How can an organization protect its applications with VxRail?

One of the best ways to approach this challenge is by deploying a DRaaS solution that protects data and optimizes business resources. VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery is a SaaS-based solution that allows snapshot replication of on-premises data and IT infrastructure onto a third-party cloud computing environment. DR orchestration and testing can be done frequently, using an intuitive dashboard that guides users through the steps to effectively failover and failback their VMs with minimal disruption. This empowers organizations to restore access and functionality to IT infrastructure after a disaster. It also allows them to choose from snapshots ranging from hours to months old to conduct recovery. The as-a-service model eliminates the need for organizations to own and manage an entire site for disaster recovery, and instead uses the service provider’s cloud infrastructure only when a disaster occurs.

Figure 3.              Protection and recovery with VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery

VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery consists of a DRaaS Connector for the protected virtual environment and a set of cloud-based services that run as native cloud services and also utilize VMware Cloud on AWS. This allows VMs to be protected through delta-based replication that is scheduled every 4, 6, 8, or 12 hours, daily, weekly, or monthly. Relatively small amounts of data are transmitted for each replicated copy. This reduces the time required to complete a replication while providing comprehensive protection of the environment. The replication sets are then stored securely in the cloud for testing or DR.

Because the DR VMs are not running in the cloud all the time, they consume only storage resources. This reduces the overall capital outlay for a DR plan, because other costs (such as cloud compute capacity) are only incurred when a virtual machine is running in the cloud environment. This also means that IT staff members are not responsible for maintaining or patching infrastructure, freeing them to focus on other organizational needs.

It is also possible to run VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery with a “Live Pilot Light” option so that an initial footprint of resources for DR is available for instant consumption and testing. This means that a minimum of three VMware Cloud on AWS hosts are always running. These three hosts can have core elements, such as SDDCs, running prior to a DR. In the event of a disaster, this would allow rapid provisioning of a full-scale production environment utilizing the critical core services already running with Live Pilot Light. When these hosts are not being used for DR-related activities, they can be utilized for other business tasks.   

VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery can facilitate an elegant DR solution for organizations with:

• Multiple smaller satellite locations (satellite locations at the edge)
• Up to 20 vCenter instances that require IT infrastructure
• Two-node VxRail deployments that deliver specialized local IT capabilities

These satellite locations may not be large enough to justify a complex data protection solution or an independent hardware device. However, the VMs and data at edge sites are just as critical as those at larger sites. VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery protects these sites at the same level as primary sites, enabling operations to continue in the event of a disaster at the edge.