Using Zerto DRaaS with the Cloudhelix vCloud Platform: Part 3

In Part 2 of this blog series we carried out a Zerto DRaaS failover test?—?now it’s time to do it for real, with a live failover!

As before, the process is started from the ZVM web interface?—?this time, click the slider to Live and click the scary red failover button.

Just as with the failover test, select the VPG and click Next.

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The next screen is new?—?you can choose whether or not to auto-commit, and also a time delay if required (here I have left it at the default, auto-commit at zero minutes). You should also tick the box for Reverse Protection, used when failing back.

Finally, you’ll have another scary red screen?—?just to hammer it home that this is a live failover!

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Same as the failover test, keep an eye on the in-progress tasks in your ZVM.

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Once everything is complete, log into your Cloudhelix vCloud Director environment and check the vApp?—?note that unlike the failover test, the live failover vApp does not have “testing recovery” in its name.

Once you are sure everything is working?—?it’s time to fail back! Traditionally in DR failover situations, failback can be a nightmare?—?if it has been thought about at all?—?but in a Zerto setup you’ll see it’s just as easy as the failover.

Revisit the big buttons in your ZVM’s web interface and this time, click Move.

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As usual, select the VPG and click Next. Note that the direction arrow is facing the other way and is also yellow.

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Configure Reverse Protection again?—?if VMware Tools is running in your VMs there’s no need to Force Shutdown.

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Finally, click the Move button to get things started.

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Keep an eye on the tasks?—?you’ll also see the VMs that were deployed within vCD being shut down and removed.

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Once the VMs are running in their original site, the VPG deltas will be synced.

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And soon you’ll see a nice green tick, as your VPG once again meets SLA.

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Posts in this series

Part 1: Zerto DRaaS Initial Customer Setup

Part 2: Zerto DRaaS Failover Test

Part 3: Zerto DRaaS Live Failover