For database type applications, the direct mount on-demand run workflow
page provides the following options for selection:
Provision New Virtual Application: Select this option if you want
to create a new virtual application or database on a different server.
You can also use this option to update or modify the options that were
predefined in the Backup and DR Workflow, for example change the Backup and DR Workflow name.
Refresh an Existing Virtual Application: Select this option if you
previously created a virtual application using this Backup and DR Workflow
and now would like to refresh it, using a different point-in-time
snapshot as the source.
Provision new virtual application
If you selectProvision New Virtual Application, configure the new
application by completing the following:
Click theSource Imagedrop-down, and select an image.
If the source application is protected by a snapshot policy that has
enabled database log backups, and logs are available with the image,
you can use them to roll forward to a specific point in time by changing
these options in theRoll Forward Timesection:
The date field contains all possible dates that the database can be rolled
forward to—through the application of database transaction logs.
Select which date you want the database to be rolled forward to.
The time field contains a slider showing all possible times on the
selected date that the database can be rolled forward to. If you select
the latest possible date and then move the slider to the right most
position, the job applies to all available logs. If you select
the earliest possible date and move the slider to the left most position,
the jobs apply no logs.
You can specify to roll forward using eitherUser TimeorHost Time.User Timeis relative to the local time of the current user.Host Timeis relative to the system that hosts the data to be mounted.
From theHostdrop-down, select the server on which to mount the image.
Optionally, enable theMap to All Cluster Nodesoption.
You can see this option when one or more target hosts are a cluster node
or a cluster host.
You can see the following options only when one or more target hosts are
VMware VMs:
ForMount Mode, select one of the following:
NFS: By default NFS mode is selected. Backup and DR presents
the data as a VMDK in an NFS datastore mounted from the
backup/recovery appliance.
vRDM (virtual raw device mapping): VMware snapshots treat mounted
vRDMs as independent and are not included in snapshots. Because of
this, by default, Backup and DR does not include vRDMs when
protecting a mounted VM. Backup and DR does provide an option where
you can mark vRDMs as dependent. Although rarely used, when this
option is enabled, vRDMs will be included in VMware snapshots.
Backup templates can capture vRDMs marked as dependent. Note that
this mount mode needs the ESXi host to have an iSCSI initiator,
which by default is not enabled in Google Cloud Google Cloud VMware Engine.
pRDM (physical raw device mapping): For file-level restore
operations, select this mode. Note that this mount mode needs the ESXi
host to have an iSCSI initiator, which by default is not enabled in
Google Cloud Google Cloud VMware Engine.
FromMap to ESX Hosts, select one of the following options. You can
see theMap to ESX Hostsoption only when you have selected vRDM or
pRDM in theMount Modefield.
One: SelectOneif you want to map only to the ESX host
running the target VM.
Two: SelectTwoif you want to map to two ESX hosts, but not
all ESX hosts in the cluster. On selectingTwo, you are given
the option to choose the second host, or chooseAuto-select.
Auto-select choose the second host based on logical pairs of ESX
hosts and can always select the partner ESX host for the one
running the target VM.
All: SelectAllif you want to map to all the ESX hosts present
in the cluster. Note that selectingAllmay increase
the duration for the job.
Enable theCreate New Virtual Applicationoption and configure
the new database. The options shown can vary depending on database types.
ClickDoneto run the Backup and DR Workflow.
Refresh an existing virtual application
If you selectRefreshan existing virtual application:
From theSource Imagedrop-down, select an image to mount.
If the source application is protected by a snapshot policy that has
enabled database log backups, and logs are available with the image,
you can use them to roll forward to a specific point in time by changing
these options in theRoll Forward Timesection:
The date field contains all possible dates that the database can be
rolled forward to—through the application of database transaction
logs.
Select which date you want the database to be rolled forward to.
The time field contains a slider showing all possible times on the
selected date that the database can be rolled forward to. If you select
the latest possible date and then move the slider to the right most
position, the job applies to all available logs. If you select
the earliest possible date and move the slider to the left most position,
the job can apply no logs.
You can specify to roll forward using eitherUser TimeorHost Time.User Timeis relative to the local time of the current user.Host Timeis relative to the system that hosts the data to be mounted.
From theHostdrop-down, select the server where the application
is mounted.
Select the application to refresh.
ClickSubmitto refresh the Backup and DR Workflow.
All other applications
For all other applications, theOn Demand Run Workflowpage can
show the Backup and DR Workflow details.
From theSource Imagedrop-down, select an image to mount.
From theHostdrop-down, select the server on which to mount the image.
Optionally, enable theMap to All Cluster Nodesoption.
You can see this option when one or more target hosts are a
cluster node or a cluster host.
