Nutanix Volume Groups
Overview
Storware Backup & Recovery supports backup and restore of Nutanix Volume Groups (VGs) using iSCSI disk attachment.
During backup, disks from a temporary Volume Group are attached to the Storware Node host over iSCSI and exported as RAW files. This allows backup and restore operations to run remotely without a dedicated proxy VM.
Individual disks can be excluded from backups.
Protecting Nutanix VG
Requirements
Nutanix Configuration
Configure the iSCSI Data Services IP on the Nutanix platform. Storware Backup & Recovery uses this address to discover iSCSI targets. Operations requiring disk attachment fail if this setting is missing.
Network and Storage Access
The Storware Node must have:
Access to the Prism Element endpoint over TCP port 9440.
Connectivity to the Nutanix iSCSI Data Services IP and the iSCSI targets used for disk attachment.
Access to the configured staging space and backup destinations.
Configure the Storage Provider
Go to Storage → Infrastructure and click Create.
Complete the required fields:
Field
Description
Type
Select Nutanix Volume Groups.
URL
Prism Element endpoint, for example https://<PRISM_ELEMENT_ADDRESS>:9440.
Name
Display name of the Storage Provider.
Login
Nutanix account used for the integration.
Password
Password for the specified account.
Node Configuration
Node configuration responsible for backup operations.
Click Save.
Run inventory synchronization.
Go to Storage → Instances and verify that the expected Volume Groups are listed.
Create a backup task for a selected Volume Group and verify that it completes successfully. Perform a test restore to validate the complete protection workflow.
Backup Operations
Storware Backup & Recovery uses Volume Group snapshots to export disk data. Individual disks can be excluded from the backup.
Backup Workflow
During a backup, Storware Backup & Recovery:
Creates a snapshot of the source Volume Group.
Creates a temporary Volume Group containing the disk snapshots.
Attaches the temporary Volume Group’s disks to the Storware Node host over iSCSI.
Exports the disk contents to RAW files.
Detaches the disks and deletes the temporary Volume Group.
Restore Operations
During a restore, Storware Backup & Recovery:
Creates a new Volume Group with empty disks.
Attaches the new disks to the Storware Node host over iSCSI.
Imports the backed-up RAW file contents into the attached disks.
Detaches the disks from the Storware Node host.
Supported Features and Requirements
Feature
Support
Volume Group backup
Supported
Volume Group restore
Supported
Excluding individual disks from backup
Supported
Remote backup and restore over iSCSI
Supported
Dedicated proxy VM
Not required
Nutanix iSCSI Data Services IP
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.  Image options 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 Change hint settings 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.  Image options Supported features Preview only · Shown automatically for large tables · Click for options Full backup  Supported  Incremental backup Add comment Supported (CBT API) Add comment Secondary backup destination Add comment Supported Add comment Restore Add comment Supported Add comment Single item restore Add comment Supported Add comment Snapshot management Add comment Supported Add comment Access to files backup over iSCSI Add comment Supported Add comment Name-based policy assignment Add comment Supported Add comment     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  Image options Click Save - now you can run inventory synchronization to detect volume groups - they will be visible in Storage -> Instances view  Image options Now you can create a backup task for the chosen volume group.Required
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