The automated Backup process that runs periodically on each server backs up all the permanently stored data on the server locally, encrypts it and then uploads it to the Cloud to create an off-site, encrypted copy of the data (if you have purchased this option). The Cloud backup is QoS managed so that it will operate continuously and use all available bandwidth, but will do so on a lower priority than other network traffic, so it will scale back if there are other types of traffic that need to be prioritized.
What is backed up and when
Domain Controller (ZDC)
The domain controller is backed up every night at approximately 23:00. The C: drive (which includes the Active Directory database) is backed up with a VSS-aware snapshot backup and does not require any downtime of the VM. If you wish to perform a recovery from this backup, please raise a request to do so with the Support Team.
File Server (ZFILEMGR2 and ZFILEMGR3)
The File Server maintains hourly snapshots of user and group files on the server. These snapshots allow users to self-serve recovery of modified or deleted files by simply using a Windows client’s Previous Version function as described here. If you need to restore a file which isn’t available in Previous Versions or you do not have access to a Windows client, please raise a support request.
The period of time that previous versions are available depends on the capacity of the File Share. File Share storage capacity unused by users and groups provides capacity for the file snapshots. Should the snapshots fill the available capacity, the oldest snapshots will be automatically deleted from the server.
The fileserver data is backed up every night at approximately 23:00 and does not require any downtime of the VM. The data stored on the file server is backed up incrementally. If you need to restore a file which isn’t available in Previous Versions, please raise a request to do so with the Support Team.
Please note: Data is only backed up if it is in a share which has been created in the User Control Console. For instructions on how to create a file share please click here.
Custom Virtual Machines (ZAPP and ZLAPP)
The Custom Virtual Machines are backed up every night at approximately 23:00.
- The C: drive is backed up in full every every Thursday night starting from at 23:00
- The D: drive is NOT backed up at all
- The E: drive is backed up incrementally every night at approx 23:00, and a full backup is done every Friday at approx 23:00
For further information please click here
If you wish to perform a recovery from the backup of a Custom Virtual Machine, please raise a request to do so with the Support Team.
Gateway Control Console (ZNETMGR)
The Gateway Control Console is backed up every night at approximately 23:00 and does not require any downtime. If you wish to perform a recovery from this backup, please raise a request to do so with the Support Team.
Exchange (ZMAIL)
The Exchange server mailbox databases have a full Exchange backup (using VSS) done every Friday night at 23:00.
All Exchange mailboxes have an incremental backup (to PST) done every weekday night at 23:00.
The virtual machine has a full snapshot-based backup taken every Thursday at 23:00. This is an offline image backup, and does require several minutes of downtime.
If you wish to perform a recovery from any of these backups, please raise a request to do so with the Support Team.
Cloud Backup
For customers who have the optional Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery service, the local backup files are copied to a remote Cloud-based backup location.
The Cloud backup is QoS managed so that it will operate continuously and use all available bandwidth, but will do so on a lower priority than other network traffic, so it will scale back if there are other types of traffic that need to be prioritized.
The backup data is encrypted at rest on the server, and remains encrypted both while in transit to the Cloud over an encrypted secure channel, and once at rest in the Cloud.
Local Backup Data Retention
Zynstra retains data locally on the appliance or cluster depending upon its age. This generally eliminates the need to access data in the Cloud when data needs to be restored following a limited local failure of one or more hardware components. The last 30 days of backup data are kept locally.
Cloud Backup Data Retention
Data is backed-up to the Cloud for servers that include the Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery product option.
Zynstra retains in the cloud the backups for all days in the last month, all weeks in the last quarter and all years in a contract period.
This means that Zynstra stores the last eighteen incremental backups, the last sixteen differential backups (thirteen for the last quarter and three for the quarters not already retained), the most recent full backup and a combination of differential or full backups to capture the three quarters not covered in other files retained. If the duration of the customer contract is longer than one year then Zynstra also keeps a backup for each year of the contract.
Zynstra offers the Cloud Backup option to align with its available contract durations which are 1, 3 and 5 years. Customers should ensure that the Cloud Backup plan is aligned with their retention requirement. Data that is older than the purchased retention period will be permanently deleted by Zynstra.
Zynstra retains a number of copies of data locally. In addition to the original user and application data, there is a mirrored copy of this data, a set of local compressed and encrypted backups and a mirrored copy of this backup. If Zynstra’s Cloud Backup option has been purchased then a full set of compressed and encrypted backups are also stored using a redundant storage option to ensure at least two further copies off site.
Since a backup system contains at least one copy of all data that needs to be saved, the data storage requirements can be significantly higher than the capacity of an appliance.