Information included in the article

• Create local virtual instance of computers
• Create local virtual instance of VMWare servers
• Rebuild a virtual instance
• Back up data from local virtual instances
• Troubleshooting Windows OS boot issues
• Install performance-enhancing drivers

Create local virtual instance of computers

To create a local virtual instance of your computer,

1. Sign in to IDrive BMR’s device web interface.
2. On the Local Virtualization tab, click the Build Virtual Instance button. A new popup will appear.
   
   
   
   
3. On the Computer tab, select the required client from the Choose a system dropdown.
4. Choose a recovery point.
5. Select the number of processors for the virtual instance.
6. Allocate required memory for the virtual instance in the RAM field.

   Note: Memory value should be greater than 512 MB. You can decide the memory value depending on the available memory displayed below the RAM field.

7. Select a network source.
8. Next, select the appropriate network model.
9. Choose the required storage controller for the virtual instance. SATA is recommended.
10. Select a graphics option from the dropdown.
11. Click Build Virtual Instance.
    
    
    
    

Once this is completed, your virtual instance is built. You can now connect to it and access data.

Note: When a computer with dynamic disks is virtualized, the created virtual instance will have basic disks with randomly assigned drive letters. You may have to sign in to the VM and change the drive letter associations as necessary.

To connect to the virtual instance,

1. Navigate the virtual instance and click the Copy VNC Password button.
   
   
   
   
2. Click Connect against the virtual instance.
   
   
   
   
3. In the new window that appears, paste the password. Click Send Password. Remote connection to the virtual instance will be established.
   
   
   
   

    

Create local virtual instance of VMWare servers

To create a local virtual instance of your VMWare server,

1. Sign in to IDrive BMR’s device web interface.
2. On the Local Virtualization tab, click the Build Virtual Instance button.
   A new popup appears.
   
   
   
   
3. In the VMware server tab, choose the required server from the Choose server dropdown.
4. Select the ESXi Host from the Choose ESXI host dropdown list.
5. Select a VM from the Choose VM list.
6. Choose a recovery point that will be used to create the virtual instance. LsiLogicSAS is recommended.
7. Specify the boot firmware.
8. Assign the number of processors for the virtual instance from the Processors dropdown list.
9. Allocate required memory for the virtual instance in the RAM field.
   

   Note: Memory value should be greater than 512 MB. You can decide the memory value depending on the available memory displayed below the RAM field.

10. Select a network source.
11. Next, select the appropriate network model.
12. Choose the required storage controller for the virtual instance. LsiLogicSAS is recommended.
13. Select a graphics option from the dropdown.
14. Click Build Virtual Instance.
    
    
    
    

Once this is completed, your virtual instance is built. You can now connect to it and access data.

Note: Virtualization is not supported if the operating system disk is excluded from the backup.

To connect to the virtual instance,

1. Navigate the virtual instance and click the Copy VNC Password button.
   
   
   
   
2. Click Connect against the virtual instance.
3. In the new window that appears, paste the password. Click Send Password.
   
   
   
   

Remote connection to the virtual instance will be established.

Rebuild a virtual instance

A VM rebuild involves re-mounting a virtual instance that may have been unmounted during the IDrive BMR device restart process. This procedure helps the restoration of a virtual instance to its previous state.

To rebuild a virtual instance,

1. Connect to the IDrive BMR device interface.
2. Go to Virtualization > Local virtualization.
3. Click Rebuild to initiate the rebuilding process for the virtual instances that were unmounted during the restart.
   
   
   
   The virtual instance will be rebuilt to its previous state and you can connect to it and access the backed-up data.

Back up data from local virtual instances

You can backup data from the local virtual instances of computers. After the local virtual instance is created, data backup continues according to the schedule automatically. You can also perform manual backup from the Dashboard tab. Read steps to perform manual backup.

Note: Automated backup of VMware virtual instances will be available in future updates.

Troubleshooting Windows OS boot issues 

If you have your Windows installation media, you can upload the ISO image of the installation media to the IDrive BMR device and attach it to the concerned VM. The VM can then be made to boot via this installation media. As a result, you can try to repair the Windows boot issues in the VM.

Install performance-enhancing drivers 

Configure your virtual instances with performance-enhancing drives to achieve better performance.

To install performance-enhancing drivers for a virtual instance,

1. Shut down the virtual instance and click Configure.
2. Attach the ISO file (virtio-drivers(For_Windows_VMs).iso) containing high-performance drivers for network and graphics hardware in the virtual instance and click Save.
   
3. Power-on the virtual instance.
4. Use the Device Manager to locate the drivers on the attached ISO file.
   
5. Install the necessary drivers using the Update Driver Software wizard.
6. Upon completion, reboot to begin using the virtual instance with the enhanced drivers.