Configuring Backups for Azure Files

You can configure backups for Azure Files shares. The configuration wizard guides you through the configuration process, which includes creating any new entities that are needed, such as a plan, an object storage client, and a content group.

Start the Configuration Wizard

1. From the Command Center navigation pane, go to Protect > Object storage.

   The Object storage page appears.

2. In the upper-right area of the page, click Add object storage.

   The Configure Object Storage page appears.

3. Select Azure Files.

4. Click Next.

   The Azure Files storage service backup model overview page of the configuration wizard appears.

5. Click Next.

   The Region page of the configuration wizard appears.

Region

1. Select the region that the object storage resides in.

2. Click Next.

   The Cloud Storage page of the configuration wizard appears.

Cloud Storage

To review the supported combinations of primary and secondary storage, see Metallic Storage Options.

Primary Copy

1. For the primary copy of the backup data, select existing cloud storage or create new cloud storage.

   Steps to create cloud storage for the primary copy

   1. Click the add button .

      The Add cloud storage dialog box appears.

   2. From the Type list, select Metallic Recovery Reserve or Microsoft Azure Storage.

   3. If you selected Microsoft Azure Storage, do the following:

      1. In Name, enter a descriptive name for the cloud storage.

      1. For Credentials, select existing credentials or create new credentials.

      To create credentials, do the following:

      1. Click the add button .

      The Add credential dialog box appears.

      1. In Credential name, enter a descriptive name for the credentials.

      1. In Account name, enter the name of the storage account to use.

      2. In Access key ID, enter the access key of the storage account.

      3. In Description, enter a description of the credentials.

      4. Click Save.

      1. In Container, enter the name of the container.

   4. Click Save.

2. Click Next.

Secondary Copy

1. Decide whether to store a secondary copy of the backup data for long-term retention.

   Steps to create cloud storage for a secondary copy

   1. Move the Secondary copy toggle key to the right.

   2. For Storage location, select an existing storage location or create a new storage location.

      To create a storage location, do the following:

      1. Click the add button .

         The Add cloud storage dialog box appears.

      2. From Type, select the storage provider, and then enter the necessary values.

         Storage provider	Values
         Metallic Recovery Reserve	Storage class: Select the storage class for the type of access that you want to have for the data. Region: Select the region for the cloud storage.
         Microsoft Azure Storage	Name: Enter a descriptive name for the cloud storage. Credentials: Select existing credentials or create new credentials. Region: Select the region for the cloud storage. Container: Enter the name of the container. For example, enter bucket_name.

      3. Click Save.

2. Click Next.

   The Plan page of the configuration wizard appears.

Plan

A plan specifies the storage to back up the data to and other settings such as recovery point objective (RPO) settings.

1. Select an existing plan or create a new plan.

   Steps to create a plan

   1. Click the add button .

      The Add plan dialog box appears.

   2. In the Plan name box, enter a descriptive name for the plan.

   3. For the plan settings, select pre-defined settings or create custom settings:

      • To select pre-defined settings, under Retention rules, select one if the following:

        • Select Standard retention to retain the incremental backups for 1 month.

        • Select Extended retention for optimized storage where the incremental backups of primary and secondary copies are retained for 1 month, and extended retention for monthly and yearly full backups.

          Note: The Extended retention option is available only when the secondary copy backup is selected.

      • To create custom settings, select Custom plan, and then specify the following:

        • For Retention, specify the amount of time to retain the primary copy.

        • For Retention (secondary copy), specify the amount of time to retain the secondary copy.

        • For Backups run every, specify how often to run backups.

   4. Click Done.

2. Click Next.

   The Add Object Storage page of the configuration wizard appears.

Add Object Storage

1. In Name, enter a a descriptive name for the object storage client.

2. In Endpoint URL, enter the service account URL.

3. For Authentication, leave Access key and account name selected.

4. For Credentials, select existing credentials or create new credentials.

   Steps to create credentials

   1. Click the add button .

      The Add credential dialog box appears.

   2. In Credential name, enter a descriptive name for the credentials.

   3. In Account name, enter an account name.

   4. In Access key ID, enter the access key ID.

      Note: You can also enter a shared access signature (SAS) key.

   5. In Description, enter a description of the credentials.

   6. Click Save.

5. Click Next.

   The Backup Content page of the configuration wizard appears.

Backup Content

You can add content by browsing, by selecting all the content, and by entering a custom path.

1. To select all content, click Add, and then select Select All.

2. To browse for content, do the following:

   1. Click Add, and then select Browse.

      The Add content dialog box appears.

   2. Select the content.

   3. Click Save.

3. To enter a custom path, do the following:

   1. Click Add, and then select Custom Path.

   2. In Enter custom path, enter the custom path for the content.

      For example, you can enter /bucket_name.

4. To exclude some of the content you selected, move the Specify exclusion toggle key to the right, and then add the exclusion.

5. To include some of the content that you excluded, move the Specify inclusion toggle key to the right, and then add the inclusion.

6. Click Next.

   The Summary page of the configuration wizard appears.

Summary

1. Review the summary.

2. Click Finish.