We can take a backup of the files and folders from our on-premises machines and our Azure Virtual Machines. The critical point is that the Azure backup service uses the MARS agent to take the backup of your files and folders, which are stored within a Recovery Services vault.
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How to Backup files and Folders using MARS Agent
You can run the Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) Agent in two ways. Those are as below
- You can run on your on-premises machines directly.
- We can also run on the Azure virtual machines.
Here, we will discuss the complete process. The initial step is to create a Recovery Services Vault.
Create a Recovery Services vault
A Recovery Services vault works like an interface to perform backup-related operations. Below are the steps to create a Recovery Services vault.
1. Log in to Azure Portal (https://portal.azure.com/)
2. After logging into Azure Portal, click the All Services option from the left menu.
Now for the next steps, follow my article to create a Recovery Services vault. Once you follow this article, you can create the Recovery Services vault like the one below. My new Recovery Services vault is now created with the name MyNewVault.
Now, Assuming your Recovery Services vaults are created. Then, the next step is to modify the storage replication type.
Modify storage replication type
By default, when you have created a Recovery Services vault, the storage replication type is Geo-redundant. You can change it to the Locally-redundant to save some cost.
You can refer to my Article to Modify the storage replication type. Check out the Set storage redundancy for the services vault section of the article to modify the sam
First, download the MARS agent and the Vault credentials using the Microsoft Azure Portal. Now is the time to install the register of the MARS agent.
Now, Install and register the MARS agent
Create a backup policy using the MARS agent
Now, we are done with the Installation and registration of the MARS agent. The next step is to create a backup policy.
The backup policy specifies the timeline to take the snapshots of the data to create the recovery points. We can use the MARS agent we installed and configured using the above steps to create the backup policy.
Well, follow the below steps to create the backup policy
1. The first step is to search for Microsoft Azure Backup on your computer and then open that app.
2. Now the below Microsoft Azure Backup application will open.
3. Under Actions, click on the Schedule Backup option.
4. On the Schedule Backup Wizard, on the Getting Started tab, click on the Next button to continue
5. On the Select Items to Backup tab, click on Add Items to add the items you want to back up.
6. On the Select Items box, select items you want to take back up, and then select OK.
7. You have selected the item you want to take backup on the Select Items to Backup window. Now click on the Next button.
8. Specify the backup Schedule, i.e., when to take daily or weekly backups on the Specify Backup Schedule page, then select Next.
Below I have mentioned taking two times per day but you can specify a maximum of 3 times per day. Based on your requirements, you can select the timing and frequency of your backup.
9. You can Schedule weekly backups, too. In the below example, backups are taken every alternate Monday at 11:00 AM and 4:30 PM.
10. Mention how to store historical copies of your data on the Select Retention Policy page, then select the Next button.
In the below example
- Daily backups at 4:30 PM are kept for 180 days.
- The Backups are taken on Monday at 4:30 PM and are kept for 108 weeks.
- Backups are taken on the last Monday of the week at 4:30 PM and are kept for 60 months.
- The Backups are taken on the last Monday in March and are kept for 10 years.
11. On the Choose Initial Backup Type (Files and Folders) page, select the Online option or choose the Offline option. Then click on the Next button.
12. Review the information on the Confirmation page and then click the Finish button.
13. Now you can see the Backup schedule has been created successfully without any issues. Click on the Close button to close the wizard.
Enable network throttling
You can control the network bandwidth for the MARS agent by enabling the network throttling option. This option is available on Windows Server 2012 and later, Windows 8, and later operating systems.
To enable the network throttling, follow the below steps
Click on the Change Properties under the Actions menu from the MARS agent app.
On the Throttling tab, select Enable Internet bandwidth usage throttling for backup operations and then click the OK button.
You can see below the server properties have been updated successfully. Click on the OK button.
You can create a backup policy using the MARS agent by following the above steps.
Run an on-demand backup using MARS agent
Follow the below steps to set up the on-demand backup using the MARS agent.
1. The first step is to search for Microsoft Azure Backup on your computer and then open that app.
2. Now the below Microsoft Azure Backup application will open.
3. Select the Back Up Now option under Backup from the Actions menu in the MARS agent.
4. On the Retain Backup Till page, select the date and click the Next button.
5. Now review the settings and select the Back-Up button on the Confirmation page
6. Click on the Close button to close the wizard.
If you have a requirement to take the backup immediately, you can run an on-demand backup using the MARS agent by following the above steps.
Conclusion
This Azure article discussed how to back up files and Folders using MARS Agent. Thanks for reading this article !!!
I am Rajkishore, and I am a Microsoft Certified IT Consultant. I have over 14 years of experience in Microsoft Azure and AWS, with good experience in Azure Functions, Storage, Virtual Machines, Logic Apps, PowerShell Commands, CLI Commands, Machine Learning, AI, Azure Cognitive Services, DevOps, etc. Not only that, I do have good real-time experience in designing and developing cloud-native data integrations on Azure or AWS, etc. I hope you will learn from these practical Azure tutorials. Read more.
