Release Notes

12 Dell Virtual Storage Manager: Installation Considerations and Local Data Protection | 2079-BP-V-VSM
For failures that are more serious, it may be necessary to re-install the VSM. The critical data that VSM contains exists
in an internal database where a locally stored backup is automatically created each day. This database backup can be
accessed through the VSM CIFS share, located at: \\<IP Address or Hostname>\database\dbbackup<hostname><date
and time stamp>.sql. This should be copied or backed up to another location. Using the instructions below, this
database backup file, coupled with a newly installed instance of VSM, quickly restores a corrupted or accidently deleted
VSM to a working state.
1. To install VSM, follow the process for importing the VSM virtual appliance, which is similar to that of other
virtual appliances. Refer to the product documentation for further details.
2. Browse to the VSM CIFS share, \\<IP Address or Hostname>\database\, and copy the backup of the database
to the CIFS share. The backup filename must begin with dbbackup and have an extension of .sql.
3. Launch the VM console for the VSM virtual appliance and log in to the VSM console.
4. From the menu, select Maintenance, and then Database Restore.
5. When the console displays the database backups in the backup folder, select the appropriate one and press
[Enter]. VSM will then begin the process of restoring the database backup.
Note: Depending on the amount of data in the backup, it can take several minutes for the restore to complete.
6. Once the database restore operation is completed, the state of VSM is restored, including the information
about the snapshots and replicas that it created on the PS Series array.
In a Virtual Volume environment, while the VSM appliance is being recreated, do not power on or off,
snapshot, or migrate Virtual-Volume-based VMs.
2.3 Connecting to the storage network
Virtual Storage Manager communicates with vCenter and by default, communicates with the PS Series arrays using
their Group IP. However, the Group IP exists on the iSCSI network, which is often kept isolated from the rest of the
networking environment.
There are three options for enabling communications with the PS Series group:
1. Create an exception in the firewall, isolating the iSCSI network to permit traffic from the VSM to be passed.
2. Frequently in virtualized environments, a Guest OS of the VMs directly accesses the storage to use tools such
as EqualLogic Auto Snapshot Manager for Microsoft
®
Windows and Linux, and offers data protection to
applications like Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SQL Server
®
. This requires the design of the virtualized
environment networking to include a VM network with access to the iSCSI network. VSM can also use this
network.
3. Enablement of the dedicated PS Series management network provides access to the PS Series array
management functions while maintaining the preferred isolation of the iSCSI network. For details on enabling
the management network, see the section, “About Dedicated Management Networks” in the Group Manager
Administrator’s Manual for the PS Series firmware for your system (available on eqlsupport.dell.com; login
required).