Backup Windows Server Using Windows Azure Backup Step by Step
Content
Backup Windows Server Using Windows Azure Backup
Step-By-Step
In this detail post and hands on lab (HOL) guide we will introduce Windows Azure
backup and dive in deep with step-by-step instructions you can use to schedule a
backup, perform a manual backup of your server and perform a test restore. The
post assumes only that you have a server that you want to backup to Windows
Azure. If you do not already have a LiveID/Microsoft Account and Windows Azure
account, you can create them with the instructions in the prerequisites which will
take about 20 mins. The remainder of the steps (including creating the self-signed
certificate) will take less than 40 mins to complete. If you find this guide/post
helpful please
Tweet:
Checkout @ITProGuru Backup Windows Server Using Windows Azure Backup StepBy-Step http://aka.ms/azBackup
By: Dan Stolts @ITProGuru | ITProGuru.com
Download Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2 Free
http://aka.ms/GetWin2012
What is Windows Azure Backup?
Windows Azure Backup helps protect server data against loss and corruption by
enabling backup to offsite cloud storage in Windows Azure. It provides a consistent
experience configuring, monitoring, and recovering backups across local disk and
cloud storage, integrating with the in-box backup program in Microsoft Windows
Server or System Center Data Protection Manager.
Windows Azure Backup encrypts and protects your backups in offsite cloud storage
with Windows Azure, adding a layer of protection in case data loss or disaster
impacts your servers. It can integrate with the backup tools in Windows Server or
System Center Data Protection Manager. You can manage cloud backups from these
familiar tools to configure, monitor, and recover backups across local disk and cloud
storage with ease. Windows Azure Backup delivers efficient data protection. It
minimizes network bandwidth use, provides flexible data retention policies, and
provides a cost-effective data protection solution that can be Geo replicated with
ease. Data stored in Windows Azure is geo-replicated among Windows Azure data
centers, for additional protection. Your data is encrypted before it leaves your
premises, and remains encrypted in Windows Azure – only you have the key.
Incremental backups provide multiple versions of data for point-in-time recovery.
Plus, you can recover just what you need with file-level recovery.
How is Windows Azure Backup Deployed?
Windows Azure Backup is deployed by configuring or enabling the services on
Windows Azure then installing an agent on the server that communicates with the
service. In this Step-By-Step post we will go through the entire process Step By
Step so you can easily deploy in your environment. Special Thanks to Blain Barton
for his work in helping put together this Step-By-Step guide.
Here we go with the details…
1) Prerequisites
a. Create or Login to your Microsoft Account (LiveID): How To Sign up for a
Free Microsoft Account (aka LiveID) Step-By-Step http://aka.ms/GuruLiveID
b. Signup for a Windows Azure Account: Getting Started With Windows
Azure–Step-By-Step http://aka.ms/az-easy
c. You may have to disable IE Enhanced Security: Click Server Manager –
Local Server – IE Enhanced Security Configuration – change the On
to Off for administrators – Close browser then reopen browser.
2) Create a self-signed computer certificate to be used for authentication between
the host to be backed up and the Windows Azure Backup Vault. How To Create A
Self-Signed Computer Certificate using PowerShell Step-By-Step
http://aka.ms/GuruCert
a. Run PowerShell from the machine you want to create certificate on: Start
then type PowerShell then Right-Click on PowerShell icon and select
Run as Administrator.
b. Download the text file, open it … Highlight the text in
http://ITProGuru.com/downloads/SelfSignedCertificate.txt right-click select
copy
c. Right-click the PowerShell window to paste and watch the magic
d. Navigate to c:\ to see your new certificate which will be called
“GuruCert_YourMachineName” Make a note of this location, you will
need it later.
