Restoring Guest Files and Folders for VMware

You can restore files and folders from a VMware virtual machine backup to the source VM, to another VM, or to a guest agent.

Before You Begin

If a passkey is configured for restores, you must have the passkey.

Procedure

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

   The Virtual machines page appears.

2. Click the VM groups tab.

   The VM group page appears. The VM groups area displays summary information for any existing VM groups.

3. On the VM groups tab, in the row for the VM group, click the action button , and then click Restore.

   The Select restore type page appears.

4. Select Guest files to restore files or folders to the source virtual machine, to another virtual machine, or to a guest agent.

   The Restore page appears.

5. To select a different Backup Gateway or source copy for the restore, or to switch to live browse mode, do the following:

   1. If you intend to switch to live browse mode, in the left column, you must click a folder in order for the Enforce browse from media toggle key to be displayed in the Change source dialog box.

   2. In the upper-right area of the page, click Change source.

      The Change source dialog box appears.

   3. To switch to live browse mode (browsing from media), move the Enforce browse from media toggle key to the right.

   4. To select a specific source and/or Backup Gateway for the restore, do the following:

      • Restore from copy: Select one of the following:

        • Automatic (default): The software searches for the requested data in the primary copy. If the data is not found in the primary copy, the software selects a secondary or auxiliary copy.

        • Primary: The software searches for the requested data in the primary copy.

        • Snap copy: The software searches for the requested data in the snap copy.

      • MediaAgent: Select the Backup Gateway that performed the backup.

   5. Click OK.

6. In the left pane, expand the list, and then in the right pane, select the objects you want to restore:

   • To browse the contents inside an item, under Name, click the item.

   • To return to a higher level of the hierarchy, for data such as files, folders, and disks, above the right pane, in the path list, click an item.

   • In the upper-right area of the page, a message indicates which backup data is displayed. Click the down arrow, and then select any of the following options:

     • Show latest backups: Display data only for the most recent backups.

     • Show backups as of a specific date: Display data only up to the date you specify.

     • Show backups for a date range: Display data only within the date range you specify.

7. Click Restore.

   The Restore options dialog box appears.

8. Specify the destination for recovered files.

   By default, files are restored to the source VM, using the same VSA access node as the backup.

   • To restore in place:

     1. Select the Select client tab (the default option).

     2. Verify that the source VM is selected in the Destination client box (the default option).

     3. Optional: To use a different VSA access node, change the value in the Access node box.

     4. In the Virtual machine login area, type the username and password for the destination VM. Agentless Restores for VMware gives more information on set up and credentials for Agentless restores.

   • To restore to a different VM:

     1. Select the Other VM tab.

        By default, the same VSA access node that was used for the backup performs the restore.

     2. Optional: To use a different VSA access node, change the value in the Access node box.

     3. If the destination VM resides on another hypervisor, select the host name of the hypervisor from the Destination hypervisor list, and then browse to select the destination VM.

     4. In the Virtual machine login area, type the username and password for the destination VM. Agentless Restores for VMware gives more information on set up and credentials for Agentless restores.

   • To restore to a guest agent:

     1. Select the Select client tab (the default option).

     2. Select the guest agent from the Destination list.

        By default, the Local System account on the destination client is used to perform the restore operation; but you can use the Impersonate user option to provide credentials for another user account.

     3. Optional: To use the Impersonate user option, type the host name and credentials for the new destination hypervisor.

        The user must have permissions to create files in the specified location on the destination.

9. For the Destination path box, type a full path or click Browse to select a destination folder.

   For VMware, this value is only needed when you are restoring to a guest agent.

10. To perform faster restores of guest files and folders using the restore-only file system agent, select the Restore via CV tools check box.

    Note

    • The Restore via CV tools check box appears only if the destination VM does not have the file system agent installed. If you select this option, the Commvault software triggers a job to install the restore-only file system agent. To check the status of this job, see Viewing Jobs.

    • The destination VM where the restore-only file system agent is installed will be assigned the File Accelerator role. To verify the role, you can navigate to the Manage > Servers and view the destination client (VM) details page.

11. Click Submit.