Performing a Test Failover

Owned by John Hicks
Last updated: Nov 13, 2023 by Robert Brink
3 min read

Introduction

 

The Test operation is used to test and validate protected virtual machines at the recovery destination site. 

Performing a Test operation keeps the source VMs online, so bringing the recovery site VMs online in an isolated network allows you to validate the integrity of the VM data on the recovery site without interfering with source/production operations. 

While you are performing a Test, replication from the source site to the recovery site continues.

Prerequisites

 

The following is a pre-req to initially configure site to site protection

 

To create a specific account to use for DR purposes:

  • Log in to https://portal.cloudist.se

  • Select Virtual Data Center service

  • Select the Virtual Datacenter you would like to create the account in (it is recommended to create one in the source and destination regions for Cloud to Cloud protection)

  • Click Log in to VDC

  • Go to Administration, Access Control, Users and click New

  • Enter a username, password and ensure the User has the Organization Administrator role

  • Click Save

The username in this example when using DRaaS would be drservice@12345-5678 (your org number)

Initiating a Test Failover

 

Initiating a Test Failover can be performed at either the source or destination VDC. In this example we will be performing the workflow from the destination site

 

  • Go to the destination cloud site, click More, Availability

 

 

  • As it is the destination site, select Incoming Replications

  • Ensure the source site is set correctly

  • Select the virtual machine and click on the Test icon (available also via All Actions menu)

 

 

  • Choose whether to

    • Power on the VM

    • Connect to a VDC network or keep preconfigured settings

 

  • Choose a recovery instance to failover from or synchronize the current state and click Next

 

Multiple recovery instances will be available based on the SLA Profile you have chosen and the length of time the protection job has ran for

 

  • Review the summary and click Finish to complete

 

 

 

  • Once completed, go back to Data Centers and the target VDC and find the Test Failed over virtual machine

Cleaning up

 

Once you are finished with your test failover, you can clean up the environment via the Availability interface. This will revert everything to its previous status:

 

  • Click More, Availability

  • Incoming Replications

  • Select the failover over machine

  • Select Test Cleanup

 

  • Confirm your selection and click Cleanup

The test virtual machine will now be powered off, deleted and the protection status of source environment will return to original state.