LOCAL BACKUP AND FILE RESTORE USING NUTANIX SNAPSHOTS
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Platform: Nutanix Prism Element
Guest OS: Microsoft Windows Server
Protection Method: Local application-consistent snapshots
Restore Method: Nutanix Self Service Restore (SSR)
1. END-TO-END WORKFLOW
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Start
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Log in to Nutanix Prism Element
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Select the Windows VM
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Verify Nutanix Guest Tools (NGT)
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Enable Self Service Restore (SSR)
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Enable VSS / Application-Consistent Snapshots
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Create an Async DR Protection Domain
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Add Windows VM to a Consistency Group
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Enable Application-Consistent Snapshots
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Create Local Snapshot Schedule
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Configure Snapshot Retention
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Create Test Folder and Test File in Windows VM
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Take a Manual Application-Consistent Snapshot
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Record the Snapshot ID
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Delete the Test Folder to Simulate File Loss
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Open Nutanix SSR Portal on the Windows VM
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Select the Required Snapshot
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Mount Disk 0 from the Snapshot
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Open the Mounted Snapshot Drive
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Locate and Copy the Deleted Folder
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Restore the Folder to the Original C: Drive Location
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Unmount the Snapshot Disk
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Validate the Restored File and Its Contents
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File Restore Completed Successfully
2. TASK 1 - VERIFY NGT AND SSR CONFIGURATION
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Workflow:
Log in to Prism Element
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Navigate to VM > Table
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Select the Windows VM
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Select Manage Guest Tools
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Verify NGT, SSR and VSS Settings
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Submit Configuration
Procedure:
1. Log in to Nutanix Prism Element.
2. Navigate to VM > Table.
3. Select the required Windows VM, for example coewinmem001.
4. Click Manage Guest Tools in the bottom action bar.
5. Confirm that the following options are enabled:
- Enable Nutanix Guest Tools
- Self Service Restore (SSR)
- Volume Snapshot Service / Application-Consistent Snapshots (VSS)
6. Click Submit to apply changes.
7. If the configuration is already correct, click Cancel without changing it.
Expected Outcome:
The Windows VM is enabled for Nutanix Guest Tools, Self Service Restore and application-consistent snapshots.
3. TASK 2 - CONFIGURE A PROTECTION DOMAIN
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Workflow:
Open Data Protection
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Create an Async DR Protection Domain
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Enter Protection Domain Name
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Select the Windows VM
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Create a New Consistency Group
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Enable Application-Consistent Snapshots
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Protect the Selected VM
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Create a Local Snapshot Schedule
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Configure Retention
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Save and Close
Procedure:
1. In Prism Element, open the top-left navigation menu.
2. Select Data Protection.
3. Click + Protection Domain > Async DR.
4. Under the Name tab, enter a Protection Domain name, such as:
- Windows Bmlt Test
- <your_initials>-Win-PD
5. Click Create.
6. In the Entities tab, locate the Windows VM under Unprotected Entities.
7. Select the VM checkbox.
8. Under Pick a Consistency Group, select Create a new CG.
9. Enter a Consistency Group name, such as win-cg.
10. Select Use application consistent snapshots.
11. Click Protect Selected Entities.
12. Under Protected Entities, select the Windows VM and click Next.
13. In the Schedule tab, click New Schedule.
14. Configure the schedule to repeat every 1 hour.
15. Set the required start date and time.
16. Select Create application consistent snapshots.
17. Configure the retention policy, for example, keep the last 2 local snapshots.
18. Click Create Schedule.
19. Click Close.
Expected Outcome:
The Windows VM is protected by a local snapshot schedule with application-consistent snapshot support and defined retention.
4. TASK 3 - CREATE TEST FILES AND TAKE A MANUAL SNAPSHOT
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Workflow:
Open Windows VM Console
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Navigate to Documents
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Create Test Folder
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Create and Save Test.txt
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Return to Prism Element Data Protection
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Select the Protection Domain
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Take an Application-Consistent Snapshot
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Open Local Snapshots
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Record Snapshot ID
Procedure:
1. Open the Windows VM guest OS console.
2. Open File Explorer.
3. Navigate to the Documents folder.
4. Create a folder named Test.
5. Inside the Test folder, create a text document named Test.txt.
6. Add sample content, such as 123.
7. Save and close the file.
8. Return to Prism Element > Data Protection.
9. Select the configured Protection Domain.
10. In the bottom pane, click Take Snapshot.
11. Select Create application consistent snapshot.
12. Click Save.
13. Select the Local Snapshots tab.
14. Record the generated Snapshot ID, for example 585893.
Expected Outcome:
A local application-consistent snapshot containing the Test folder and Test.txt file is available for restoration.
