Topic
This article explains how to start a hybrid (cloud) virtualization on a SIRIS or ALTO device.
Environment
- Datto SIRIS
- Datto ALTO
Description
Hybrid Virtualization allows you to restore a production machine in the Datto Cloud, and manage it locally through your Datto appliance.
When Hybrid Virtualization initializes a virtual machine within the secure Datto Cloud, it automatically connects the VM to the local network through the Datto appliance using a secure VPN tunnel.
Procedure
1. Access your Datto appliance's GUI.
2. Click the Restore tab.
3. Select a protected system.
4. Choose Virtualize in the Cloud, and select a Recovery Point to restore from (Figures 1 & 2).
5. Click Start Restore.
Figure 1: SIRIS hybrid virtualization (click to enlarge)
Figure 2: ALTO hybrid virtualization (click to enlarge)
5. In the Virtualization Options pane, select the System RAM, the Storage Controller, and Network Options (Figure 3). For more information about these options, see Restore: Local Virtualization Options.
Common Storage Controller Compatibilities
| Operating System | IDE | SCSI | SATA | VirtIO |
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6. Click Build VM.
Figure 3: Virtualization Options (click to enlarge)
7. Optionally, you can choose to Restrict RDP connections only to my IP. Selecting this option will block any attempt to access the cloud VM from any IP other than your own.
Figure 4: Security options (click to enlarge)
6. Click Mount and Start VM. The VM status will update to allow access (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Access the VM (click to enlarge)
To connect to the VM, you can:
- Click Open in Browser to connect to the virtualizaion via a browser-based VNC session
- Click the Connect via RDP button to download a preconfigured Windows Remote Desktop session file
- Connect to the VM by using the RDP client of your choice; or
- Connect to the VM by using a VNC client
All RDP and VNC connections to your virtualization require authentication. You can obtain the authentication credentials from the Username and Password fields in the VM Status pane.
Technical Notes
Hybrid and Offsite Virtualizations for Microsoft Exchange Servers
Hybrid virtualizations are bridged to the local LAN through the Datto device, and use a VPN to connect the two networks. Since the IP of the virtualized server will show as coming from the internal network, exceptions on the router/firewall must be in place to allow mail to properly relay to the next hop. You can do this by adding port forwarding outbound, and allowing the appropriate relay server access to the server inbound. Once this is done, ensure the Microsoft Transport Service (MSExchangeTransport) is running, and then restart the service. You can find more information about this service from this Microsoft Technet article (external link).
After configuring networking, send a test email through the server to confirm that emails can send and receive properly. If this does not work, there may be a different underlying issue.
Cloud Virtualizations Not Bridged to the LAN
Cloud virtualizations not bridged to the local LAN require port forwarding on Datto's servers to allow SMTP (Port 25) traffic inbound and outbound. See this article for further information.
After forwarding has been configured, Port 25 will be accessible via the public IP address shown in the GUI. Your DNS records will need to be updated to reflect these changes. If another server provides mail services, you must make the changes on that server.
Datto Virtual SIRIS on HyperV Host
A Datto Virtual SIRIS guest on a HyperV is capable of acting as the VPN endpoint between the hybrid virtualization and your environment. However, you must enable Allow MAC Address Spoofing within the VM template's advanced settings. This modification requires no reboot, and can be disabled after the disaster recovery scenario is complete.