InfoQi

Scale Computing’s REST API can be used to manage various aspects of your HC3 cluster, including backing up VMs. While direct “backup” operations in the sense of exporting a full VM image are possible, a common approach for data protection and recovery in Scale Computing environments involves creating snapshots and potentially replicating them to another cluster or exporting them for off-site storage.

Here’s a general outline of how you might interact with the Scale Computing REST API for VM backup-related tasks, using Python as an example:

1. Authentication:

You need to authenticate with the HC3 cluster to access the API. This typically involves sending a POST request to the /rest/v1/login endpoint with your username and password to obtain an authentication token.

import requests
import json

cluster_ip = "YOUR_CLUSTER_IP"
username = "YOUR_USERNAME"
password = "YOUR_PASSWORD"

login_url = f"https://{cluster_ip}/rest/v1/login"
headers = {"Content-Type": "application/json", "Accept": "application/json"}
payload = {"username": username, "password": password}

try:
    response = requests.post(login_url, headers=headers, data=json.dumps(payload), verify=False) # verify=False for self-signed certs
    response.raise_for_status()
    auth_token = response.json()["token"]
    print(f"Authentication successful. Token: {auth_token}")
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
    print(f"Login failed: {e}")
    exit()

2. Creating a VM Snapshot:

Snapshots are a key component of backup and recovery on HC3. You can create a snapshot of a specific VM using the /rest/v1/VirDomain/{uuid}/snapshot endpoint.

vm_uuid = "YOUR_VM_UUID" # Get this from a VM listing or your environment
snapshot_url = f"https://{cluster_ip}/rest/v1/VirDomain/{vm_uuid}/snapshot"
headers["Authorization"] = f"Basic {auth_token}" # Assuming Basic auth with the token

try:
    response = requests.post(snapshot_url, headers=headers, verify=False)
    response.raise_for_status()
    print(f"Snapshot created successfully for VM {vm_uuid}.")
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
    print(f"Failed to create snapshot: {e}")

3. Exporting a VM (for full backup):

If you need a full VM image for off-site storage or migration, you can export a VM or a specific snapshot. The VirDomain/export endpoint is used for this purpose. You’ll need to specify a target location (e.g., SMB share) and potentially a definition file.

export_url = f"https://{cluster_ip}/rest/v1/VirDomain/{vm_uuid}/export"
export_payload = {
    "source": {
        "pathURI": "smb://YOUR_SMB_USER:YOUR_SMB_PASSWORD@YOUR_SMB_SERVER/YOUR_EXPORT_SHARE/",
        "definitionFileName": "my_vm_backup.xml"
    }
}

try:
    response = requests.post(export_url, headers=headers, data=json.dumps(export_payload), verify=False)
    response.raise_for_status()
    print(f"VM {vm_uuid} export initiated.")
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
    print(f"Failed to export VM: {e}")

Important Notes:

• Error Handling:Implement robust error handling in your code to manage API responses and potential network issues.
• Security:Handle authentication tokens securely. Avoid hardcoding credentials in production environments.
• API Documentation:Refer to the official Scale Computing REST API documentation for detailed information on available endpoints, parameters, and response formats.
• External Backup Solutions:For comprehensive backup and recovery, consider integrating with dedicated backup solutions like Veeam, which offer advanced features and support for Scale Computing platforms.