Perform actions using Backup center

Backup center allows you to perform key backup-related actions from a central interface without needing to go to an individual vault. Some actions that you can perform from Backup center are:

  • Configure backup for your datasources
  • Restore a backup instance
  • Create a new vault
  • Create a new backup policy
  • Trigger an on-demand backup for a backup instance
  • Stop backup for a backup instance

Supported scenarios

  • Backup center is currently supported for Azure VM backup, SQL in Azure VM backup, SAP HANA in Azure VM backup, and Azure Files backup.
  • Refer to the support matrix for a detailed list of supported and unsupported scenarios.

Configure backup

If you're backing up Azure VMs, SQL in Azure VMs, SAP HANA in Azure VMs or Azure Files, you should use a Recovery Services vault.

Depending on the type of datasource you wish to back up, follow the appropriate instructions as described below.

Choose a vault type to configure backup:

To configure backup to a Recovery Services vault, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Backup center and select + Backup at the top of the Overview tab.

    Backup Center overview

  2. Select the type of datasource you wish to back up.

    Select datasource to configure VM backup

  3. Choose a Recovery Services vault and select Proceed. This leads you to the backup configuration experience that is identical to the one reachable from a Recovery Services vault. Learn more about how configure backup for Azure virtual machines with a Recovery Services vault.

Restore a backup instance

Depending on the type of datasource you wish to restore, follow the appropriate instructions as described below.

Choose a vault type for restore:

To restore data from a Recovery Services vault, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Backup center and select Restore at the top of the Overview tab.

    Backup Center Overview to restore VM

  2. Select the type of datasource you wish to restore.

    Select datasource for VM restore

  3. Choose a backup instance and select Proceed. This leads you to the restore settings experience that is identical to the one reachable from a Recovery Services vault. Learn more about how to restore an Azure Virtual Machine with a Recovery Services vault.

Create a new vault

You can create a new vault by going to the Backup center and selecting + Vault at the top of the Overview tab.

Create vault

Create a new backup policy

Depending on the type of datasource you wish to back up, follow the appropriate instructions described below.

Choose a vault type to create a backup policy:

To create a backup policy for backing up to a Recovery Services vault, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Backup center and select + Policy at the top of the Overview tab.

    Backup Center Overview for backup policy

  2. Select the type of datasource you wish to back up.

    Select datasource for policy for VM backup

  3. Choose a Recovery services vault and select Proceed. This leads you to the policy creation experience that is identical to the one reachable from a Recovery Services vault. Learn more about how to create a new backup policy for Azure Virtual Machine with a Recovery services vault.

Execute an on-demand backup for a backup instance

Backup center allows you to search for backup instances across your backup estate and execute backup operations on demand.

To stop protection, go to the Backup center and select the Backup Instances menu item. Selecting this lets you view details of all the backup instances that you have access to. You can search for the backup instance you wish to back up. Right-clicking on an item in the grid opens up a list of available actions. Select the Backup Now option to execute an on-demand backup.

On-demand backup

Learn more about performing on-demand backups for Azure Virtual Machines.

Stop backup for a backup instance

There are scenarios when you might want to stop backup for a backup instance, such as when the underlying resource being backed up doesn’t exist anymore.

To stop protection, navigate to the Backup center and select the Backup Instances menu item. Select this lets you view details of all the backup instances that you have access to. You can search for the backup instance you wish to back up. Right-clicking on an item in the grid opens up a list of available actions. Select the Stop Backup option to stop backup for the backup instance.

Stop protection

  • Learn more about stopping backup for Azure Virtual Machines.
  • Learn more about stopping backup for a disk.

Resume backup

You can resume backup for your workloads if you have retained data during Stop Protection.

  • Learn more about resuming protection for your disk.

Configure replication

To configure replication on Backup center, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Backup center and select Overview > Backup instances tile > View ASR Replicated items.

    Screenshot shows how to view an item for replication.

  2. On the Replicated Items tab, select + Replicate.

    Screenshot shows how to start the replication process.

  3. Select the type of source you want to replicate.

    Screenshot shows how to select the replication source.

  4. Select a Recovery Services vault > Proceed.

    The replication configuration experience is same as that of the one on a Recovery Services vault. Learn more how to configure replication for Azure virtual machine.

Next steps