VMWare SRM “Like” Options for SCVMM Hyper-V
In a Microsoft Hyper-V environment
managed by System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM), there isn't a
direct one-to-one equivalent of VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM), but
similar functionality can be achieved through a combination of Microsoft tools
and features:
Comparable MS Integrated Solutions to VMware SRM in
SCVMM/Hyper-V:
1.
Azure Site Recovery (ASR)
- Closest equivalent to SRM for Hyper-V/SCVMM environments.
- Provides orchestration, automation, and replication
for disaster recovery (DR) scenarios.
- Supports planned failover, unplanned failover,
and test failover, just like SRM.
- Integrates with SCVMM to replicate VMs between
on-premises sites or to Azure.
- Supports Hyper-V clusters, CSVs, and SCVMM clouds.
2.
SCVMM + Hyper-V Replica (Manual DR Orchestration)
- Hyper-V Replica
allows asynchronous VM replication between two Hyper-V hosts/sites.
- Can be managed and monitored in SCVMM, but lacks
the full orchestration and automation of SRM.
- Requires manual scripting or orchestration
(e.g., PowerShell, Orchestrator, or Azure Automation) for failover plans
and testing.
- Suitable for smaller environments or less complex DR
requirements.
3.
System Center Orchestrator
- Can be used with SCVMM and Hyper-V Replica to build
custom DR workflows.
- Allows automation of failover sequences, dependency
handling, IP address changes, etc.
- Adds orchestration layer but still lacks the simplicity
and GUI-driven DR planning of SRM.
Summary Comparison Table
|
Feature
|
VMware
SRM
|
Azure
Site Recovery (ASR)
|
Hyper-V
Replica + SCVMM
|
|
DR Orchestration
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No (manual/custom)
|
|
GUI Failover Planning
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Test Failover
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Manual
|
|
Replication Type
|
Array-based or vSphere
|
Host-based (Hyper-V or Azure)
|
Host-based (Hyper-V)
|
|
Integration with SCVMM
|
N/A
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Automation/Customization
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes (with Orchestrator)
|
|
Failback Support
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Manual
|
Organization
is managing an on-premises Hyper-V environment with
SCVMM, and they want automated disaster recovery
between:
- Two
on-premises datacenters (Site A → Site B), or
- On-premises
to Azure (Site A → Azure
region)
On-Premises Datacenter (Site A)
│
├── Hyper-V Hosts (Clustered or Standalone)
│ └── Production VMs
│
├── System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM)
│
├── ASR Provider installed on SCVMM server
│
├── Configuration Server (or Azure Site Recovery Unified Setup)
│ └── Handles replication, orchestration, monitoring
│
└── Internet or ExpressRoute connection to Azure
Azure Recovery Services Vault (in target Azure region)
│
├── Replica storage (Azure Storage)
├── Target virtual network
└── Automation and orchestration via ASR
On-Premises:
- SCVMM
2016 or later
- Hyper-V
2016 or later
- At least
one Recovery Services Vault in
Azure
- An Azure subscription
- Internet
access (or ExpressRoute) from SCVMM & hosts to Azure
- Optional:
Active Directory sync or AAD DS for seamless identity post-failover
Agents/Software:
- Install Azure Site Recovery Provider
on SCVMM server
- Register
SCVMM with the Azure Recovery Services Vault
- Install Mobility service on each
Hyper-V VM (can be pushed via SCVMM or Config Server)
1. Create a Recovery Services Vault in Azure
- Use Azure
Portal > Recovery Services Vault > Create
- Choose
region (this is where replicated VMs will go)
2. Prepare SCVMM and Register with Vault
- Download
the ASR Provider from Azure
Vault
- Install it
on the SCVMM server
- Register
SCVMM with the Vault using generated key
3. Configure Replication Settings
- Define clouds, storage accounts, and target networks in Azure
- Map on-prem VM networks → Azure VNet
4. Enable Replication for VMs
- In SCVMM
or Azure Portal, select VMs or VM groups
- Define
replication policy (RPO, retention, app-consistent snapshots)
- ASR
installs the Mobility agent if not present
5. Create Recovery Plans (like SRM runbooks)
- Define failover groups (VM order,
scripts, pause steps)
- Set boot
order, post-failover scripts, etc.
