Use Azure to Backup and Restore Desktop Image VM Objects

In Nerdio Manager, you can backup desktop image VM objects to Azure and restore a desktop image VM objects from previous versions. No third-party tools are required, because Nerdio Manager uses the native Azure backup functionality.

When you back up the image VM objects for the first time, it creates all the necessary Azure infrastructure to maintain this backup.

Note: The Microsoft.RecoveryServices Resource Provider must be registered against any Azure subscriptions for which backup is to be enabled. The Nerdio Manager application should then be assigned the Backup Reader role for each subscription where backup should be enabled.

  • If the user who configures the backup for the first time is an Owner on the subscription, this role is assigned automatically.

  • If the user is not an Owner, you must manually assign the Backup Reader role to the Nerdio Manager application.

Create a Desktop Image VM Object Backup Policy

Nerdio Manager allows you to create a desktop image VM object backup policy. The policy determines the backup vault, schedule, retention, etc.

Note: A backup policy must be configured in order for manual or automatic backups to be created.

To create a desktop image VM object backup policy:

  1. Navigate to Desktop Images.

  2. Locate the desktop image you wish to back up.

  3. From the action down menu, select Manage backup.

  4. Enter the following information:

    • Enable Backup: Toggle on this option.

    • Vault: From the drop-down list, select the backup vault.

    • Policy: From the drop-down list, select a policy or type the name of a new policy.

      Warning: If an existing policy is selected and changed, that changes the policy for all associated devices. It is strongly recommended that you create a new policy for each desktop image.

    • Policy type: From the drop-down list, select either a Standard or an Enhanced policy type.

      Note: Enhanced policies are required to backup Trusted Launch enabled desktops. See this Microsoft article for details.

    • Schedule: From the drop-down lists, create the schedule.

    • Retention: From the various options, create the retention policy.

  5. Once you have entered all the desired information, select Save.

Manually Backup a Desktop Image VM Object

Nerdio Manager allows you to manually backup a desktop image VM object to Azure.

To manually backup a desktop image VM object to Azure:

  1. Navigate to Desktop Images.

  2. Locate the desktop image you wish to back up.

  3. From the action down menu, select Backup.

    Note: If a backup policy was not configured for this desktop image, you are prompted to create a backup policy. See Create a Desktop Image VM Object Backup Policy for details.

  4. Retain image backup: Type the number of days to retain the backup image.

    Note: After the selected number of days, the image backup is automatically deleted. The image VM itself is unaffected when the expired backup version is deleted.

  5. Once you have entered all the desired information, select OK.

    The desktop image VM object is backed up to Azure.

Restore a Desktop Image VM Object from Azure

Nerdio Manager allows you to restore a desktop image VM object from Azure.

To restore a desktop image VM object from Azure:

  1. Navigate to Desktop Images.

  2. Locate the desktop image you want to restore.

  3. From the action menu, select Restore.

  4. From the drop-down list, select the desired recovery point.

  5. Select Restore.

    The desktop image VM object is recovered from the Azure backup vault. By default, this image VM object is powered on.

  6. Select Power off & set as image.

    The VM is committed to the Azure image object from the restored version.