How to Restore a VMware vCenter with NAKIVO Backup and Replication

Product version: 10.0 

Last modified: 23 June 2020

Problem

The VM hosting VMware vCenter is down. How to restore the vCenter with NAKIVO Backup & Replication?

Solution

Before you start the restoring process of the vCenter Server, make sure you have the following:

  • A backup of your vCenter server.

  • NAKIVO Backup & Replication is up and running. 

To restore the vCenter, take the following steps:

  1. Connect directly to the ESXi host using the vSphere client.

  2. Remove the host from the vCenter Server inventory. Refer to the corresponding VMware article. 

  3. Open NAKIVO Backup & Replication.

  4. Delete all VMware backup jobs retaining backups.

  5. Remove the vCenter from the NAKIVO Backup & Replication inventory.

  6. Add the EXSi host to the product inventory.

  7. Go to Settings > Repositories > Backup Repository containing the VM backup of your vCenter Server. 

  8. Select the backup and recover it. 

  9. When the recovery process is completed, and the vCenter is up and running, remove the EXSi host from the product inventory.

  10. Go to the vSphere client and add the host back to the vCenter.

  11. Add the vCenter Server to the NAKIVO Backup & Replication inventory.

  12. Recreate the job. It should recognize all your previous backups.

Note
When recreating the job, keep in mind that the VMs should be mapped to the existing backups. Refer to Mapping Source VMs to Existing Backups for details.