In a previous article (https://ituda-com.apache23.websrv.be/bdrsuite-step-by-step-installation-guide/) I discussed the installation of the BDRSuite 5.6.0.2.
In this step-by-step guide, I will walk you through the process of the initial configuration of BDRSuite before actually starting to backup/recover process. All configurations are done through wizard guided steps via the BDRSuite Webpage.
Step 1: Logging on the the BDRSuite Webpage
Log in to BDRSuite console: http://<fqdn_BDRSuite_Backup_Server>:6060 with the credentials supplied during installation.
Enter a unique BDR ID for your backup server
You are presented with a “Getting Started” window outlining the primary BDRSuite features for 3 main topics:
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- Data Center, Private Cloud & Endpoints
- VMware
- Hyper-V
- Windows
- Linux
- Mac
- Cloud Workloads
- AWS
- SaaS applications
- Microsoft 365
- Google Workspace
- Data Center, Private Cloud & Endpoints
For each topic there are some sections listed which explain how to perform the configuration/setup for each step in the process.
For now, you can close this window. You can always go back to it by clicking on the “Getting Started” button on the top right-hand corner of the BDRSuite webpage.
Step 2: Configure AD/LDAP server
In order to use objects in your AD/LDAP to be able to authenticate, backup, … an AD/LDAP server needs to be added.
On the top left corner, go to Backup Server Tile ==> Infrastructure ==> AD/LDAP Server
Click ADD AD/LDAP SERVER
Enter your LDAP Server Name or IP Address
Enter your Domain Name
Enter your Domain Credentials use a Service Account which password does not expiree
Enter the LDAP Port number
The default LDAP port number is 389.
If you are using SSL, the default LDAP port number is 636
Select “Connect LDAP using SSL” if you want to use LDAPS
Click SAVE
Step 3: Configure users
After installation, only the default “admin” user can access the BDRSuite GUI. In order for other users to access the BDRSuite GUI you can add individual local users or LDAP users.
On the top left corner, go to Backup Server Tile ==> Management ==> Users
Click “ADD USER”
Choose BDR User if you want to add a local user.
Enter a username, Access privilege (Full Access or Read Only) and Password
Click ADD USER
Choose AD/LDAP User if you want to add an LDAP user
Select the AD/LDAP Server, Domain, User and Access Privilege for the user you want to add individual AD/LDAP users.
At this moment it is unfortunately not yet possible to add security groups, so each user you want to give access to the BDRSuite GUI needs to be added individually.
Step 4: Configure timezone
By default, the time zone is set automatically based on the time zone settings of the BDRSuite Backup Server and will be used to display the date and time across all pages. You can however change the time zone and the Date/time display format
On the top left corner, go to Backup Server Tile ==> Settings ==> Time Zone
Change the Time Zone and Date/Time display formats as required
Click UPDATE
Step 5: Configure SMTP
In order to be able to send email notifications and to send reports through email, SMTP should be configured.
On the top left corner, go to Backup Server Tile ==> Settings ==> Time Zone
Fill out the required SMTP settings for your environment
Click “Test Mail Server” to test that the filled out values work as expected.
Click SAVE
Step 6: Configure licensing
BDRSuite has three different editions. Free, Standard and Enterprise. To see the differences between the different licenses, on the top left corner, go to Backup Server Tile ==> Management ==> Editions
This will lead you to a page where you can easily view the differences between the different editions. You can also compare the different editions of BDRSuite at https://www.bdrsuite.com/vembu-bdr-suite-free-vs-paid-edition/
You can also register your backup server with BDRSuite Portal. On the top left corner, go to Backup Server Tile ==> Management ==> License
Registering your backup server with the BDRSuite Portal enables you to extend the 30-day free trial, receive technical support during the trial, understand how licensing works and purchase and manage licenses.
After you created a BDRSuite Portal account and registering your backup server, the below screen will be presented to you
You will also receive an email to verify the account creation. After you verified your email address you will be seeing the below screen including a link to the Vembu Portal: https://portal.vembu.com/index.html
When you log in to the Vembu Portal you will see the below screen listing your backup server, license details, billing information, download links to all the Vembu products, possibility to purchase licenses, ….
Step 7: Configure the Backup Repository
The Backup Repository contains the actual backup data and backup metadata of Backup Jobs, Backup Copy Jobs and Offsite Copy Jobs.
On the top left corner, go to Backup Server Tile ==> Backup Repository and then:
- Select ‘Block Storage’ to configure DAS, NAS, SAN, etc as backup repository.
- Select ‘Object Storage’ to configure S3, Azure Blob, Google Cloud and S3 Compatible storage such as Wasabi, MinIO, etc as backup repository.
For this blog article, block storage is chosen
Click “Create New Block Storage Repository”
Enter the following details:
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- Repository name
- Repository Type
- Simple: if you are adding just one storage volume
- Scale Out: if you are pooling multiple storage volumes. You can add storage volumes anytime to extend your backup storage capacity
- Disk Rotation: if you are adding one storage disk and you want flexibility to rotate the disk with a new one when it gets full and be able to continue backups to the newly added storage disk
- Set as the default repository
- Select “Disable compression and encryption for this repository” only if your storage hardware supports deduplication.
- You can also add a network drive as storage volume. Some important recommendations when you want to do this
- If you are using Windows File Share, ensure that you enable “SMB Transport Failover”.
- If you are using CIFS (SMB) share, ensure that the Storage Appliance/NAS Box supports Continuously Available (CA) SMB share, and it is enabled.
- If “SMB Transport Failover” or “Continuously Available” SMB share is disabled or if it is not supported, then it can result in serious data loss.
For this blog article I choose the following options:
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- Repository Name: Backup_Repository_01
- Repository Type: Scale Out (D: Drive)
- Set as the default repository: YES (as this is the first repository, this option will be greyed out)
- Disable compression and encryption: NO
- Add network drive as storage volume: NO
Click CREATE
Click CONFIRM
The created backup repository is visible in the BDRSuite GUI
This concluded the general configuration steps to perform to start using BDRSuite.
In a next blog articles I will be discussing the specific configuration, backup and recovery of VMware Virtual Machines, Endpoints, Servers & SaaS (Microsoft 365).