Tutorial / Cram Notes
Before configuring the storage target for infrastructure backups, ensure that you have the following:
- Access to the Azure Stack Hub Administrator Portal.
- An external storage account setup either in Azure or another location that can be accessed over the network using a UNC path.
- Sufficient permissions to create storage containers or shares and manage access keys or Shared Access Signatures (SAS).
Steps to Configure the Backup Storage Target
External Backup Store Configuration
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Select a Backup Storage Target:
- Azure storage account: This account resides in an Azure region.
- Network File Share (NFS): This can be a file server or a network-attached storage (NAS) device that Azure Stack Hub can access.
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Create a Container or Share:
- For an Azure storage account, you must create a blob container.
- For an NFS, set up a file share with the required permissions.
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Gathering Credentials:
- For an Azure blob storage, you need the storage account name and either an access key or SAS token.
- For an NFS, the UNC path, username, and password are required.
Azure Stack Hub Portal Configuration
- Log in to the Administrator Portal of your Azure Stack Hub.
- Navigate to the Region Management and select the region you want to configure the backups for.
- Open the Infrastructure Backup Service blade.
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Set Backup Schedule and Retention Policy:
- Specify the frequency of backups.
- Define how long backups should be kept.
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Provide the Storage Account Credentials:
- Enter the storage account name and access key or SAS token for an Azure blob storage.
- Input the UNC path, domain\username, and password for an NFS.
Validation and Backup Execution
- Validate the Storage Settings: Ensure the details provided are correct and Azure Stack Hub can access the storage account or file share.
- Run a Manual Backup to Validate: It’s a best practice to perform a manual backup to ensure that everything is set up correctly and that the backup can be completed successfully.
Backup Storage Target Best Practices
- Use geo-redundant storage for Azure storage accounts to ensure resiliency in case of a regional failure.
- Regularly rotate access keys or SAS tokens for security purposes.
- Ensure network bandwidth is sufficient to avoid backup timeouts or slow backup performance.
Recovery from Backups
- Use the Azure Stack Hub Admin Portal or PowerShell to recover the cloud from the backups.
- Restore operation can only be initiated by Azure Stack Hub operators and requires a support session with Microsoft Support.
Monitoring Backup Health
Once configured, it’s important to monitor the health of the infrastructure backups. This includes checking for:
- Successful completion of scheduled backups.
- Alerts reporting any backup failures or issues with the storage target.
Conclusion
Following the steps outlined above, admins can configure the storage target to ensure that the Azure Stack Hub environment is backed up consistently and securely. Regular monitoring and adhering to best practices will mitigate risks associated with data loss or corruption in the event of a disaster. Backup configurations can also evolve over time as storage needs and compliance requirements change, making it vital to periodically reassess storage targets and backup strategies.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: Azure Stack Hub supports backing up infrastructure-related data to an external file share only.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: Azure Stack Hub supports backing up infrastructure-related data to external file shares and to Azure Blob storage.
Which of the following is required for an external file share to be used as a backup target for Azure Stack Hub?
- A) The file share must be located within the Azure Stack Hub environment.
- B) The file share must support SMB protocol version 0 or higher.
- C) The file share must be encrypted using BitLocker.
- D) The file share must be case-sensitive.
Answer: B) The file share must support SMB protocol version 0 or higher.
Explanation: To be used as a backup target, the external file share must support SMB protocol version 0 or higher to ensure proper security and features.
True or False: The Azure Stack Hub infrastructure backup service can be configured to retain backups indefinitely.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: The infrastructure backup service does not support indefinite retention. It allows specifying a retention policy compliant with your organization’s data retention requirements.
What type of storage account is recommended for storing Azure Stack Hub infrastructure backups in Azure?
- A) General-purpose v1
- B) General-purpose v2
- C) Blob storage
- D) FileStorage
Answer: B) General-purpose v2
Explanation: Azure recommends using a general-purpose v2 storage account for infrastructure backups because it offers the best combination of performance, features, and cost.
Multiple Select: Which encryption methods are supported for Azure Stack Hub infrastructure backups?
- A) BitLocker
- B) Storage Service Encryption
- C) Azure Disk Encryption
- D) SSL/TLS
Answer: A) BitLocker, B) Storage Service Encryption
Explanation: BitLocker is used for encrypting the external file shares, and Storage Service Encryption (SSE) protects data at rest within Azure Blob storage.
When configuring infrastructure backups on Azure Stack Hub, where are backup settings specified?
- A) Azure Portal
- B) Azure Stack Hub Administrator Portal
- C) PowerShell
- D) Azure Resource Manager template
Answer: B) Azure Stack Hub Administrator Portal
Explanation: Backup settings are specified within the Azure Stack Hub Administrator Portal.
