Avamar : How to restore a virtual machine image backup using avtar

command line
Revised Sept 10, 2015

KB: 190321
Start
Environment -

Avamar with a vmware environment attached

Get the full account path for the virtual machine

using avmgr command on the utility node CLI.

Find vc name: # avmgr getl

Note
Browse vc domain to get vm name:
# vmgr getl --account=vcloud-vc- “vcloud-vc-appliance.burlington.lab” represents the
appliance.burlington.lab vCenter name in your environment.

Log into a deployed proxy or any VM that has

avtar installed.

List the backups for the VM. Use Command - Note

# avtar --backups --server=<avamar-grid>-- “tinyvm” represents the VM you want to recover.

id=MCUser --ap=MCUser1 --account=/vcloud-vc-
appliance.burlington.lab/
tinyvm_UBjmuBWtJksjB7PuQuFDfg

Show the files for a given backup to figure out how many virtual
disks the backed up VM had. Use command -

# avtar –list –v --server=<avamar-grid> --

id=MCUser --ap=MCUser1 --account=/vcloud-vc-
appliance.burlington.lab/
tinyvm_UBjmuBWtJksjB7PuQuFDfg --labelnum=4

On the proxy VM, restore the VMConfiguration/vm.vmx to a

temp location. Use command -

# avtar -x --nostdout --server=<avamar-grid> --

id=MCUser --ap=MCUser1 --account=/vcloud-vc-
appliance.burlington.lab/
tinyvm_UBjmuBWtJksjB7PuQuFDfg VMConfiguration/
vm.vmx –labelnum=4 -O > tinyvm.vmx

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 Avamar : How to restore a virtual machine image backup using avtar
command line
Revised Sept 10, 2015

2A

Make sure the vmx restore OK. Use command

# ls –l tinyvm.vmx

In vmware, create new virtual machine with

same configuration as the original virtual
machine. Review the VM configuration. Do
not power on the VM.

Attach the virtual machine disk(s) from the new

VM to the proxy . If the proxy is 7.0.x proxy,
attach the disk using scsi 1:3 and above.
Make sure to attach the virtual disks using
normal (persistent mode) writable mode.

Reboot the proxy to detect the new disk(s) or

rescan the lsilogic scsi bus using –

# echo "- - -" > /sys/class/

scsi_host/host0/scan

Verify you can see new virtual disk(s). Take

note of the new virtual disk(s) linux block name:
The new disk show does not contain a partition
table.

Go to 3A

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 Avamar : How to restore a virtual machine image backup using avtar
command line
Revised Sept 10, 2015

3A

Using avtar on proxy, restore the virtualdisk-flat.vmdk directly into the CAUTION
new un-partitioned disk using the linux block name.
Use extreme caution with this step as it
# avtar -x --nostdout --server=<avamar-grid> -- could damage the proxy or production
id=MCUser --ap=MCUser1 --account=/vcloud-vc- data, check with a vmware L2 if you
appliance.burlington.lab/ are unsure what you are doing.
tinyvm_UBjmuBWtJksjB7PuQuFDfg --labelnum=4 VMFiles/1/
virtdisk-flat.vmdk -O > /dev/sdc

# avtar -x --nostdout --server=<avamar-grid> --

id=MCUser --ap=MCUser1 --account=/vcloud-vc-
appliance.burlington.lab/
tinyvm_UBjmuBWtJksjB7PuQuFDfg --labelnum=4 VMFiles/2/
virtdisk-flat.vmdk -O > /dev/sdd

In vmware: Remove the “new VM”

disk(s) from the proxy.

Power on the new virtual machine and

verify all disk restore properly.

Contact EMC Support for further

investigation, resolution & queries.
Has virtual machine
No
been restored ? To open an SR, click here.
To open a chat, click here.

Yes

End

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