Replication Plan Testing using replicas instead of backups

[klwood2001]

Hey forum readers,

I'm hoping someone can help me out.

I have a traditional VRO deployment setup with the following:
1 Prod Site
1 DR site
2x vCenters (Not ELM)
vSAN storage at both sites
Exagrid Targets at both sites
Virtual Labs at both sites
vDS switches
VRO server in DR

Replication between sites has been super-fast and the same with backups. I have my recovery plans created with nothing special for rules. Just a standard plan. I have set up this exact same layout for another site and it worked perfectly.

Here is the issue with this site. When I kick off my DataLab test for DR, it works well. It spins up the replicas, passes the tests and all is well. When I do the same for Prod, instead of it doing instant recovery from backups for validation, it tries to spin up the replicas in DR. My other install didn't do this, so I'm thinking I missed a checkbox or a step along the way.

Does anyone have an idea on how to fix this or what I may have missed?

Thank for the help in advance.

[Alec King]

Hi @klwood2001 ,

I'm a little confused also In VRO, Replica plan versus Restore (from backups) plan are different plan types. And if you are testing a restore plan, it would not start a test using replicas...

Are these two types of protection used for the same VMs? Do you protect the same VMs with both replication and backup? (which is a good idea, to be clear!)

Because VRO is smart , if you run a plan test (or a full recovery) then VRO will find the relevant restore points in your environment, and use them.
(However - VRO will not use replicas if the plan is a restore type, and will not restore from backups if the plan is replica type)

So I am wondering if you created a plan of the wrong type. You can use any group of VMs in any plan, VRO is flexible that way. It will use a recovery method based on the plan type.

Is it possible you created another replica plan for these VMs, when you wanted to create a restore plan? That would explain why VRO starts replicas when you test the plan. VRO asks VBR for replicas of these VMs, VBR finds them and tells VRO which then tries to test them.

If you look at the title page of any VRO report, it will tell you what type of plan it is (Replica, CDP Replica, Restore...). You can also check the plan Properties; replica plans do not have a Recovery Location, and Restore plans do.
If your plan is a Replica type, then the mystery is solved! (unfortunately there is no way to change the type for an existing plan - you would have to recreate it)

Hope that helps!