6. Test Failover
- Run a test failover to isolated
Azure network
- Validate
connectivity, application functionality
7. Plan Failover/Failback
- Initiate
planned/unplanned failover from Azure Portal
- After
restoration, failback can be automated or manual depending on
configuration
|
Feature
|
Azure Site
Recovery
|
VMware SRM
|
|
Cloud DR Target
|
Azure (built-in)
|
vSphere or cloud with add-ons
|
|
Built-in Monitoring
|
Yes (Azure Monitor, Log Analytics)
|
Yes (vCenter, SRM plugin)
|
|
Cost Model
|
Pay-as-you-go (DR as a service)
|
Licensing + infra cost
|
|
Scriptable Recovery Plans
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
- Ensure TLS 1.2+ on all servers
- Monitor
with Azure Security Center
- Use RBAC to limit access to DR
management
- Enable MFA on all Azure
operations
Zerto can be used instead of
Azure Site Recovery (ASR) or VMware SRM, and it's actually a very popular
alternative — particularly for environments that require:
- Cross-hypervisor DR (e.g.,
Hyper-V ↔ VMware)
- Simplified, low RPO/RTO replication
- DR between on-prem datacenters, cloud, or
hybrid
- Continuous data protection (CDP)
with journal-based recovery
Zerto
supports:
- Hyper-V 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022
- SCVMM-managed or standalone Hyper-V
- Replication between Hyper-V → Hyper-V,
Hyper-V → VMware, or Hyper-V → Azure/AWS
Zerto
installs Zerto Virtual Replication Appliances (VRAs)
on each Hyper-V host and a Zerto Virtual Manager (ZVM),
which integrates with SCVMM.
|
Feature
|
Zerto
|
VMware SRM
|
Azure Site
Recovery (ASR)
|
|
Hyper-V Support
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Cross-hypervisor replication
|
Yes (e.g., Hyper-V → VMware)
|
No
|
No
|
|
RPO
|
Seconds (CDP)
|
Minutes (Snapshot based)
|
Minutes (depends on policy)
|
|
RTO
|
Minutes
|
Minutes
|
Minutes to hours
|
|
Orchestration
|
Yes (boot order, scripting)
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Failover Testing
|
Yes (non-disruptive)
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Journal-based rollback
|
Yes (seconds to 30 days)
|
No
|
Limited
|
|
Licensing
|
Zerto subscription or term
|
VMware SRM + vSphere Rep.
|
Azure pay-as-you-go
|
Site A (Primary Hyper-V)
│
├── Hyper-V Hosts with VRAs
│
├── SCVMM (optional)
│
└── Zerto Virtual Manager (ZVM)
└── Manages VPGs, orchestration, journal, reporting
<-- Replication over WAN -->
Site B (Recovery Hyper-V, VMware, or Cloud)
│
├── Hyper-V Hosts with VRAs (or VMware or Azure/AWS)
│
└── ZVM Peer
- Create Virtual Protection Groups (VPGs)
— similar to SRM protection groups
- Set boot order, scripts, and IP reconfiguration
- Built-in
test failover, move, and failover buttons
- Journal-based
rollback: failover to any
point in time (within journal window, e.g., 7 days)
- No snapshot impact – near
real-time block-level replication
- Cross-platform flexibility
– even future migrations to/from VMware or cloud
- Superior granularity for
ransomware recovery (down to seconds)
- Non-disruptive testing –
run full DR test anytime
- Cost: Zerto is a
third-party solution and may cost more than ASR (especially if you're
already in Azure).
- Licensing: Requires
licensing per VM or host.
- Infrastructure: Requires
dedicated VRA and ZVM setup at both sites.
- Cross-platform DR flexibility
- RPOs of seconds
- Granular recovery (journal-based)
- Faster failover testing and orchestration
than ASR
- Cost Analysis needed fo budgets and
long-term viability
