2.0 Basic Workflow for Workload Protection and Recovery

PlateSpin Protect defines the following workflow for workload protection and recovery. Most of these steps are represented by workload commands on the Workloads page. See Workload Protection and Recovery Commands.

Table 2-1 Protection and Recovery Lifecycle

Task	Action	Remarks
Preparation Ensure that your workloads, containers, and environment meet the required criteria.
	Ensure that PlateSpin Protect supports your workload.	See Supported Configurations.
	Ensure that your workloads and VM containers meet access and network prerequisites.	See Access and Communication Requirements across Your Protection Network.
Inventory Workloads that you want to protect and containers that host failover workloads must be properly inventoried. You can add workloads and containers in any order; however, every protection contract requires a defined workload and container that were inventoried by the PlateSpin Server.
	Add target containers to the PlateSpin Server.	See Adding Containers (Protection Targets).
	Add source workloads to the PlateSpin Server.	See Adding Workloads (Protection Sources).
	For a physical protection target, prepare device drivers.	See Section 11.0, Preparing Device Drivers for Physical Failback Targets.
	For a Linux workload, prepare for workload protection:	See Section 12.0, Preparing Linux Workloads for Protection.
	For Windows Server Cluster workloads, prepare for cluster workload protection.	See Section 13.0, Preparing for Windows Clusters Protection.
Define Protection Contract
	Define the details and specifications of a protection contract.	See Configuring Protection Details and Preparing the Replication.
	Prepare the replication.
Initiate Protection
	Begin the protection contract according to your requirements.	See Starting the Workload Protection.
Protection Lifecycle Tasks (Optional) These steps are outside the automated replication schedule but are often useful in different situations or might be dictated by your business continuity strategy.
	Manual incremental. You can run an incremental replication manually, outside the workload protection contract.	Select the workload, then click Run Incremental.
	Testing. You can test failover functionality in a controlled manner and environment.	See Using the Test Failover Feature.
Failover
	This step carries out a failover of your protected workload to its replica running in your VM container.	See Failover.
Failback
	This step corresponds to the business resumption phase after you have addressed any problems with your production workload.	See Failback.
Reprotection
	This step enables you to redefine the original protection contract for your workload.	See Reprotecting a Workload. A Reprotect command becomes available after a successful failback.