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Cloud Backup:Get started with VMware backup and disaster recovery

Last Updated:Jan 22, 2026

Back up on-premises VMware virtual machines (VMs) and VMs deployed on Alibaba Cloud VMware Service (ACVS). Use Cloud Backup to create comprehensive backup and recovery plans for your VMware VMs.

On-premises VMware VMs

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  1. Activate Cloud Backup

    Activating Cloud Backup is free. However, you are charged for the Cloud Backup client that you use to back up VMware VMs and the storage usage of backup vaults. For more information, see Billing methods and billable items.

  2. Create a backup account

    Create a VMware username and password for Cloud Backup to access the vCenter Server and its resources.

  3. Create a disaster recovery gateway

    Create a disaster recovery gateway in the Cloud Backup console. A disaster recovery gateway helps you back up and restore data.

  4. Install and activate the gateway

    After you download the gateway and certificate, install and activate the gateway in your VMware environment. After activation, you can create backup and restore jobs in the Cloud Backup console.

  5. Add a vCenter server

    Add a vCenter server in the Cloud Backup console before backing up VMware VMs.

  6. Back up VMware VMs

    Create a backup plan in the Cloud Backup console by configuring the plan name, backup cycle, and retention period. Cloud Backup starts the plan and continuously backs up data from the selected VMware VMs.

  7. Restore VMware VMs

    If an exception occurs, create a restore job to restore the VMware VM to an on-premises server, an ECS instance, or the vCenter environment of ACVS.

ACVS

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  1. Activate Cloud Backup

    Activating Cloud Backup is free. However, you are charged for the Cloud Backup client that you use to back up VMware VMs and the storage usage of backup vaults. For more information, see Billing methods and billable items.

  2. Prepare a VMware environment

    Prepare a dedicated VMware environment. Obtain the username and address that are used to log on to the VMware management component, and configure a firewall between your virtual private cloud (VPC) and the dedicated VMware environment.

  3. Create a disaster recovery gateway

    Create a disaster recovery gateway in the Cloud Backup console. A disaster recovery gateway helps you back up and restore data.

  4. Install and activate the gateway

    After you download the gateway and certificate, install and activate the gateway in your VMware environment. After activation, you can create backup and restore jobs in the Cloud Backup console.

  5. Add a vCenter server

    Add a vCenter server in the Cloud Backup console before backing up VMware VMs.

  6. Back up VMware VMs

    Create a backup plan in the Cloud Backup console by configuring the plan name, backup cycle, and retention period. Cloud Backup starts the plan and continuously backs up data from the selected VMware VMs.

  7. Restore VMware VMs

    If an exception occurs, create a restore job to restore the VMware VM to an on-premises server, an ECS instance, or the vCenter environment of ACVS.