An isolated sandbox for rehearsing plans, based on a virtual lab in Veeam Backup & Replication. Orchestrator boots machines there, runs plan steps and application checks, then reports on the outcome.
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In the Ultra Transcenders books
Each book explains DataLab in context, with comparison tables and the common traps.
Terms in this definition
- virtual lab
A sandboxed environment that copies production networking while being kept separate from it. SureBackup, SureReplica, On-Demand Sandbox and staged restore all start their machines inside one.
- Orchestrator
Software, Kubernetes being an example, that looks after large numbers of containers throughout their life by scheduling, scaling, repairing and updating them.
- Agents (classic) API
First-generation Foundry Agent Service API, based on threads, messages and runs. It is deprecated, replaced by conversations and responses, and retires on 31 March 2027.
Related terms
- Check Networks
A plan step that keeps pinging a recovered machine and its network adapters until replies are steady or time runs out. It is used during failover, failback and DataLab testing.
- DataLab test
A rehearsal of a recovery plan inside a DataLab where machines really boot in isolation and steps and checks run; nothing is kept afterwards, and a DataLab Test Report is produced.
- default lab group
A lab group that an Administrator creates in a DataLab belonging to a scope other than the Default Scope. It comes preselected and boots ahead of other lab groups; Plan Authors and Plan Operators may test with it but cannot change it. Lab groups in Default Scope DataLabs do not count.
- Full restore to target storage
Used when restore plans are tested in a DataLab, this option adds a check on the recovery location itself: is it reachable, and does it have the capacity to run the machines? The quicker alternative relies on Instant VM Recovery alone.
- Generate Event
Adds an entry to the Orchestrator server's Windows event log; unless changed, the message reads "Plan %plan_name% is in state %plan_state%". In DataLab testing this step only runs if configured to, and whatever it logs then stays.
- Instant VM Recovery
A capability of Veeam Backup & Replication that boots a machine straight from backup files, shortening recovery time. Orchestrator relies on it for quick DataLab tests of restore plans and in any recovery location where it is switched on.
- lab group
A set of supporting machines, usually domain controllers and similar dependencies, booted in a DataLab so that plans under test have the services they rely on.
- Quick test
One of two DataLab options for restore plans (the other being a full restore to the target). It uses Instant VM Recovery to prove machines can be brought back, so it needs a location where that feature is turned on.