Recommend a recovery solution for Azure and hybrid workloads that meets recovery objectives

Azure provides robust and reliable solutions for recovering Azure and hybrid workloads, ensuring business continuity and meeting recovery objectives. In this article, we will explore a recommended recovery solution for Azure and hybrid environments that aligns with the objectives outlined in the Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions exam.

Azure Site Recovery (ASR)

Azure Site Recovery (ASR) is a powerful service that enables disaster recovery and business continuity in Azure. It helps protect and recover workloads by orchestrating replication, failover, and failback processes. ASR supports a wide range of scenarios, including Azure VMs, on-premises VMware virtual machines, and physical servers.

Setting up a Recovery Solution using ASR

To set up a recovery solution using ASR, follow these steps:

1. Assess Requirements
   Begin by identifying the business and technical requirements for your recovery solution. Consider factors such as Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO) to determine the level of protection needed.
2. Create a Recovery Services Vault
   A Recovery Services Vault serves as a management and configuration entity for ASR. Create a Vault in the Azure portal, specifying the appropriate subscription, resource group, and region.
3. Prepare Source Environment
   Prepare the source environment for replication by installing the appropriate ASR components. If replicating Azure VMs, deploy the Azure Site Recovery Provider extension. For on-premises VMware virtual machines, set up a Configuration Server and Process Server.
4. Configure Replication
   Define replication settings to determine how and what gets protected. Configure replication settings such as the source and target location, network mapping, and replication frequency.

$ProtectionContainer = Get-AzureRmSiteRecoveryProtectionContainer -Name $ProtectionContainerName -ResourceGroupName $ResourceGroupName -Friendlyname $FriendlyName

5. Set up Replication Policy
   Create a replication policy to define recovery point settings, retention, and other preferences. This policy helps ensure consistency across multiple protected workloads.

$Policy = New-AzureRmSiteRecoveryProtectionProfile -Name $PolicyName -ReplicationProvider HyperVReplicaAzure -ReplicationMethod HvrAzure -RecoveryPoints 24 -AllowedRecoveryPointAgeInMinutes 240

6. Enable Replication
   Enable replication for the desired virtual machines, specifying the replication policy and target resources.

Enable-AzureRmSiteRecoveryProtection -ProtectionContainerMapping $ProtectionContainerMapping

7. Monitor Replication Health
   Regularly monitor the replication health to ensure that all protected workloads are meeting the defined objectives. Use the Azure portal or PowerShell commands to check the replication status.

Get-AzureRmSiteRecoveryReplicationProtectedItem -ProtectionContainer $ProtectionContainer

8. Test Failover
   Perform regular testing to validate the recovery solution. Azure ASR allows you to test failover without impacting production workloads.

Test-AzureRmSiteRecoveryRecoveryPlan -RecoveryPlan $RecoveryPlan

9. Perform Failover
   In the event of a disaster or planned maintenance, initiate failover to the target environment. This will ensure smooth continuity of services.

Start-AzureRmSiteRecoveryTestFailover -ReplicationProtectedItem $ReplicationProtectedItem

10. Monitor Failover Progress
    Continuously monitor the failover process to track progress and resolve any potential issues.

Get-AzureRmSiteRecoveryJob -JobId $JobID

11. Perform Failback (if required)
    Once the disaster has been resolved or maintenance is complete, fail back to the source environment. This can be done easily using ASR failback capabilities.

start-ASRFailbackJob -Name $FailbackJobName

By following this recommended recovery solution using Azure Site Recovery, you can ensure effective protection, failover, failback, and monitoring of your Azure and hybrid workloads. Remember to regularly test your recovery plan and fine-tune it, keeping it aligned with changing business requirements.

It is essential to refer to the official Microsoft documentation for detailed guidance on specific scenarios, PowerShell commands, and any updates to the ASR service. Good luck with your exam preparation!