Backup and restore

Quantix backs up its configuration: the QvDC appliance (inventory, users, networks, storage definitions, settings) and each QHCI host's configuration. With a backup you can rebuild a lost appliance or host without re-creating your setup by hand.

VM disks are not included

Configuration backups do not contain virtual machine disks. Protect VM data with a backup product that supports KVM, or with your storage system's own snapshots and replication.

Prerequisites

• An NFS storage pool that is ready — backups are written there. Use a pool on a different storage system from the one your VMs depend on, if you can.
• An administrator account on QvDC.
• A safe place for the recovery key, such as your password manager. Without the key a backup cannot be restored — Quantix cannot recover it for you.

Protect QvDC

1. Go to Admin Panel → System → Backup & recovery and keep QvDC appliance selected.
2. The page shows Backup protection is not configured. Follow the guided Set up backup protection:
   • Repository — choose the NFS storage pool.
   • Recovery key — enter a key of at least 16 characters, or click Generate strong key. Click Copy key, store it safely, and tick the box confirming you saved it.
   • Schedule — Every 6 hours (default), Every day or Every week, and how many archives to keep (default 7).
   • Review — click Protect QvDC.

Expected result: QvDC tests the NFS share and takes the first backup straight away. The Protection tab shows the last successful backup and the next scheduled one.

To take a backup at any time — for example before an update — click Back up now and confirm Create backup. Change setup edits the repository, key or schedule.

Protect QHCI hosts

In the same page, switch to QHCI hosts and run Protect QHCI hosts:

1. Select each host and the NFS pool it writes its backups to.
2. Click Generate recovery key, then Download key. The key is shown only once and is not stored by QvDC or the hosts. Tick the box confirming you saved it.
3. Choose a daily or weekly schedule and how many archives to keep.
4. Click Protect and create first backups.

Each host reports Protected when its first backup succeeds.

A standalone host protects itself: in its Host UI go to Admin Panel → Backup & Recovery, click Set up protection, then Enable protection and back up. Back up now takes an extra backup at any time.

Check a backup

On the Restore tab, under Validate a recovery archive, choose the repository holding the archive and click Validate archive. QvDC opens and inspects the archive without changing anything, and reports Archive validation passed or what is wrong.

Validate a backup after setting up protection, and again from time to time.

Restore QvDC

Applying a restore replaces the appliance's configuration, so it is done with the appliance in maintenance mode, not from the dashboard. The Restore tab lists the procedure under Show offline recovery procedure. In outline:

1. Keep the failed appliance powered off, so it cannot come back while you restore.
2. Install a fresh QvDC appliance of a compatible version (see Install QvDC), and make the backup repository and the recovery key available to it.
3. Stop the control plane service and validate the archive; note the recovery ID it reports.
4. Apply the restore with that exact recovery ID.
5. Check the database, storage, network, host and VM inventory before returning to normal operation.

We recommend doing this with Quantix support: open a ticket in the customer portal and have the repository, the archive name and the recovery key ready.

Expected result: the restored QvDC shows your inventory, users and settings, and hosts reconnect to it.

Recover a QHCI host

After a host's configuration archive is imported on the same physical host, open the Recovered hosts tab, Select a recovered host and click Verify recovered host. QvDC checks the host's identity and full inventory before unlocking it. A recovered host is unlocked idle — no VM is started automatically; start them yourself once you have checked the host.