5. TASK 4 - SIMULATE FILE LOSS
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Workflow:
Return to Windows VM
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Navigate to Documents
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Delete the Test Folder
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Confirm the Folder Is No Longer Available
Procedure:
1. Return to the Windows VM console.
2. Navigate to the Documents folder.
3. Right-click the Test folder and select Delete.
4. Permanently remove the folder if required for the test.
5. Confirm that the Test folder is no longer available in its original location.
Expected Outcome:
The test data is unavailable from the active Windows file system, simulating accidental file deletion.
6. TASK 5 - RESTORE DELETED FILES USING NUTANIX SSR
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Workflow:
Open Nutanix SSR Portal
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Select the Snapshot ID
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Select Disk 0
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Mount the Snapshot Disk
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Wait for a Drive Letter to Be Assigned
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Open the Mounted Drive in File Explorer
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Browse to the Original File Path
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Copy the Deleted Test Folder
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Paste It into the Original C: Drive Location
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Return to the SSR Portal
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Unmount Disk 0
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Validate the Restored File and Content
Procedure:
1. On the Windows VM desktop, double-click the Nutanix SSR shortcut.
2. Confirm that the SSR portal opens at:
http://localhost:5000
3. Open the Snapshots tab.
4. Select the Snapshot ID recorded during the manual snapshot task.
5. Select the checkbox for Disk 0 with original drive letter C:.
6. Click Disk Action > Mount.
7. Wait for the disk status to change from Mounting to the assigned drive letter, for example F:.
8. Open File Explorer and navigate to This PC.
9. Open the newly mounted drive, for example Local Disk (F:).
10. Browse to:
F:\Users\Administrator\Documents\
11. Locate the deleted Test folder.
12. Copy the Test folder.
13. Paste it into the original location:
C:\Users\Administrator\Documents\
14. Return to the Nutanix SSR browser portal.
15. Select Disk 0.
16. Click Disk Action > Unmount.
17. Confirm that the snapshot disk is successfully unmounted.
Expected Outcome:
The deleted Test folder and Test.txt file are restored from the local Nutanix snapshot to the original Windows file system.
7. RESTORE VALIDATION WORKFLOW
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Open File Explorer
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Navigate to C:\Users\Administrator\Documents\Test\
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Confirm Test.txt Exists
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Open Test.txt
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Verify the File Content
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Confirm Snapshot Disk Is Unmounted
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Restore Validation Successful
Validation Checklist:
1. Confirm that the following folder exists:
C:\Users\Administrator\Documents\Test\
2. Confirm that Test.txt is present.
3. Open Test.txt and verify that the original content, such as 123, is intact.
4. Confirm that the mounted snapshot drive is no longer visible after unmounting.
5. Confirm that no production files were overwritten unintentionally.
8. SUCCESS CRITERIA
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The use case is successfully completed when:
1. Nutanix Guest Tools is enabled on the Windows VM.
2. Self Service Restore is enabled.
3. VSS / application-consistent snapshots are enabled.
4. The VM is protected by a Protection Domain and Consistency Group.
5. A local application-consistent snapshot is created successfully.
6. The Snapshot ID is available in the Local Snapshots tab.
7. The snapshot disk mounts successfully through the Nutanix SSR portal.
8. The deleted Test folder is located in the mounted snapshot.
9. The folder is copied back to its original location.
10. Test.txt opens successfully with its original content intact.
11. The snapshot disk is safely unmounted after restoration.
9. WORKFLOW SUMMARY
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Configure NGT and SSR
-> Create Protection Domain
-> Add VM to Consistency Group
-> Configure Snapshot Schedule and Retention
-> Create Test Data
-> Take Manual Application-Consistent Snapshot
-> Delete Test Data
-> Open Nutanix SSR
-> Mount Snapshot Disk
-> Copy Deleted Data to Original Location
-> Unmount Snapshot Disk
-> Validate Restored File
END OF WORKFLOW