If the machine is virtual, couldn’t you just spin up a virtual machine to get the basic Windows install?
Hey @Tom Evans ! You can use One Touch to do bare metal restores, though this will include the apps as well:
https://documentation.commvault.com/commvault/v11_sp19/article?p=18887.htm
With that said, you could always do a backup of a machine BEFORE you install any apps, then do your One Touch Restore based off that pre-application backup.
@Aplynx definitely has a valid point and something that gave me a bit of pause as well. If these are vms, why not just use templates?
Don’t think I’ve explained that well what trying to achieve. Would still like to be able to restore the base OS with the installed applications etc but not the data.
example where SQL backups are managed separately but want to backup the virtual machine for quick restore to then handover to SQL team to restore the databases.
You can always back up the File Systems (with the FS iDA) and the Application data separately via the SQL iDA; that way you can do a FS restore then the DBAs can restore the database as needed.
Hi Tom,
When application data is present on other disks than OS and Application installed disk(s). you can protect that VM with disk filters to skip backup of application data disks. Restored VM will have only OS+App disk(s), later add other required size vmdks so SQL team can restore the databases to those.
sharing VMware VM’s disk filter BOL reference here:
https://documentation.commvault.com/commvault/v11_sp20/article?p=121656.htm
Regards
Gopinath
Hi @Gopinath @Mike Struening,
Thanks for your replies.
When backing up a SQL VM using “File system and Application consistent” is it possible to exclude the SQL side of VSS to prevent breaking a separately configured Full/Diff backup chain?
Is it as simple as stopping/disabling the SQL VSS writer or will that cause issues elsewhere ie) if using the Commvault SQL iDA?
Hi Tom,
When application data is present on other disks than OS and Application installed disk(s). you can protect that VM with disk filters to skip backup of application data disks. Restored VM will have only OS+App disk(s), later add other required size vmdks so SQL team can restore the databases to those.
sharing VMware VM’s disk filter BOL reference here:
https://documentation.commvault.com/commvault/v11_sp20/article?p=121656.htm
Regards
Gopinath
Just remember that when filter disks out and you perform an in-place restore that the first thing Commvault does is DELETE THE DISKS, including those filtered out. So make sure restore the os disk as a copy.
Hi @Gopinath @Mike Struening,
Thanks for your replies.
When backing up a SQL VM using “File system and Application consistent” is it possible to exclude the SQL side of VSS to prevent breaking a separately configured Full/Diff backup chain?
Is it as simple as stopping/disabling the SQL VSS writer or will that cause issues elsewhere ie) if using the Commvault SQL iDA?
Hey @Tom Evans you can exclude the VSS Writer from VMTools for VM Snapshot within the VM - See the following article in VMware: Disabling specific VSS writers with VMware Tools (1031200)
Hi @MichaelCapon
I've seen that KB but not sure if it applies anymore as the Folder path doesn't exist?
Thanks
Tom