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Backup

VM backup in CMP for CloudStack is orchestrator-integrated — customers schedule, run, and restore backups from the VM in CMP. No backup agents and no separate backup dashboard for the customer.

Not Veeam VSPC

This is CloudStack VM backup through CMP — not the standalone Veeam VSPC service (where customers install agents and configure jobs manually in Veeam).

See Backup and Recovery for the full comparison.

Default: backup disabled at setup​

During initial CloudStack onboarding, the StackConsole team leaves VM Backup disabled. Backup is not turned on until the cloud provider decides whether to offer it and which model fits the CloudStack environment.

Provider decision — not automatic

VM Backup is opt-in. The cloud provider chooses:

  1. Offer VM Backup or not — skip backup until you are ready to sell or support it
  2. Which model — Automated Volume Snapshot as Backup or CloudStack B&R-Based Backup (one model per environment, not both)
  3. CloudStack readiness first — configure the required snapshot or B&R settings in CloudStack for the chosen model

StackConsole connects CloudStack and core services by default. Backup is discussed and enabled only after you confirm the model and CloudStack prerequisites are in place.

Choose a model​

ModelWhen to chooseCloudStack must have…
Automated Volume Snapshot as BackupACS before 4.20, no B&R plugin, or scheduled snapshots as recoveryRoot volume snapshots; KVM: kvm.snapshot.enabled = true if needed
CloudStack B&R-Based BackupACS 4.20+ with B&R and a provider plugin (Veeam, Networker, NAS)B&R framework enabled, plugin configured, backup offerings imported
No VM BackupBackup not offered yet—

Onboarding details: Apache CloudStack Requirements — VM Backup.

CMP setup and packages for backup are documented separately in CloudStack Setup.

Three ideas to keep separate​

ConceptWhat it isCustomer uses it for
SnapshotsAd-hoc or volume snapshot schedule — point-in-time disk copySave before a change; scheduled volume snapshots (not VM Backup)
VM Backup (CMP product)Backup schedule on a VM — timed or Run nowAutomated retention, restore, billing via VM Backup package
CloudStack Backup & Recovery (B&R)CloudStack framework with provider pluginsBackend when Enable Provider Backup = Yes

VM Backup, volume snapshot schedules, and manual snapshots are three different CMP flows. See Schedules for how backup schedules and snapshot schedules are separated in the UI.

Reading guide​

Cloud provider (first time)​

  1. Provider decision — backup is disabled by default; choose a model and CloudStack prerequisites
  2. Two VM Backup backends — Automated Volume Snapshot as Backup or CloudStack B&R-Based Backup (one per connection)
  3. CloudStack Setup — packages, Enable Provider Backup, enable Virtual Machine Backup service when ready

Customer or support (day-2)​

  1. Schedules — Schedules ≠ Backups; two tabs (instance backup vs volume snapshot)
  2. Backup schedules — create policy, Run now, retention
  3. Manage backups — list copies, Manual vs Schedule type, restore

Still confused with Veeam?​

→ Backup and Recovery and Backup architecture FAQ

Two VM Backup backends in CMP​

You choose one backend for the entire CloudStack connection — not per VM. The setting is Enable Provider Backup in Cloud Provider Setup. All VMs on that connection use the same backup path.

Enable Provider BackupBackup backend in CMP
NoAutomated Volume Snapshot as Backup only
YesCloudStack B&R-Based Backup only

CMP exposes the same customer actions (create, schedule, restore) on the VM — the difference is what runs behind the API.

Customer (CMP VM screen)
        |
        v
   CloudStack APIs
        |
   +----+----+
   |         |
   v         v
Automated VM     CloudStack B&R-
Snapshot as      Based Backup
 Backup          (B&R framework +
(scheduled       provider plugin)
 snapshots)
BackendWhenCMP settingPage
Automated Volume Snapshot as BackupTypical for CloudStack before 4.20, or when no B&R plugin is configuredEnable Provider Backup = NoAutomated Volume Snapshot as Backup
CloudStack B&R-Based BackupCloudStack 4.20+ with B&R configured (Veeam, Networker, NAS, and so on)Enable Provider Backup = YesCloudStack B&R-Based Backup
One backup backend per CloudStack setup

Backup mode is application-wide for each CloudStack connection. If Enable Provider Backup is No, CMP uses Automated Volume Snapshot as Backup only — CloudStack B&R-Based Backup is not available for that setup. If it is Yes, CMP uses CloudStack B&R-Based Backup only — snapshot-as-backup is not available.

You cannot enable both on the same CloudStack connection. To switch backends, change Enable Provider Backup in Cloud Provider Setup and follow Switching to CloudStack B&R-Based Backup.

What the customer does (both backends)​

In CMP, VM backups are managed through a backup schedule (policy on a VM):

  • Create a backup schedule — frequency, timezone, retention
  • Run now — trigger a backup immediately (Type: Manual on the Backups list)
  • View backups — Manage backups
  • Restore — stop the VM first, then restore from Backups or schedule Resources

There is no separate “manual backup product” — Manual on the Backups list means manually triggered (Run now), not a different backup type.

The customer does not install agents or use a separate backup dashboard for CloudStack VM backup.

What the cloud operator configures​

TopicWhere
Packages and billingVM Backup packages
Enable Provider Backup, billing sizeCloud Provider Setup
CloudStack B&R (native path)CloudStack admin — CloudStack B&R reference

Pages in this section​

PageFocus
Automated Volume Snapshot as BackupScheduled root volume snapshots as VM recovery; not full VM snapshots
CloudStack B&R-Based BackupCloudStack B&R framework; provider plugins; switching from snapshot-as-backup
Manage BackupsGlobal and VM-level backup listing; restore
SchedulesCMP scheduler — backup schedules vs snapshot schedules