3) Enable Windows Azure Backup Feature.
a. Login to Windows Azure Management Portal
http://manage.windowsazure.com
b. In a new Tab or New Windows Navigate to http://www.windowsazure.com/enus/services/backup/
c. Scroll down to Backup and click on the “Purchase Options” button. Then click the
arrow button.
d. Then click on the “Purchase” button you would like to use
e. After you add the Backup to your account, switch back to your Portal
browser tab and refresh it. You should now see the
Recovery Services icon in the left navigation sidebar
i. You should now see Recovery Services on the left
pane (you may need to scroll down – Scroll bars are
hidden in the right part of the blue NavBar [hover to activate the
scroll bar])
4) Configure Windows Azure Backup Feature
a. Create a Windows Azure Backup Vault: select Recovery Services from
the left navigation sidebar in the Windows Azure portal.
b. Click Create A New Vault.
c. Enter a name for your Backup Vault (eg. TestBackup) and
select the closest Region to your location. Click Create
Vault to continue.
d. After a few seconds the Vault is successfully creation and
it is Active
e. Click on the Vault name (eg. TestBackup) to view the Quick Start screen
f. Click on Manage Certificate (under “Upload your public certificate to the
backup vault” or in the bottom taskbar)
g. Click the folder to upload your certificate. Browse to your certificate
location (eg. C:\GuruCert_YourMachineName), select the certificate file,
and click the Circled Checkmark to continue.
h. You will get a message that says “Successfully uploaded the certificate to
the vault.” Click the checkmark near OK
5) Install the Windows Azure Backup Agent.
a. While logged into the server you will be backing up to Azure, go ahead
and add a file to the desktop so we can confirm that it can be restored.
Right-Click Desktop - New – Text Document – Enter. There is now a
new text document on the deskop.
b. In the Windows Azure portal, you should still be on the Quick Start
screen for your Backup Vault after you uploaded your certificate. If not,
navigate to Recovery Services, then click on the name (TestBackup) of
your backup vault.
c. Click on Download Agent. For either Windows Server or Windows Server
Essentials depending on what flavor you are running.
d. Click Run to install the Windows Azure Backup Agent.
e. Go through the agent installation. After you have installed the Agent, click
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
the Circled Checkmark to close the pop-out window. The Agent
installation program will create a Desktop icon and Start Screen tile.
Launch the Windows Azure Backup Agent from Desktop
In the Actions pane on the right, click Register Server.
The Register Server Wizard will launch.
Proxy Configuration: Set your appropriate settings if
necessary. Click Next.
Vault Identification. Click Browse and select the certificate that was just
uploaded to Azure (eg. C:\GuruCert_YourMachineName)
Select your certificate and click OK.
After you select the certificate, select your Backup
Vault from the drop-down menu. Click Next.
Encryption Settings. Enter your own paraphrase or
click Generate Paraphrase. Select the location to
store the paraphrase txt file. Click Register.
After the server has been successfully registered, click
Close.
Your server has now been successfully registered with your Windows Azure
Backup Vault.
6) Configure the Windows Azure Backup Agent: After your server has been
successfully registered, you have to configure the Windows Azure Backup Agent
to be able to test the backup function.
a. You should still be in the Backup Agent. In the Actions Pane, select
Schedule Backup. The Schedule Backup Wizard is launched.
b. Getting started. Click Next.
c. Select Items to Backup. Select Add Items to continue. For the purpose
of this lab just select c:\users only Click Next.
d. Specify Backup Time. Choose your Days and Times to backup.
e. Click Next.
f. Specify Retention Setting. Choose your
setting or select the default. Click Next.
g. Confirmation. Click Finish to create the
scheduled backup job.
h. Completed. Click Close.
i. Now that you have created a scheduled
backup job, the Back Up Now option
becomes available. So, let’s run a
backup.
j. In the Actions pane on the right, select
Back Up Now. The Back Up Now Wizard
is launched. Click Back Up.
k. Back Up Now completed. Click Close.
l. You will have a completed job in the Jobs
pane.
m. Congratulations! You have successfully backed up to Windows Azure
7) Restore Files from Window Azure: You ALWAYS have to test your backup to
make sure it is working so let’s do that.
