ZertoTools for Windows is required for protecting VMs running Windows operating system in VMware, while AWS is the recovery site platform. The tool enables the following:
It is recommended to install ZertoTools before VPG creation. This ensures that all checkpoints are valid when failing over.
When failing over machines with Windows 2012, 2012R2 and 2016 that are Domain Controllers, the Windows Citrix PV drivers need to be downloaded manually on the protected machines.
To download and install Windows PV drivers:
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Windows ENA (Elastic Network Adapter) Drivers |
For Windows 2008R2 and Windows 2012, Windows ENA (Elastic Network Adapter) drivers and NVMe driver are downloaded on the protected virtual machine. ZertoTools installs these drivers on the protected virtual machine and executes the below command:
start rundll32.exe sppnp.dll,Sysprep_Generalize_Pnp -wait
This command removes computer-specific information for the drivers. When recovering to C5/M5, the instance will boot on AWS and install all the drivers again.
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If these drivers are installed on a VM running Windows 2012, Windows 2012R2, Windows 2016 and Windows 2019, the other AWS import methods will fail. To overcome this, you must uninstall the drivers before using the other AWS import methods. |
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C5/M5 instance types are supported with the Zerto Import for All Volumes import method only. |
AWS PV Driver
When an instance is created in AWS or when performing Failover using the Zerto Import for Data Volumes and AWS Import methods, by default, Amazon will install the latest version of the AWS PV driver.
When using the Zerto Import for All Volumes import method, only the AWS PV driver version 7.4.6 is supported when failing back from AWS to vSphere. ZertoTools installs AWS PV driver version 7.4.6 by default. You can install ZertoTools with the latest AWS PV driver manually but you will be required to downgrade the AWS PV driver before performing Failback to vSphere.
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AWS PV driver is not installed when recovering to C5/M5 instance types. |
To execute the ZertoTools script:
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Login to myZerto to access ZertoTools from myZerto > Support & Downloads > Tools > ZertoTools for Windows |
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Extract the zip file and copy the Zerto Tools.bat to each protected Windows virtual machine in VMware. |
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Execute the batch files with one of the following arguments: |
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-d
(default): ZertoTools will automatically install AWS PV driver version 7.4.6 upon failover to AWS. |
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-l (latest): ZertoTools will install the latest version of the AWS PV driver on the instance using the Zerto Import for All Volumes import method. The latest version tested by Zerto is AWS PV driver version 8.3.1. Before failback from AWS to vSphere, you will need to downgrade the AWS PV driver. For more information on the Downgrade Script, see Downgrade Script. (For instances using Zerto Import for Data Volumes and AWS Import methods, the latest AWS PV driver will be installed by Amazon). |
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-q (quiet mode): Install ZertoTools without any prompt. The default for prompt will be Yes. This argument is relevant only when recovering to C5/M5 instance types with Windows 2008R2 and Windows 2012. |
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-v: Verify that all required components are downloaded and your machine is ready for failover. |
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-u: Uninstall ZertoTools. |
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Important:
When recovering to C5/M5 instances, ZertoTools for Windows can be executed with either -d or -l arguments.
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Wait a few minutes and verify you get the following message: Process successfully finished. |
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Important:
If you receive an error message, DO NOT perform failover.
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The script downloads the drivers and installs them upon failover on the AWS machine. If the download of these drivers fails, manually download them from the following links: |
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If you need to download the drivers manually, the zip file name of each driver should not be changed. |
ZertoTools will also backup the VMtools to ensure re-IP works upon Failback to the protected VMware site.
When running ZertoTools, note the following:
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A folder named ZertoTools is created on C:/ProgramData folder. |
This folder must not be deleted.
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Upon failover to AWS, the AWS PV driver update may force reboot of the recovered instances in AWS. |
Downgrade Script
If you decide to install the latest AWS PV driver, you will need to downgrade it before failing back to vSphere.
To execute the downgrade script:
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Login to the protected AWS instance and locate the AWS PV driver version. |
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Backup the AWS instance on which you're going to downgrade the AWS PV driver. |
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Copy the entire directory from myZerto > Support & Downloads > Tools > Downgrade Script to the AWS protected instance. |
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Execute the batch file (not the MSI file). |
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Important:
Your AWS machine may need to reboot a few times upon execution of the batch files.
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After a few minutes, connect to the AWS instance and verify that the AWS PV driver is version 7.4.6. |
If you installed ZertoTools after VPG creation, wait for the next checkpoint to be created before performing failover.