KVM Backup and Recovery Solution

BDRSuite offers a reliable and efficient way to backup and protect your KVM virtual machines and their data. It ensures that your VMs are backed up regularly, allows for flexible recovery options, and helps you meet your business’s recovery objectives (RTO & RPO).

KVM Disaster Recovery is a process of ensuring business continuity in the event of a disruption or outage by performing a recovery of virtual machines (VMs) hosted on KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) with minimal downtime. This involves backing up, replicating, and restoring VM data and state in a fast and reliable manner.

Here are some key aspects of KVM Disaster Recovery:

Reduced Downtime (RTO) and Data Loss (RPO): KVM Disaster Recovery solutions, like BDRSuite, aim to minimize RTO and RPO by ensuring that VMs are restored quickly with minimal data loss in case of failure.

Cross-Cloud and Multi-Platform Support: With an option to replicate VMs across different cloud platforms and hypervisors, KVM disaster recovery should provide flexibility and redundancy in disaster recovery planning.

Step 1: Triple Up: Forge Three Copies of Your VMs:
Think of it as a safety net woven with backups. Don’t settle for just one copy – aim for three. This includes the original VMs and two separate backups. BDRSuite lets you store these backups in diverse locations:

Locally: Keep one backup on your KVM host’s internal storage for quick access.

Remotely: Secure another copy on a separate physical server or network storage within your datacenter.

Off-site: Send the final copy to the cloud, creating an air-gapped haven against local disasters.

Step 2: Double Down on Diversity: Utilize Two Media Types:

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket! Spread your backups across two different media types. This minimizes the risk of a single media failure jeopardizing your entire backup strategy. BDRSuite offers flexibility:

Disk/Block Storage: Utilize local disks, network attached storage (NAS), or storage area networks (SANs) for readily accessible local and remote backups.

Cloud Object Storage: Leverage the scalability and resilience of cloud storage platforms like AWS S3 or S3 compatible storage like MiniIO, Wasabi, Azure blob, Google Cloud Storage for your off-site copy.

Step 3: Embrace Off-site Replication:

Disaster knows no boundaries. Ensure at least one copy resides outside your physical location.

BDRSuite’s disaster recovery (DR) replication feature comes to the rescue:

Replicate to Another BDRSuite Server: Set up a secondary DR server in a geographically distant location and replicate your backups automatically. This helps you perform a seamless recovery, if any disaster strikes your primary site.

Cloud DR as a Backup: Utilize cloud-based DR solution offered by BDRSuite to replicate your backups directly to the cloud, providing an ultimate off-site refuge.

By following these 3-2-1 principles and leveraging BDRSuite’s capabilities, you’ll build a robust KVM backup strategy that can withstand any storm. Remember, prevention is better than recovery, so invest in your disaster recovery plan today!

Natively, you can choose to take VM backups on KVM using the below techniques:

Option 1: File-level Backup:

1. Identify VM files:
• Disk images (e.g., qcow2)
• Configuration files (e.g., xml)
2. Copy files to a backup location:
• Use commands like cp, rsync, or file managers.
3. Store backups securely:
• Use external drives, network storage, or cloud storage.

Option 2: KVM virsh Commands:
1. Export VM configuration:

virsh dumpxml vm_name > /etc/libvirt/qemu/vm_name_backup.xml

2. Copy virtual hard disk:

virsh domblklist vm_name # Check disk location
cp /path/to/original/disk.qcow2 /path/to/backup/disk.qcow2

3. Modify configuration file:

vim /etc/libvirt/qemu/vm_name_backup.xml

• Change vm_name to vm_name_backup
• Modify UUID to make it unique
• Update virtual disk label to new path
• Change VNC port to a unique one

Option 3: Built-in Guest Tools:
Steps:

1. Access guest OS:
• Use SSH or a virtual console.
2. Utilize guest OS backup tools:
• Commands like dd for disk imaging
• Backup utilities within the guest OS

Option 4: Backup Software:
Steps:

1. Install backup software:
• Choose a compatible software (e.g., BDRSuite for KVM).
2. Configure backup settings:
• Specify VMs, backup frequency, retention policies.
3. Initiate backups:
• Create a backup job and run backups as per your requirements

Option 1: Using the command line (virsh):

• Open a terminal window.
• Type the following command, replacing virtual_machine_name with the actual name of your virtual machine:
• virsh snapshot-create virtual_machine_name
• To view a list of snapshots for a virtual machine, use:
• virsh snapshot-list virtual_machine_name

Option 2: Using the Cockpit web interface:

• Access the Cockpit web interface.
• Go to Virtual Machines.
• Select the virtual machine you want to snapshot.
• Pause the virtual machine (optional, but recommended).
• Scroll down to the Snapshots section.
• Click Create snapshot.
• Enter a name and description for the snapshot (optional).
• Click Create.
• Resume the virtual machine (if you paused it).

KVM backup can be done using virsh commands in 3 simple steps:

1. Export VM configuration:
virsh dumpxml vm_name > /etc/libvirt/qemu/vm_name_backup.xml

2. Copy virtual hard disk:
virsh domblklist vm_name # Check disk location
cp /path/to/original/disk.qcow2 /path/to/backup/disk.qcow2

3. Modify configuration file:
vim /etc/libvirt/qemu/vm_name_backup.xml

• Change vm_name to vm_name_backup
• Modify UUID to make it unique
• Update virtual disk label to new path
• Change VNC port to a unique one

1. Verify the VM is powered off:
virsh list –all

2. Automatic clone:
virt-clone –original old_vm1 –auto-clone

3. Manual clone:
virt-clone –connect qemu:///system –original old_vm1 –name new_vm1 –file /var/lib/libvirt/images/new_vm1.img –file /var/lib/libvirt/images/new_vm1_data.img
(Adjust disk image paths as needed.)

4. Start the cloned VM:
virsh start new_vm1

While native KVM backup tools can be effective at times, they are slow and cumbersome. A comprehensive backup solution like BDRSuite offers a simpler, more efficient solution for protecting your virtual machines on KVM platform. BDRSuite streamlines the backup and recovery process with:

Agentless backup: No need to install additional software on your VMs, simplifying deployment and minimizing overhead.
Fast, incremental backups: Capture only changed data, significantly reducing backup times and storage requirements.
Flexible scheduling: Automate backups to run at times that best suit your needs, minimizing service disruption.
Wide range of storage options: Store backups on local storage, NAS, SAN, or even cloud platforms for secure and reliable disaster recovery.
Instant recoveries: Get your VMs backup and running quickly in case of disaster with BDRSuite’s efficient restore capabilities.

Don’t settle for slow, inconvenient backup solutions. Upgrade your KVM protection with BDRSuite and experience the power of simple, reliable VM backup and recovery.