a. From your backed up server, right-click the “New Text Document” on
the desktop and select Delete. We will restore this file
b. Launch the Windows Azure Backup Agent from Desktop
c. In the Actions Pane, Click Recover Data
d. Getting Started click Next
e. Select Recovery Mode Click Next
f. Select the volume, choose c:\ Click Next (note
the date options available)
g. Select Items to recover, expand
c:\Users\username\Desktop Select “New Text
Document.txt” Click Next
h. On Recovery Options, take a look at options then
just click Next (don’t need to change anything)
i. Confirmation: Click Recover
j. When finished, click Close; Note that the file you
deleted in step a. above has been restored
Step-By-Step
In this detail post and hands on lab (HOL) guide we will introduce Windows Azure
backup and dive in deep with step-by-step instructions you can use to schedule a
backup, perform a manual backup of your server and perform a test restore. The
post assumes only that you have a server that you want to backup to Windows
Azure. If you do not already have a LiveID/Microsoft Account and Windows Azure
account, you can create them with the instructions in the prerequisites which will
take about 20 mins. The remainder of the steps (including creating the self-signed
certificate) will take less than 40 mins to complete. If you find this guide/post
helpful please
Tweet:
Checkout @ITProGuru Backup Windows Server Using Windows Azure Backup StepBy-Step http://aka.ms/azBackup
By: Dan Stolts @ITProGuru | ITProGuru.com
Download Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2 Free
http://aka.ms/GetWin2012
What is Windows Azure Backup?
Windows Azure Backup helps protect server data against loss and corruption by
enabling backup to offsite cloud storage in Windows Azure. It provides a consistent
experience configuring, monitoring, and recovering backups across local disk and
cloud storage, integrating with the in-box backup program in Microsoft Windows
Server or System Center Data Protection Manager.
Windows Azure Backup encrypts and protects your backups in offsite cloud storage
with Windows Azure, adding a layer of protection in case data loss or disaster
impacts your servers. It can integrate with the backup tools in Windows Server or
System Center Data Protection Manager. You can manage cloud backups from these
familiar tools to configure, monitor, and recover backups across local disk and cloud
storage with ease. Windows Azure Backup delivers efficient data protection. It
minimizes network bandwidth use, provides flexible data retention policies, and
provides a cost-effective data protection solution that can be Geo replicated with
ease. Data stored in Windows Azure is geo-replicated among Windows Azure data
centers, for additional protection. Your data is encrypted before it leaves your
premises, and remains encrypted in Windows Azure – only you have the key.
Incremental backups provide multiple versions of data for point-in-time recovery.
Plus, you can recover just what you need with file-level recovery.
How is Windows Azure Backup Deployed?
Windows Azure Backup is deployed by configuring or enabling the services on
Windows Azure then installing an agent on the server that communicates with the
service. In this Step-By-Step post we will go through the entire process Step By
Step so you can easily deploy in your environment. Special Thanks to Blain Barton
for his work in helping put together this Step-By-Step guide.
Here we go with the details…
1) Prerequisites
a. Create or Login to your Microsoft Account (LiveID): How To Sign up for a
Free Microsoft Account (aka LiveID) Step-By-Step http://aka.ms/GuruLiveID
b. Signup for a Windows Azure Account: Getting Started With Windows
Azure–Step-By-Step http://aka.ms/az-easy
c. You may have to disable IE Enhanced Security: Click Server Manager –
Local Server – IE Enhanced Security Configuration – change the On
to Off for administrators – Close browser then reopen browser.
2) Create a self-signed computer certificate to be used for authentication between
the host to be backed up and the Windows Azure Backup Vault. How To Create A
Self-Signed Computer Certificate using PowerShell Step-By-Step
http://aka.ms/GuruCert
a. Run PowerShell from the machine you want to create certificate on: Start
then type PowerShell then Right-Click on PowerShell icon and select
Run as Administrator.
b. Download the text file, open it … Highlight the text in
http://ITProGuru.com/downloads/SelfSignedCertificate.txt right-click select
copy
c. Right-click the PowerShell window to paste and watch the magic
d. Navigate to c:\ to see your new certificate which will be called
“GuruCert_YourMachineName” Make a note of this location, you will
need it later.
