Table of Contents
In Asigra Cloud Backup v14.1, the Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) Archiver consolidates obsolete, old, or overwritten file generations into space-optimized Archive Packages to reduce active online vault storage. Because archived data is compressed and packed, the local DS-Client service cannot read it directly. Restoring from a BLM archive is therefore a two-step process: first generate a client-readable BLM Restorable Image, then browse and extract the files through DS-User.
In short
- Obtain a Restorable Image — compile the archived packages into a single DS-Client-readable file (self-service in DS-NOC, or by request to your service provider).
- Extract in DS-User — point DS-Client at the image and run the BLM Restore Wizard to recover files to your target system.
Before you begin
- The BLM Module must be enabled for the DS-Client and registered with the DS-System side.
- You need either DS-NOC portal access with operator credentials (Method A) or the ability to request an image from your service provider (Method B).
- A clean local drive or verified UNC network path that the DS-Client service account can read and write.
Step 1: Obtain a BLM Restorable Image
Before restoring in DS-User, the raw archive packages must be processed into a restorable image. Use one of the two methods below.
Method A — Self-service via DS-NOC (recommended)
If the customer web portal is enabled and you have operator credentials, generate the image yourself:
- Log into your designated DS-NOC portal account.
- Confirm the target BLM Archiver is registered and active in the DS-NOC interface.
- Go to the Data section, locate the target backup set, and select Create Restorable Image.
- Verify the Restorable Image Save Path in DS-NOC is a valid, writable path on the BLM Archiver machine.
- Download the completed image file to a directory your local DS-Client computer can reach.
Method B — Request from your service provider or administrator
If DS-NOC is not deployed or you lack portal access, request the image from your provider:
- Contact your backup service provider or central database administrator directly.
- Provide your Customer Name, Account Number, DS-Client Number, and the exact backup set name.
- Specify the files, directories, and generations you need to recover.
- The administrator compiles the packages on the DS-System side and delivers the completed image (typically a secure download link or physical media). Place the file on a local or network path.
Step 2: Retrieve data via DS-User
Once you have the restorable image, place it in an accessible folder on the DS-Client machine or a network share, then follow these steps:
- Mount the image path. Store the image in a clean directory on a local drive or a verified UNC network path that the DS-Client service account can read and write.
- Open the BLM Restore menu. Launch DS-User, click the top-level Restore menu, and select BLM Restore.
- Configure the BLM restore path. In the dialog, click
>>next to Computer to select the target machine, then>>next to Directory to browse to the folder containing the image. Click OK. - Select items to recover. The Restore from BLM Wizard displays the archived directory tree. Check the files or folders you want, then click Next.
- Choose a destination. On the Select Restore Location page, specify your target (see the best-practice note below), then continue.
- Set overwrite and performance rules. On the Select Restore Options screen, configure permissions mappings (keep/skip ACLs), locked-file handling, and performance options such as maximum pending asynchronous I/O. Click Next.
- Verify and execute. Complete the restore survey, choose your Restore reason (and Restore classification if you're in a disaster-recovery drill period), then click Finish to start the extraction.
BLM restore vs. standard online restore
BLM restores behave differently from standard online restores. Review the parameters below to configure correctly and avoid common extraction failures.
| Technical parameter | BLM Archiver restore | Standard online restore |
|---|---|---|
| Primary source | Consolidated offline Archive Package — must first be compiled into a Restorable Image file. | Live, un-archived online storage vault on the secure off-site DS-System. |
| Prerequisites | BLM Module enabled for the DS-Client and registered with the DS-System side. | Active customer account and an active internet connection to DS-System. |
| Network load | Zero WAN bandwidth during extraction — all data is read locally from the restorable image. | Uses WAN/LAN bandwidth to stream files from the off-site vault to the client. |
| Generations | Limited to the specific generations compiled into the image by the administrator. | All active generations defined in the set's active retention rules. |
| Credentials | Prompts for network and database credentials if the original backup set is no longer on the DS-Client. | Uses the active backup set credentials or local system service credentials automatically. |
| Alternate restores | Original location is unavailable for some media types; Alternate Location must be mapped manually. | Original location is mapped by default; Alternate Location can be browsed on the LAN. |
Need help?
If DS-NOC self-service isn't available to you, or a restorable image is missing the files or generations you need, contact CyberFortress Support with your Customer Name, Account Number, DS-Client Number, and backup set name so we can compile the image for you.