Retrieving Data from Archive

Backups stored in archive repositories are not immediately accessible. If you want to restore an EC2 instance from a backup that is stored in archive repository, you must first retrieve the archived data. During the data retrieval process, a temporary copy of the archived data is created in an Amazon S3 bucket where the archive repository is located. This copy is stored in the S3 standard storage class for a period of time that you specify when launching the data retrieval process. If the time period expires while a restore operation is still running, Veeam Backup for AWS automatically extends the period to keep the retrieved data available for 1 more day. You can also extend the availability period manually.

Retrieving Data

To retrieve data from an archived restore point, complete the Retrieve Backup wizard:

  1. At the Retrieval Mode step of the wizard, choose the retrieval mode that Veeam Backup & Replication will use to retrieve the archived data:

Amazon does not support this option for data stored in the S3 Glacier Deep Archive storage class. For more information, see AWS Documentation.

  • Standard — the recommended mode. If you choose this option, the retrieved data will be available within 3–5 hours for data stored in the Amazon S3 Glacier storage class and within 12 hours for data stored in the Amazon S3 Glacier Deep Archive storage class.
  • Bulk — the least expensive mode. If you choose this option, the retrieved data will be available within 5–12 hours for data stored in the Amazon S3 Glacier storage class and within 48 hours for data stored in the Amazon S3 Glacier Deep Archive storage class.

For more information on archive retrieval options, see AWS Documentation.

  1. At the Availability Period step of the wizard, specify the number of days for which you want to keep the data available for restore operations.

The data will be available during the day when the retrieval process completes plus the specified number of days. Each day starts at 12 AM (UTC) and ends at 11:59 PM (UTC). For example, if the data retrieval finished at 3 PM (UTC), June 6, and the number of days is set to 1, the data will be available till 11:59 PM (UTC), June 7.

Important

If the time period expires while a restore operation is still running, the restore operation will fail. To work around the issue, you can instruct Veeam Backup & Replication to send an email notification when data is about to expire, and manually extend the availability period if required. To receive the notification, select the Send notification email check box and specify the number of hours before data expiration when the notification must be sent.

To learn how to configure global email notification settings, see the Veeam Backup & Replication User Guide, section Configuring Global Email Notification Settings.

  1. At the Summary step of the wizard, review summary information and click Finish.

After you complete the Retrieve Backup wizard, you will be able to proceed with the Restore to Amazon EC2 wizard. However, the restore process will start only when the data is retrieved.

The retrieved data will be displayed on the Home view under the Data Retrieval node.

Retrieve data from S3 Glacier

Extending Data Availability

To extend time for which you want to keep retrieved data available for restore operations:

  1. In the Veeam Backup & Replication console, open the Home view.
  2. Navigate to Data Retrieval node.
  3. Select an EC2 instance for which you want to extend availability of the retrieved data and click Extend Availability on the ribbon.

Alternatively, you can right-click the EC2 instance and click Extend availability.

  1. In the opened window, specify the number of days for which you want to keep the data available for restore operations, and click OK.

Extend data availability for S3 Glacier