# Nutanix Volume Groups

## General

Storware Backup & Recovery supports volume groups for the Nutanix platform. Disk snapshots are being attached to the host with Storware Backup & Recovery Node using iSCSI. Thanks to this backups and restores can be performed remotely without Proxy VM.

This storage provider also allows excluding disks for backups.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/0FWMFN0y1yUTAd3cSRaK/blobs/sP058P3dGJm5sNkaME8K/vProtect_Nutanix-VolumeGroups.png)

In general, the export process looks as follows:

* A Snapshot of the volume group is taken
* A Temporary volume group with disk snapshots is created
* Disks from the temporary volume group are attached to Storware Backup & Recovery Node host using iSCSI
* Disks content is exported to RAW files
* Disks are then detached and temporary volume group is deleted

In general, the restore process looks as follows:

* A new volume group is created with yet empty disks
* Disks from a new volume group are attached to Storware Backup & Recovery Node host using iSCSI
* Content from RAW files of backup is imported to attached disks
* Disks are detached from Storware Backup & Recovery Node host

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** iSCSI uses `iSCSI Data Services IP` defined on the Nutanix platform to discover targets, which means that exception will be thrown if this value is missing.
{% endhint %}

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/0FWMFN0y1yUTAd3cSRaK/blobs/u86RcDZ255g9QhFd1dcP/protecting_storage_providers-storage_providers-nvg_1.png)

## Supported features

| Full backup                       | Supported           |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------- |
| Incremental backup                | Supported (CBT API) |
| Restore                           | Supported           |
| Single item restore               | Supported           |
| Snapshot management               | Supported           |
| Access to files backup over iSCSI | Supported           |
| Name-based policy assignment      | Supported           |

## Example

Complete the following steps to add the Nutanix Volume Groups storage provider:

Go to `Storage` -> `Infrastructure` and add click on `Create`

In the form provide:

* `Nutanix Volume Groups` as a type
* URL to Prism Element Host (`https://PRISM_ELEMENT:9440`)
* Name of the storage provider
* Login and password
* The node configuration responsible for backup operations

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/0FWMFN0y1yUTAd3cSRaK/blobs/pzpNVCJ2zcQwOp8UJF71/protecting_storage_providers-storage_providers-nvg_2.png)

Click `Save` - now you can run inventory synchronization to detect volume groups - they will be visible in `Storage` -> `Instances` view

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/0FWMFN0y1yUTAd3cSRaK/blobs/ziRaCGonbdMDQjz8DzJl/protecting_storage_providers-storage_providers-nvg_3.png)

Now you can create a backup task for the chosen volume group.