Back up an Azure VM from the VM settings

This article describes how to back up Azure virtual machines (VMs) using Azure Backup.

Azure Backup protects VM data with independent, isolated backups. It stores backups in a Recovery Services vault and manages recovery points automatically. You can configure and scale backups easily, restore data quickly, and optimize storage. Use one of the following methods to back up your Azure VMs:

• Single Azure VM: This article provides the steps to back up an Azure VM directly from the VM settings.
• Multiple Azure VMs: You can create a Recovery Services vault and configure backup for multiple Azure VMs. Learn how to back up multiple Azure VMs.

Prerequisites

Before you back up an Azure VM, review the following prerequisites:

• Understand the Azure Backup workflow.
• Get an overview of Azure VM backup.
• Verify the VM backup support requirements.

Install Azure VM agent

To back up Azure VMs, Azure Backup installs an extension on the VM agent running on the machine. If your VM was created from an Azure Marketplace image, the agent will be running. In some cases, for example if you create a custom VM, or you migrate a machine from on-premises, you might need to install the agent manually.

• If you do need to install the VM agent manually, follow the instructions for Windows or Linux VMs.
• After the agent is installed, when you enable backup, Azure Backup installs the backup extension to the agent. It updates and patches the extension without user intervention.

Back up from Azure VM settings

To back up from Azure VM settings, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the Azure portal.
2. In the Search, type Virtual machines, and then select Virtual machines.
3. From the list of VMs, select the VM you want to back up.
4. On the VM menu, select Backup.
5. In Recovery Services vault, do the following:

   • If you already have a vault, select Select existing, and select a vault.

   • If you don't have a vault, select Create new. Specify a name for the vault. It's created in the same region and resource group as the VM. You can't modify these settings when you enable backup directly from the VM settings.

     

6.Select Policy subtype as Enhanced or Standard based on your requirement.

7. Under Choose backup policy, do one of the following:

   • Leave the default policy. For Standard policy, this backs up the VM once a day at the time specified, and retains backups in the vault for 30 days. For Enhanced policy, this backs up a VM every four hours at the time specified and retains daily backup point for 30 days.

   • Select an existing backup policy if you have one.

   • Create a new policy, and define the policy settings.

     

8. Select Enable Backup. This associates the backup policy with the VM.

   

9. You can track the configuration progress in the portal notifications.

10. After the job completes, in the VM menu, select Backup. The page shows backup status for the VM, information about recovery points, jobs running, and alerts issued.

11. After enabling backup, an initial backup run. You can start the initial backup immediately, or wait until it starts in accordance with the backup schedule.
    • Until the initial backup completes, the Last backup status shows as Warning (Initial backup pending).
    • To see when the next scheduled backup will run, select the backup policy name.

Run an on-demand backup of Azure VM

To run an on-demand backup of Azure VM, follow these steps:

1. To run a backup immediately, in the VM menu, select Backup > Backup now.

   

2. In Backup Now, use the calendar control to select until when the recovery point will be retained > and OK.

   

3. Portal notifications let you know the backup job has been triggered. To monitor backup progress, select View all jobs.

Back up Azure VM from the Recovery Services vault

To enable backup for Azure VMs by setting up an Azure Backup Recovery Services vault, and enabling backup in the vault, see this article.

Related content

• Manage Azure VM backups.
• Troubleshoot Azure VM backup errors.