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You can protect your data and guard against extended downtime by creating VM restore points at regular intervals. You can create VM restore points, and exclude disks while creating the restore point, using Azure CLI. Azure CLI is used to create and manage Azure resources using command line or scripts. Alternatively, you can create VM restore points using the Azure portal or using PowerShell.
The az restore-point module is used to create and manage restore points from the command line or in scripts.
In this tutorial, you learn how to:
Prerequisites
Use the Bash environment in Azure Cloud Shell. For more information, see Get started with Azure Cloud Shell.
If you prefer to run CLI reference commands locally, install the Azure CLI. If you're running on Windows or macOS, consider running Azure CLI in a Docker container. For more information, see How to run the Azure CLI in a Docker container.
If you're using a local installation, sign in to the Azure CLI by using the az login command. To finish the authentication process, follow the steps displayed in your terminal. For other sign-in options, see Authenticate to Azure using Azure CLI.
When you're prompted, install the Azure CLI extension on first use. For more information about extensions, see Use and manage extensions with the Azure CLI.
Run az version to find the version and dependent libraries that are installed. To upgrade to the latest version, run az upgrade.
- Learn more about the support requirements and limitations before creating a restore point.
Step 1: Create a VM restore point collection
Use the az restore-point collection create command to create a VM restore point collection, as shown below:
az restore-point collection create --location "norwayeast" --source-id "/subscriptions/{subscription-id}/resourceGroups/ExampleRg/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/ExampleVM" --tags myTag1="tagValue1" --resource-group "ExampleRg" --collection-name "ExampleRpc"
Create a VM restore point collection with instant access
Instant Access is optional and applies only to VMs with Premium SSD v2 or Ultra Disks as data disks. It supports both application-consistent and multi-disk crash-consistent (in preview) restore points. When you enable Instant Access on the restore point collection, disk restoration can begin immediately from the restore point without waiting for full hydration. This feature significantly reduces RTOs. To learn more, see Instant Access.
az restore-point collection create --location "norwayeast" --source-id "/subscriptions/{subscription-id}/resourceGroups/ExampleRg/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/ExampleVM" --tags myTag1="tagValue1" --resource-group "ExampleRg" --collection-name "ExampleRpc" --instant-access true
Step 2: Create a VM restore point
Create a VM restore point with the az restore-point create command as follows:
az restore-point create --resource-group "ExampleRg" --collection-name "ExampleRpc" --name "ExampleRp"
To create a crash-consistent restore point, set --consistency-mode to CrashConsistent.
Create a VM restore point with specific instant access duration
Create a VM restore point with the az restore-point create command as follows:
az restore-point create --resource-group "ExampleRg" --collection-name "ExampleRpc" --name "ExampleRp" --instant-access-duration "120"
Note: Instant Access duration is an optional parameter. Its an integer property set on each restore point. Specifies how long Instant Access remains active, in minutes. Valid range: 60–300 minutes. Default: 300 (5 hours).
For a multi-disk crash-consistent restore point with Instant Access (in preview), use the Instant Access-enabled collection from step 1 and specify both the consistency mode and duration:
az restore-point create --resource-group "ExampleRg" --collection-name "ExampleRpc" --name "ExampleCrashConsistentRp" --consistency-mode CrashConsistent --instant-access-duration 120
Exclude disks when creating a restore point
Exclude the disks that you do not want to be a part of the restore point with the --exclude-disks parameter, as follows:
az restore-point create --exclude-disks "/subscriptions/{subscription-id}/resourceGroups/ExampleRg/providers/Microsoft.Compute/disks/ExampleDisk1" --resource-group "ExampleRg" --collection-name "ExampleRpc" --name "ExampleRp"
Step 3: Track the status of the VM restore point creation
Use the az restore-point show command to track the progress of the VM restore point creation.
az restore-point show --resource-group "ExampleRg" --collection-name "ExampleRpc" --name "ExampleRp"
If the restore point collection has Instant Access enabled, check instantAccessState to validate the consolidated access state across all disk restore points within the restore point.
az restore-point show --resource-group "ExampleRg" --collection-name "ExampleRpc" --name "ExampleRp" --instance-view --query "instanceView.statuses[1]" -o tsv
A value of InstantAccess or AvailableWithInstantAccess means the restore point is ready for fast disk restoration.
Restore a VM from VM restore point
To restore a VM from a VM restore point, first restore individual disks from each disk restore point. You can also use the ARM template to restore a full VM along with all the disks.
# Create Disks from disk restore points
$osDiskRestorePoint = az restore-point show --resource-group "ExampleRg" --collection-name "ExampleRpc" --name "ExampleRp" --query "sourceMetadata.storageProfile.dataDisks[0].diskRestorePoint.id"
$dataDisk1RestorePoint = az restore-point show --resource-group "ExampleRg" --collection-name "ExampleRpcTarget" --name "ExampleRpTarget" –query "sourceMetadata.storageProfile.dataDisks[0].diskRestorePoint.id"
$dataDisk2RestorePoint = az restore-point show --resource-group "ExampleRg" --collection-name "ExampleRpcTarget" --name "ExampleRpTarget" –query "sourceMetadata.storageProfile.dataDisks[0].diskRestorePoint.id"
az disk create --resource-group “ExampleRg” --name “ExampleOSDisk” --sku Premium_LRS --size-gb 128 --source $osDiskRestorePoint
az disk create --resource-group “ExampleRg” --name “ExampleDataDisk1” --sku Premium_LRS --size-gb 128 --source $dataDisk1RestorePoint
az disk create --resource-group “ExampleRg” --name “ExampleDataDisk1” --sku Premium_LRS --size-gb 128 --source $dataDisk2RestorePoint
Once you have created the disks, create a new VM and attach these restored disks to the newly created VM.
Disable instant access for future restore points
Update a VM restore point collection with the az restore-point collection update command as follows:
az restore-point collection update -g MyResourceGroup --collection-name ExampleRpc --tags myTag1="tagValue1" --instant-access false
Next steps
Learn more about Backup and restore options for virtual machines in Azure.
Learn more about Instant Access restore points.
