AAM: Question: Can VMWARE SNAPSHOT backups be taken and restored?

Doc ID    SOLN312416
Version:    3.0
Status:    Published
Published date:    20 Jul 2018
Created Date:    12 Jul 2017
Author:   
Charles Amy
 

Details

All AAM VMWARE releases

Question: Can VMWARE SNAPSHOT backups be taken and restored?

Answer: If you follow the instructions below, VMWARE SNAPSHOT backups CAN be taken and restored. It is a good idea to have at least one SNAPSHOT backup of each of your STOR and APP servers. Even if the backups are old, you will be able to restore a server quickly and then use the nightly or weekly scheduled AAM backups of the individual servers to restore current mailboxes, messages and voice menus.

Problem Clarification

Do not schedule SNAPSHOT backups. But, if you shutdown the AAM APP and STOR servers from their respective web page interfaces, you can take a snapshot backup of each of them. After they are shutdown, you will have to use the VMWARE VSPHERE client to power off the individual VMWARE server instance of the STOR and APP servers and power it back up to restore call processing.

Cause

The VMWARE SNAPSHOT backup when taken on a live AAM STOR or APP server does not take in consideration that the databases are being read and written to "Live" as people are leaving and accessing voice mail. Therefore, the AAM databases can become corrupt if you take a "Live" SNAPSHOT.

Solution

How to make a VMWARE SNAPSHOT backup and not damage the AAM database.

1.Do not schedule SNAPSHOT backups.

2. Do not try to make SNAPSHOTS all at the same time. Start with the STOR server first and do the entire procedure below and make sure each is back in service before starting the procedure on the APP servers one by one.

3. Shutdown the AAM servers from their web page interfaces. Each server has it's own web page.

4. While the servers are shutdown, you can take a snapshot backup of them using the VSPHERE client.

5. After the SNAPSHOT is complete, you will have to use the VMWARE VSPHERE client to power off the individual VMWARE server instance and power it back up to restore call processing.

6. Log into each web page for the AAM STOR and APP servers. Make sure you have scheduled backups configured because if someday you restore a SNAPSHOT backup, you will also need a current AAM backup to restore after you have restored a SNAPSHOT backup. Don't forget to keep the IP address, user account and password for the location where your backups are kept.

Additional Relevant Phrases

NetApp snapshots

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