Change to an LRS (Locally Redundant Storage) Backup Vault

Azure recovery services vaults can use either Geo-Redundant Storage (GRS) or Locally-Redundant Storage (LRS). GRS replicates your backup data across multiple regions, so that it remains available in the event of a regional Azure outage. However, GRS storage is more expensive than LRS and may not be necessary in all cases.

In order to convert a Nerdio account from GRS to LRS, you need to perform the following steps:

• Disable Soft Delete on the Existing Vault

• Disable Backups for any VMs using the GRS Vault

• Create a new LRS Backup Vault

• Enable Backups for any VMs using the new LRS Vault

• Delete the GRS Vault

Disable Soft Delete on the Existing Vault

By default, Azure recovery services vaults retain data for 14 days in a "soft delete" state. If you wish to delete the GRS vault to save costs, you are unable to do so while it contains data in the soft delete state.

To disable soft delete on the existing vault:

1. In the Azure portal, search for Recovery Services vaults.

2. Select the vault you wish to work with.

3. On the blade on left side, select Properties.

   

4. On the Properties page, select Security Settings.

   

5. In the Soft Delete section, select Disabled and then select Save.

   Note: If you have already disabled backups on any existing VMs, you need to undelete the backups in the Azure vault to remove them from the Soft Delete status.

Disable Backups for any VMs using the GRS Vault

The next step is to disable backups for any VMs that are using the GRS vault.

To disable backups for VMs that are using the GRS vault:

1. In Nerdio Manager, at the Account level, navigate to Backup.

2. For every resource that is being backed up, from the action menu, select Disable backup.

   

Create a new LRS Backup Vault

The next step is to create a new LRS backup vault.

To create a new LRS backup vault:

1. At the Account level, navigate to Settings > Integrations.

2. In the Backup recovery vaults, policies and assignments tile, select Add vault.

   

3. Enter the following information:

   • Name: Type the name of the vault.

     Note: The name must be unique to the Azure subscription. Specify a name that has at least 2 but not more than 50 characters. The name must start with a letter and consist only of letters, numbers, and hyphens.

   • Resource Group: From the drop-down list, select the resource group where the vault should be created.

   • Region: From the drop-down list, select the region where the vault should be created.

     Note: The vault must be in the same region as the data source.

   • Replication Type: From the drop-down list, select locally-redundant.

4. Once you have entered all the desired information, select Save.

   Tip: You may need to create new backup policies for VMs and Azure Files using the new backup vault. SeeOverview of Backups for details.

Enable Backups for any VMs using the new LRS Vault

The next step is to enable backups for any VMs using the new LRS vault.

To enable backups for VMs using the new LRS vault:

1. In Nerdio Manager, at the Account level, navigate to Backup.

2. For every resource that you wish to backup using the new LRS vault, select Enable backup.

   

3. Select the backup policy that uses the new LRS vault.

Delete the GRS Vault

Once all VMs and servers have been moved to the new LRS vault, you can delete the GRS vault in Azure. If any backup items still exist in the Soft Delete state, you can undelete them in the backup vault, then remove them again. Once there are no items in Soft Delete, you can remove the vault.