True or False: Infrastructure backups for Azure Stack Hub can be triggered manually whenever required.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: While infrastructure backups typically run on a scheduled basis, they can also be triggered manually through the Azure Stack Hub Administrator Portal or using PowerShell.
Which component is NOT backed up as part of the Azure Stack Hub infrastructure backup?
- A) Resource providers
- B) Internal identity service
- C) User plans and offers
- D) Tenant VMs
Answer: D) Tenant VMs
Explanation: Tenant VMs are not included in the infrastructure backups. Infrastructure backups cover service fabric ring and internal identity service but not tenant workloads.
What is the minimum frequency for scheduling infrastructure backups in Azure Stack Hub?
- A) Every 4 hours
- B) Daily
- C) Weekly
- D) Monthly
Answer: B) Daily
Explanation: Infrastructure backups can be scheduled to occur at a minimum frequency of once a day.
True or False: It is possible to integrate Azure Stack Hub backups with third-party backup solutions directly from the Azure Stack Hub Administrator Portal.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: Azure Stack Hub does not offer direct integration with third-party backup solutions from the Administrator Portal. Integration with such solutions requires additional configurations, typically outside of the Administrator Portal.
Interview Questions
What is a storage target in Azure Stack?
A storage target is a destination where backup data is stored in Azure Stack.
What are the different source/target combinations when configuring backups for VMs in Azure Stack?
The different source/target combinations include Azure Storage to Azure Storage, Azure Stack Storage to Azure Stack Storage, Azure Storage to Azure Stack Storage, and Azure Stack Storage to Azure Storage.
How do you configure a storage target for VM backups in Azure Stack?
To configure a storage target for VM backups in Azure Stack, you need to create a storage account in Azure Stack, create a file share in the storage account, grant the backup service account access to the file share, and create a backup policy that specifies the file share as the storage target.
What is the backup service account in Azure Stack?
The backup service account is the account used to back up VMs in Azure Stack.
How do you grant the backup service account access to the file share in Azure Stack?
To grant the backup service account access to the file share in Azure Stack, you need to add the account as a user with the appropriate permissions to the file share.
What is a backup policy in Azure Stack?
A backup policy is a set of rules that determine when and how backups are created in Azure Stack.
How do you create a backup policy in Azure Stack?
To create a backup policy in Azure Stack, you need to go to the Backup Infrastructure blade in the Azure Stack portal, select Backup policies, and then click Add.
What is a storage account in Azure Stack?
A storage account is a logical container for data objects in Azure Stack.
How do you create a storage account in Azure Stack?
To create a storage account in Azure Stack, you need to go to the Storage Accounts blade in the Azure Stack portal, select Add, and then follow the prompts to configure the account.
What is a container in Azure Stack?
A container is a logical grouping of data objects within a storage account in Azure Stack.
How do you create a container in a storage account in Azure Stack?
To create a container in a storage account in Azure Stack, you need to go to the Containers blade in the Azure Stack portal, select Add, and then follow the prompts to configure the container.
How do you grant the backup service account access to the container in Azure Stack?
To grant the backup service account access to the container in Azure Stack, you need to add the account as a user with the appropriate permissions to the container.
Can you back up storage accounts to a blob container in an Azure Storage account?
Yes, you can back up storage accounts to a blob container in an Azure Storage account.
Can you back up storage accounts to a file share in an Azure Stack storage account?
No, you cannot back up storage accounts to a file share in an Azure Stack storage account.
What are the benefits of backing up infrastructure in Azure Stack?
The benefits of backing up infrastructure in Azure Stack include reducing the risk of data loss, minimizing downtime in the event of an outage or disaster, and facilitating disaster recovery.
Does anyone know the prerequisites for configuring the storage target for infrastructure backups on Azure Stack Hub?
You need to have administrative privileges, and the storage account must be created and accessible from Azure Stack Hub.
Can we use Azure Blob storage as a target for infrastructure backups?
Yes, Azure Blob storage is one of the most common options for this.
Make sure you specify the container within the Blob storage where the backups should be stored.
What are some important considerations when configuring storage targets for backups?
Ensure that the storage account is in the correct region and that you have configured the right access permissions.
How do I verify that my backups are correctly stored in the configured storage target?
Use the Azure portal to navigate to the storage account and check the container for backup files.
Appreciate the blog post!
Are there any specific network settings required for Azure Stack Hub to communicate with the storage target?
Ensure that the necessary ports and firewalls are configured to allow outgoing traffic to Azure Blob storage.
Do we need a specific ARM template to configure the storage target for backups?
Not necessarily, you can use Azure PowerShell or CLI scripts to do this. ARM templates can make the process repeatable though.
What kind of storage redundancy options should we consider for our backups?
It depends on your availability requirements. LRS, GRS, and ZRS are common options.