3) Enable Windows Azure Backup Feature.
a. Login to Windows Azure Management Portal
http://manage.windowsazure.com
b. In a new Tab or New Windows Navigate to http://www.windowsazure.com/enus/services/backup/
c. Scroll down to Backup and click on the “Purchase Options” button. Then click the
arrow button.
d. Then click on the “Purchase” button you would like to use
e. After you add the Backup to your account, switch back to your Portal
browser tab and refresh it. You should now see the
Recovery Services icon in the left navigation sidebar
i. You should now see Recovery Services on the left
pane (you may need to scroll down – Scroll bars are
hidden in the right part of the blue NavBar [hover to activate the
scroll bar])
4) Configure Windows Azure Backup Feature
a. Create a Windows Azure Backup Vault: select Recovery Services from
the left navigation sidebar in the Windows Azure portal.
b. Click Create A New Vault.
c. Enter a name for your Backup Vault (eg. TestBackup) and
select the closest Region to your location. Click Create
Vault to continue.
d. After a few seconds the Vault is successfully creation and
it is Active
e. Click on the Vault name (eg. TestBackup) to view the Quick Start screen
f. Click on Manage Certificate (under “Upload your public certificate to the
backup vault” or in the bottom taskbar)
g. Click the folder to upload your certificate. Browse to your certificate
location (eg. C:\GuruCert_YourMachineName), select the certificate file,
and click the Circled Checkmark to continue.
h. You will get a message that says “Successfully uploaded the certificate to
the vault.” Click the checkmark near OK
5) Install the Windows Azure Backup Agent.
a. While logged into the server you will be backing up to Azure, go ahead
and add a file to the desktop so we can confirm that it can be restored.
Right-Click Desktop - New – Text Document – Enter. There is now a
new text document on the deskop.
b. In the Windows Azure portal, you should still be on the Quick Start
screen for your Backup Vault after you uploaded your certificate. If not,
navigate to Recovery Services, then click on the name (TestBackup) of
your backup vault.
c. Click on Download Agent. For either Windows Server or Windows Server
Essentials depending on what flavor you are running.
d. Click Run to install the Windows Azure Backup Agent.
e. Go through the agent installation. After you have installed the Agent, click
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
the Circled Checkmark to close the pop-out window. The Agent
installation program will create a Desktop icon and Start Screen tile.
Launch the Windows Azure Backup Agent from Desktop
In the Actions pane on the right, click Register Server.
The Register Server Wizard will launch.
Proxy Configuration: Set your appropriate settings if
necessary. Click Next.
Vault Identification. Click Browse and select the certificate that was just
uploaded to Azure (eg. C:\GuruCert_YourMachineName)
Select your certificate and click OK.
After you select the certificate, select your Backup
Vault from the drop-down menu. Click Next.
Encryption Settings. Enter your own paraphrase or
click Generate Paraphrase. Select the location to
store the paraphrase txt file. Click Register.
After the server has been successfully registered, click
Close.
Your server has now been successfully registered with your Windows Azure
Backup Vault.
6) Configure the Windows Azure Backup Agent: After your server has been
successfully registered, you have to configure the Windows Azure Backup Agent
to be able to test the backup function.
a. You should still be in the Backup Agent. In the Actions Pane, select
Schedule Backup. The Schedule Backup Wizard is launched.
b. Getting started. Click Next.
c. Select Items to Backup. Select Add Items to continue. For the purpose
of this lab just select c:\users only Click Next.
d. Specify Backup Time. Choose your Days and Times to backup.
e. Click Next.
f. Specify Retention Setting. Choose your
setting or select the default. Click Next.
g. Confirmation. Click Finish to create the
scheduled backup job.
h. Completed. Click Close.
i. Now that you have created a scheduled
backup job, the Back Up Now option
becomes available. So, let’s run a
backup.
j. In the Actions pane on the right, select
Back Up Now. The Back Up Now Wizard
is launched. Click Back Up.
k. Back Up Now completed. Click Close.
l. You will have a completed job in the Jobs
pane.
m. Congratulations! You have successfully backed up to Windows Azure
7) Restore Files from Window Azure: You ALWAYS have to test your backup to
make sure it is working so let’s do that.
a. From your backed up server, right-click the “New Text Document” on
the desktop and select Delete. We will restore this file
b. Launch the Windows Azure Backup Agent from Desktop
c. In the Actions Pane, Click Recover Data
d. Getting Started click Next
e. Select Recovery Mode Click Next
f. Select the volume, choose c:\ Click Next (note
the date options available)
g. Select Items to recover, expand
c:\Users\username\Desktop Select “New Text
Document.txt” Click Next
h. On Recovery Options, take a look at options then
just click Next (don’t need to change anything)
i. Confirmation: Click Recover
j. When finished, click Close; Note that the file you
deleted in step a. above has been restored
