Back up Azure Files

To configure backup for multiple file shares from the Recovery Services vault, follow these steps:

1. In the Azure portal, go to the Recovery Services vault and select +Backup.

   

2. On the Backup Goal pane, select Azure Files (Azure Storage) as the datasource type, select the vault that you want to protect the file shares with, and then select Continue.

   

3. On the Configure backup pane, click Select to select the storage account that contains the file shares to be backed up.

   The Select storage account pane opens, which lists a set of discovered supported storage accounts. They're either associated with this vault or present in the same region as the vault, but not yet associated with any Recovery Services vault.

   

4. On the Select storage account pane, by default it list the storage accounts from the current subscription. Select an account, and select OK.

   

   Note

   If a storage account is present in a different region than the vault, then the storage account doesn't appear in the discovery list.

5. On the Configure Backup pane, under the FileShares to Backup section, select the file shares type you want to back up, and then select Add.

   

6. The Select file shares context pane opens. Azure searches the storage account for file shares that can be backed up. If you recently added your file shares and don't see them in the list, allow some time for the file shares to appear.

7. On the Select file shares pane, from the file shares list, select one or more file shares you want to back up, and then select OK.

8. On the Configure Backup pane, under Policy Details, choose an existing backup policy from the list for your file share protection or create a new policy.

   To create a new backup policy, you can configure the following attributes in the backup policy:

   1. On the Configure Backup pane, select Create new under Policy Details.

   2. On the Create policy pane, provide the policy name.

   3. On Backup tier, select one of the following tiers:

      • Snapshot: Enables only snapshot-based backups that are stored locally and can only provide protection during accidental deletions.
      • Vault-Standard: Provides comprehensive data protection.

   4. Configure the backup schedule as per the requirement. You can configure up to six backups per day. The snapshots are taken as per the schedule defined in the policy. For vaulted backup, the data from the last snapshot of the day is transferred to the vault.

   5. Configure the Snapshot retention and Vault retention duration to determine the expiry date of the recovery points.

      Note

      The vault tier provides longer retention than the snapshot tier.

   6. Select OK to create the backup policy.

      

9. On the Configure Backup pane, select Enable Backup to start protecting the file share.

   

The following steps explain how you can configure backup for individual file shares from the respective file share pane:

1. In the Azure portal, open the storage account hosting the file share you want to back up.

2. On the storage account, select the File shares tile.

   Alternatively, you can go to File shares from the table of contents for the storage account.

   

3. On the File share settings pane, all the file shares present in the storage account appear. Select the file share you want to back up.

   

4. On the file share pane, under the Operations section, select Backup.

   The Azure Backup configuration pane appears.

   

5. To select the Recovery Services vault, consider one of the following methods:

   • If you already have a vault, click Select existing under Recovery Services vault, and choose one of the existing vaults from Vault Name drop down menu.

     

   • If you don't have a vault, select Create new under Recovery Services vault, and then specify a name for the vault. The vault gets created in the same region as the file share. By default, the vault is created in the same resource group as the file share. If you want to choose a different resource group, under the Resource Type dropdown, select Create new, and then specify a name for the resource group. Select OK to continue.

     

     Important

     If the storage account is registered with a vault or contains protected shares, the Recovery Services vault name is prepopulated and can't be edited. Learn more here.

6. Under Choose backup policy, select an existing backup policy from the list or create a new backup policy for Azure Files.

   

   To create a new backup policy, follow these steps:

   1. Select Create a new policy.

   2. On the Create policy pane, provide the policy name.

   3. On Backup tier, select one of the following tiers:

      • Snapshot: Enables only snapshot-based backups that are stored locally and can only provide protection for accidental deletions.
      • Vault-Standard: Provides comprehensive data protection.

   4. Configure the backup schedule as per the requirement. You can configure up to six backups per day. The snapshots are taken as per the schedule defined in the policy. For vaulted backup, the data from the last snapshot of the day is transferred to the vault.

   5. Configure the Snapshot retention and Vault retention duration to determine the expiry date of the recovery points.

      Note

      The vault tier provides longer retention than the snapshot tier.

   6. Select OK to create the backup policy.

      

7. On the Azure Files datasource pane, select Enable Backup to start protecting the file share.

   

8. You can track the configuration progress in the portal notifications, or by monitoring the backup jobs under the vault you're using to protect the file share.

   

9. After the configuration of backup is complete, select Backup under the Operations section of the file share pane.

   The context pane opens. From the list of Vault Essentials, you can trigger on-demand backup and restore operations.

   

To run an on-demand backup, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Recovery Services vault and select Backup items from the menu.

2. On the Backup items blade, select the Backup Management Type as Azure Storage (Azure Files).

3. Select the item for which you want to run an on-demand backup job.

4. In the Backup Item menu, select Backup now. Because this backup job is on demand, there's no retention policy associated with the recovery point.

   

5. The Backup Now blade opens. Specify the last day you want to retain the recovery point. You can have a maximum retention of 10 years for an on-demand backup.

   

6. Select OK to confirm the on-demand backup job that runs.

7. Monitor the portal notifications to keep track of backup job run completion.

   To monitor the job progress in the Recovery Services vault dashboard, go to Recovery Services vault > Backup Jobs > In progress.

To run an on-demand backup, follow these steps:

1. Open the file share’s Overview blade for which you want to take an on-demand backup.

2. Under the Operation section, select Backup.

   The context blade appears on the right that lists Vault Essentials. Select Backup Now to take an on-demand backup.

   

3. The Backup Now blade opens. Specify the retention for the recovery point. You can have a maximum retention of 10 years for an on-demand backup.

   

4. Select OK to confirm.