PowerProtect Data Manager 19.9 Microsoft Application Agent SQL Server User Guide

Configure general instant access settings

To configure SQL restores with the Microsoft app agent for VM Direct SSMS plug-in, you must first specify general restore options on the Instant Access > General page.

1. Open the Microsoft app agent for VM Direct window to the Instant Access > General page.

   The General page appears as shown in the following figure.

   

2. Beside PowerProtect DD System, click ...
   The PowerProtect DD System List & Lockbox Settings window appears and lists the DD server and lockbox that is configured in the PowerProtect Data Manager protection policy. If the protection policy is configured for replication, the secondary DD server and storage unit also appear.
3. In the PowerProtect DD System List & Lockbox Settings window, select the DD server that contains the backup, and then click OK.
   The SQL Server host field is updated with the client backups that are available on the selected DD server.
4. From the SQL Server host list, select the SQL Server host that is the source of the backup.

   If you are restoring an AAG database, you must select the Windows cluster name, which enables you to browse the list of AAGs hosted on this cluster.

   If you are restoring a clusterless AAG database, you must select the AAG group name, which enables you to browse the list of AAGs hosted on the clusterless AAG group. In the case of a clusterless AAG, the AAG name plus GUID is displayed.

5. Use the Start browsing from list to select a backup save time, and then click Show Versions.

   The SQL Server Instance field and save sets table are updated with the backups that are within the specified browse time. If no level full backups are found in the specified time range, you are prompted for confirmation to load the latest full backup.

   NOTE If you selected a cluster name or AAG group name with GUID in the preceding step, then the list of AAGs in the cluster or the list of AAGs in the AAG group named with GUID is displayed instead of the list of SQL Server instances.
6. From the SQL Server Instance list, select the SQL Server instance that contains the databases that you want to mount for instant access.

   The databases located on the SQL Server instance appear in the database table below the SQL Server Instance field.

7. From the database table, select either the entire SQL Server instance by selecting the check box in the header row or select only the required databases to mount for instant access.

   The corresponding save sets appear in the save sets table that is below the databases table.

   NOTE The Microsoft application agent does not support instant access for system databases. The system databases do not appear in the database table.
8. For single database instant access, from the save sets table, select the database backup and timestamp that you want to mount for instant access.
   By default, the most recent backup is selected.

   NOTE This step only applies to single database instant access. For multiple database and instance-level operations, the most recent backup is mounted and the most recent transaction logs for the browse time are restored.
9. (Optional) To access the database from a specific point-in-time, perform the following steps:
   1. Under Access by time, click Timeline.
      The Backup Timeline dialog box appears as shown in the following figure.

      

   2. Specify the backup date and time, and then click OK.
10. Under Destination, specify the details for the mount operation:
    1. From the Instance list, select the target SQL Server instance to mount the backup.
    2. From the Database list, select the name of the SQL Server database for instant access.

       When you select a single database, you can specify a new name for the database. For instant access, a default name is generated, by appending the text "InstantAccess" and a date/time stamp to the original database name. For a single database restore, you may change this name. For a multiple database restore, you may not change the database name and the default database name is used.