StackZone AWS Backup Validator
Extension of the AWS Backup Feature
Ryan Ware
Last Update hace 2 años
The StackZone Backup Validator is a feature which extends the functionality of the StackZone AWS Backup feature - here we are just focussing on EC2 Instances though!
Before we continue, it's important to know about the Backup Feature we are referencing in this article. To read all about the StackZone AWS Backup Vault and how you can start adding EC2 and RDS Instances to your Backup Plans just by adding a tag, click here to read more.
Backup Validator
The goal of the StackZone Backup Validator is to provide assurance that your Amazon EC2 Instance Snapshots are in fact viable to be used as a launch target for creating a new Amazon EC2 Instance.
I'm sure we've all been there. We have Amazon EC2 Instances which are up 24/7, we create backups regularly - but we never try and launch from a Backup until something goes wrong! How do you know if your weekly or daily EC2 Snapshots will boot unless you test them?
That's the purpose of this feature extension. Following a successful Amazon EC2 Instance Snapshot, StackZone will automatically try to launch an EC2 Instance from the last created backup snapshot. If the Instance and System status provided by AWS comes back as "ok", we will log this and terminate the instance, as the validation task was successful.
If for any reason, these checks do not come back with an "ok", StackZone will not terminate your instance. It will be left in it's current state for you to manually perform any diagnostics you may want to do. This means you will then need to terminate the instance once your investigation is complete.
How to Enable Backup Validator
To enable the Backup Validator, we will need to head on over to Provisioning / Baseline Services in the AWS Dashboard within the StackZone Console
From here, choose AWS Backup and Restore.
You will see the ability to toggle on the AWS Backup Restore Validator at the bottom of the list. Once you have enabled edit mode, toggle this on and press Save Settings to enable this feature.
EC2 Instance Status Checks
The Amazon EC2 Instance Status Checks which the StackZone Backup Validator reads can be seen below - they are provided from AWS and their descriptions as provided by AWS can be found below. This is how the StackZone Backup Validator is able to work out if the instance launched with or without issues.
System Status Check:
This check verifies that your instance is reachable. Amazon EC2 tests that network packets can get to your instance.
If this check fails, there might be an issue with the infrastructure that is hosting your instance (such as AWS power, networking, or software systems). You can restart or replace the instance, wait for Amazon EC2’s systems to resolve the issue, or seek technical support.
This check does not validate that your operating system and applications are accepting traffic.
Instance Status Check:
This check verifies that your instance's operating system is accepting traffic.
If instance reachability fails, try one of the following to resolve it:
- Reboot the instance.
- Terminate the instance and launch a replacement.
- Get instance console output to diagnose why the instance is unreachable.
- Capture a screenshot of the unreachable instance, which provides visibility of the instance status, and allows for quicker troubleshooting.
- Connect to the instance’s serial console, which you can use to troubleshoot boot, network configuration, and other issues.
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