You will see the following options only when one or more target hosts are
VMware VMs:
ForMount Mode, select one of the following:
NFS: By default NFS mode is selected. Backup and DR can present
the data as a VMDK in an NFS datastore mounted from the
backup/recovery appliance.
vRDM (virtual raw device mapping): VMware snapshots treat mounted
vRDMs as independent and are not included in snapshots. Because of
this, by default, Backup and DR does not include vRDMs when
protecting a mounted VM. Backup and DR does provide an option where
you can mark vRDMs as dependent. Although rarely used, when this
option is enabled, vRDMs are included in VMware snapshots.
Backup templates can capture vRDMs marked as dependent. Note that
this mount mode needs the ESXi host to have an iSCSI initiator,
which by default is not enabled in Google Cloud VMware Engine.
pRDM (physical raw device mapping): For file-level restore
operations, select this mode. Note that this mount mode needs the ESXi
host to have an iSCSI initiator, which by default is not enabled in
Google Cloud VMware Engine.
FromMap to ESX Hosts, select one of the following options. You can
see theMap to ESX Hostsoption only when you have selected vRDM or
pRDM in theMount Modefield.
One: SelectOneif you want to map only to the ESX host
running the target VM.
Two: SelectTwoif you want to map to two ESX hosts, but not
all ESX hosts in the cluster. On selectingTwo, you are given
the option to choose the second host, or chooseAuto-select.
Auto-select choose the second host based on logical pairs of ESX hosts
and can always select the partner ESX host for the one running the target VM.
All: SelectAllif you want to map to all the ESX hosts present
in the cluster. Note that selectingAllmay increase
the duration for the job.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Hard to understand","hardToUnderstand","thumb-down"],["Incorrect information or sample code","incorrectInformationOrSampleCode","thumb-down"],["Missing the information/samples I need","missingTheInformationSamplesINeed","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-09-04 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThe available options in the direct mount Backup and DR Workflow depend on whether the application is a database or another application type.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eDatabase applications offer the ability to either provision a new virtual application on a different server, or refresh an existing application with a different point-in-time snapshot.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eWhen provisioning a new database virtual application, users can select a source image, define roll-forward times using database logs, choose a host, and customize mount modes and ESX host mappings if using VMware VMs.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eRefreshing an existing virtual application requires selecting a source image, specifying roll-forward times if needed, choosing the application's host, and then submitting the workflow.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eFor non-database applications, users can select a source image and a host, and are provided mount mode options and ESX host mappings when using VMware VMs.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Run direct mount Backup and DR Workflows\n\nThe options you see when running an on-demand or scheduled direct mount\nBackup and DR Workflow depend on your application type.\n\n- [Database applications](#database)\n- [All other applications](#All)\n\n| **Note:** Management console users, when assigned with **Workflow Refresh** rights but not with **Workflow Run** or **Workflow Manage** rights, can only refresh the existing virtual application and cannot run, edit, delete, or disable the workflow.\n\nDatabase applications\n---------------------\n\nFor database type applications, the direct mount on-demand run workflow\npage provides the following options for selection:\n\n- **Provision New Virtual Application**: Select this option if you want to create a new virtual application or database on a different server. You can also use this option to update or modify the options that were predefined in the Backup and DR Workflow, for example change the Backup and DR Workflow name.\n- **Refresh an Existing Virtual Application**: Select this option if you previously created a virtual application using this Backup and DR Workflow and now would like to refresh it, using a different point-in-time snapshot as the source.\n\n### Provision new virtual application\n\nIf you select **Provision New Virtual Application**, configure the new\napplication by completing the following:\n\n1. Click the **Source Image** drop-down, and select an image.\n2. If the source application is protected by a snapshot policy that has\n enabled database log backups, and logs are available with the image,\n you can use them to roll forward to a specific point in time by changing\n these options in the **Roll Forward Time** section:\n\n - The date field contains all possible dates that the database can be rolled forward to---through the application of database transaction logs. Select which date you want the database to be rolled forward to.\n - The time field contains a slider showing all possible times on the selected date that the database can be rolled forward to. If you select the latest possible date and then move the slider to the right most position, the job applies to all available logs. If you select the earliest possible date and move the slider to the left most position, the jobs apply no logs.\n - You can specify to roll forward using either **User Time** or **Host Time** . **User Time** is relative to the local time of the current user. **Host Time** is relative to the system that hosts the data to be mounted.\n3. From the **Host** drop-down, select the server on which to mount the image.\n\n4. Optionally, enable the **Map to All Cluster Nodes** option.\n You can see this option when one or more target hosts are a cluster node\n or a cluster host.