Steps to convert a Direct-to-Cloud endpoint to appliance mode 

There are situations when you may choose to migrate a Direct-to-Cloud system "back" to an appliance-based mode. (For example, in the event you are recovering from a Cloud failover back to an on-premises appliance.)

To convert a Direct-to-Cloud endpoint back to an appliance, perform the following steps:

STEP 1. Stop the service

1.1. On the vault, under the Jobs tab, verify that no backups are currently running for the endpoint. 

1.2. On the protected system, stop the Replibit Agent Service and disable it.

STEP 2. Deploy an appliance provisioned for the customer  

For assistance installing and configuring appliances, refer to Appliance setup and first-time login 

When deploying (or reinstalling) a new or existing appliance to a customer, you must first add a location and endpoints for the Direct-to-Cloud client:

a. Log into the license portal at licensing.replibit.com
b. Select the Clients tab on the left, select the desired client and select Add Location at the top. 
c. Input a location and click Add.
d. Select the Licenses tab on the left.
e. For the client, select Manage on the right.
f. Select Add Endpoint License. 
g. Input the number and type of endpoints needed and click Submit. 

STEP 3. Perform a vault-to-appliance recovery

There are two methods to do this:

(a) Method 1: Perform a vault-to-appliance recovery over USB Axcient-hosted vaults: If this vault is hosted by Axcient, you will need to open a support ticket and request a USB export. Instructions are here: Private (self-hosted) vaults: If you have a private vault, you must attach the USB to the vault. Once the USB is connected,  select the Recover-USB button, then choose USB. Next, enter the Encryption Password, select the Base Image, and then click Recover. Base Images For the fastest recovery time, choose the newest snapshot as the base image. (The complete history of incremental snapshots is not needed to recover the protected system to the appliance and create replication to the cloud vault.) The recovered base snapshot and the incremental snapshots moving forward will be connected to the historic data on the cloud vault.  Direct data ingestion During recovery, data is ingested directly to the storage pool in a single pass. Direct ingestion also allows interrupted recovery jobs to be restarted, picking up at the last data point ingested.

(b) Method 2: Perform a ‘Recover over Network’ from the vault to the appliance Go to the appliance Protected Systems page.  Select the Recover button on the far right side of the page: Enter the vault URL and click Test Connection.  Select the desired Customer Location and the Protected Systems to recover Specify a Base Image. For the fastest recovery time, choose the newest snapshot as the base image. (The complete history of incremental snapshots is not needed to recover the protected system to the appliance and create replication to the cloud vault. The recovered base snapshot and the incremental snapshots moving forward will be connected to the historic data on the cloud vault.) NOTE: If no protected systems are listed, ensure (a) that you entered the correct vault URL, (b) that you selected the correct customer account when provisioning the new appliance, and (c) protected systems for the specified client exist on the vault that are NOT on the appliance yet. NOTE: If Base Image selection is not available, ensure that both the appliance and vault are running the current operating system version.   NOTE: Be aware that Direct-to-Cloud usage will automatically be removed once the protected system is recovered on the appliance. Be sure you have assigned sufficient licenses in the License Portal to accommodate the protected system(s) that are being converted.

STEP 4. Set replication

Once the protected system has been recovered to the appliance, you will need to (1) create the vault schedule and (2) configure the replication settings.

4.1.  Create the vault schedule:

a. Click the Vault Configuration tab on the left navigation of the appliance GUI. 

b. Click the Add Vault button in the upper right. 

c. Enter the required information. 

d. Then click Test Connection in the upper right. 

e. When completed, click Save.

4.2. Set the replication settings.

a. Click the Protected Systems tab on the left navigation of the appliance GUI. 

b. Select the desired protected system and then click Replication. 

c. Choose the desired vault then choose the recovered snapshot. 

Note: At this point, the Enabled check box will be greyed out and checked.

d. Click Save. 

STEP 5. Reconfigure agent settings for appliance mode

5.1. Open notepad as administrator and then open the aristos.cfg file in the Replibit directory C:\Program Files (x86)\Replibit

5.2. Edit the field SERVER= by removing the vault URL and entering the IP address of the appliance.

5.3. Delete any settings related to local cache in aristos.cfg. (Local cache does not work with appliance-based backups.) 

5.4. Save and close notepad.

5.5. Delete or rename permid.cfg so that the agent knows it is now in appliance mode

STEP 6. Restart the service

Finally, on the protected system, enable and restart the Replibit Agent Service:

• Change the Startup type from Disabled to Automatic 
• Select Apply
• Under Service status, click Start and then click OK to continue

STEP 7. Confirm that a full backup runs

A full backup should run automatically. 

Schedule a full backup, if one does not run automatically.

Related article:

If your appliance has failed entirely, or if the appliance storage pool has failed, you can recover protected systems from the vault to a new appliance. Full details are available at How to recover a protected system from the vault to a new appliance.

 SUPPORT  | 720-204-4500 | 800-352-0248

• To learn more about any of our Axcient products,  sign up for free one-on-one training.
• Please contact your Partner Success Manager or Support if you have specific technical questions.
• Subscribe to the Axcient Status page for a list of status updates and scheduled maintenance.

576 | 631 |  1087  |  1136  |  1307  |