Zerto Installation, configure with VMware, Configure Sites, VPG and failover test

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on installing and configuring Zerto with VMware. It covers the setup of sites, Virtual Protection Groups (VPG), and conducting a failover test. Zerto is crucial for disaster recovery and data protection in virtual environments, making this guide relevant for IT professionals managing VMware infrastructure.

Step 1: Install Zerto Virtual Replication

• Download Zerto: Visit the Zerto website and download the latest version of Zerto Virtual Replication (ZVR).
• Run the Installer:
  • Launch the installer on your VMware environment.
  • Follow the prompts to initiate the installation process.
• Configure Zerto:
  • Accept the license agreement.
  • Choose the installation directory.
  • Complete the installation by clicking on the finish button once done.

Step 2: Configure Zerto with VMware

• Open the Zerto User Interface:
  • Access the Zerto UI via a web browser, entering the URL provided during the installation.
• Add VMware Environment:
  • Navigate to the "Sites" section.
  • Click on “Add Site” and enter the required VMware vCenter details including:
    • vCenter name
    • Authentication credentials
• Validate Connection: Ensure that Zerto is able to connect to your VMware infrastructure.

Step 3: Configure Sites

• Add Sites:
  • In the Zerto UI, go to the “Sites” menu.
  • Click on “Add Site” and input the details for the second site if applicable.
• Site Pairing:
  • Pair your primary site with the secondary site by selecting the appropriate options in the configuration panel.
• Confirm Pairing: Validate that both sites are successfully paired and visible in the dashboard.

Step 4: Create Virtual Protection Groups (VPG)

• Navigate to VPGs:
  • In the Zerto UI, select the “VPGs” tab.
• Create a New VPG:
  • Click on “Create VPG.”
  • Fill in the details such as:
    • VPG name
    • Source and target sites
    • Virtual machines to protect
• Configure Settings:
  • Set RPO (Recovery Point Objective) and other parameters based on your organizational recovery goals.
• Save Configuration: Click on “Finish” to create the VPG.

Step 5: Conduct a Failover Test

• Select VPG for Testing:
  • Go to the “VPGs” tab and select the VPG you wish to test.
• Initiate Failover:
  • Click on “Failover” and select “Test Failover.”
  • Follow the prompts to begin the test, ensuring you understand that this does not affect production.
• Monitor Progress:
  • Check the status of the failover in the Zerto UI to ensure it completes.
• Validate Failover:
  • Confirm that the virtual machines are accessible and functioning as expected in the recovery environment.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to install Zerto, configure it with VMware, set up sites, create Virtual Protection Groups, and perform a failover test. These steps are essential for ensuring robust disaster recovery in your virtual environment. Moving forward, consider conducting regular failover tests and monitoring your Zerto configuration to ensure optimal performance and reliability.