\n\n5. You can see the following options only when one or more target hosts are\n VMware VMs:\n\n 1. For **Mount Mode**, select one of the following:\n\n - **NFS**: By default NFS mode is selected. Backup and DR presents the data as a VMDK in an NFS datastore mounted from the backup/recovery appliance.\n - **vRDM (virtual raw device mapping)**: VMware snapshots treat mounted vRDMs as independent and are not included in snapshots. Because of this, by default, Backup and DR does not include vRDMs when protecting a mounted VM. Backup and DR does provide an option where you can mark vRDMs as dependent. Although rarely used, when this option is enabled, vRDMs will be included in VMware snapshots. Backup templates can capture vRDMs marked as dependent. Note that this mount mode needs the ESXi host to have an iSCSI initiator, which by default is not enabled in Google Cloud Google Cloud VMware Engine.\n - **pRDM (physical raw device mapping)**: For file-level restore operations, select this mode. Note that this mount mode needs the ESXi host to have an iSCSI initiator, which by default is not enabled in Google Cloud Google Cloud VMware Engine.\n 2. From **Map to ESX Hosts** , select one of the following options. You can\n see the **Map to ESX Hosts** option only when you have selected vRDM or\n pRDM in the **Mount Mode** field.\n\n - **One** : Select **One** if you want to map only to the ESX host running the target VM.\n - **Two** : Select **Two** if you want to map to two ESX hosts, but not all ESX hosts in the cluster. On selecting **Two** , you are given the option to choose the second host, or choose **Auto-select**. Auto-select choose the second host based on logical pairs of ESX hosts and can always select the partner ESX host for the one running the target VM.\n - **All** : Select **All** if you want to map to all the ESX hosts present in the cluster. Note that selecting **All** may increase the duration for the job.\n6. Enable the **Create New Virtual Application** option and configure\n the new database. The options shown can vary depending on database types.\n\n7. Click **Done** to run the Backup and DR Workflow.\n\n### Refresh an existing virtual application\n\nIf you select **Refresh** an existing virtual application:\n\n1. From the **Source Image** drop-down, select an image to mount.\n2. If the source application is protected by a snapshot policy that has\n enabled database log backups, and logs are available with the image,\n you can use them to roll forward to a specific point in time by changing\n these options in the **Roll Forward Time** section:\n\n - The date field contains all possible dates that the database can be rolled forward to---through the application of database transaction logs. Select which date you want the database to be rolled forward to.\n - The time field contains a slider showing all possible times on the selected date that the database can be rolled forward to. If you select the latest possible date and then move the slider to the right most position, the job applies to all available logs. If you select the earliest possible date and move the slider to the left most position, the job can apply no logs.\n - You can specify to roll forward using either **User Time** or **Host Time** . **User Time** is relative to the local time of the current user. **Host Time** is relative to the system that hosts the data to be mounted.\n3. From the **Host** drop-down, select the server where the application\n is mounted.\n\n4. Select the application to refresh.\n\n5. Click **Submit** to refresh the Backup and DR Workflow.\n\nAll other applications\n----------------------\n\nFor all other applications, the **On Demand Run Workflow** page can\nshow the Backup and DR Workflow details.\n\n1. From the **Source Image** drop-down, select an image to mount.\n2. From the **Host** drop-down, select the server on which to mount the image.\n3. Optionally, enable the **Map to All Cluster Nodes** option. You can see this option when one or more target hosts are a cluster node or a cluster host.\n4. You will see the following options only when one or more target hosts are\n VMware VMs:\n\n 1. For **Mount Mode**, select one of the following:\n\n - **NFS**: By default NFS mode is selected. Backup and DR can present the data as a VMDK in an NFS datastore mounted from the backup/recovery appliance.\n - **vRDM (virtual raw device mapping)**: VMware snapshots treat mounted vRDMs as independent and are not included in snapshots. Because of this, by default, Backup and DR does not include vRDMs when protecting a mounted VM. Backup and DR does provide an option where you can mark vRDMs as dependent. Although rarely used, when this option is enabled, vRDMs are included in VMware snapshots. Backup templates can capture vRDMs marked as dependent. Note that this mount mode needs the ESXi host to have an iSCSI initiator, which by default is not enabled in Google Cloud VMware Engine.\n - **pRDM (physical raw device mapping)**: For file-level restore operations, select this mode. Note that this mount mode needs the ESXi host to have an iSCSI initiator, which by default is not enabled in Google Cloud VMware Engine.\n 2. From **Map to ESX Hosts** , select one of the following options. You can\n see the **Map to ESX Hosts** option only when you have selected vRDM or\n pRDM in the **Mount Mode** field.\n\n - **One** : Select **One** if you want to map only to the ESX host running the target VM.\n - **Two** : Select **Two** if you want to map to two ESX hosts, but not all ESX hosts in the cluster. On selecting **Two** , you are given the option to choose the second host, or choose **Auto-select**. Auto-select choose the second host based on logical pairs of ESX hosts and can always select the partner ESX host for the one running the target VM.\n - **All** : Select **All** if you want to map to all the ESX hosts present in the cluster. Note that selecting **All** may increase the duration for the job.\n5. Click **Submit** to run the Backup and DR Workflow."]]