for example, to create full daily, weekly, or monthly VM backups and write them to tape or removable media.

  9. Click Finish. The Backup Repository is imported to the list.