To restore a failed vCSA from a file-based backup, you can use the vCSA GUI installer that will complete the process in the following two stages:

1. Deploy a new vCSA
2. Copy data from the file-based backup to the appliance

The file-based restore can be performed only if the backup has been previously taken from the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface. Alternatively, you can deploy a new vCSA and restore the data from the file-based backup using the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface.

A file-based restore of the PSC should be performed only when the last PSC installed in the domain fails. If a PSC fails, you must decommission the failed PSC first, redeploy a new one, and join the existing SSO domain. The multi-master model of the PSC will allow the replication to update the new PSC.

To restore a vCSA, proceed with the following steps:

1. From the vCSA media, run the vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 Installer and select the Restore option.
2. Stage 1 of the restore process is the deployment of a new vCSA to replace the failed appliance. Refer to Chapter 4, Deployment Workflow and Component Installation for the installation steps. When the deployment of the new vCSA is completed, the vCSA will run on the target ESXi, but the data copy process from the backup hasn't occurred yet.
3. After the completion of the deployment, you are automatically redirected to stage 2, which completes the restore process by copying the data from the backup location.
4. Click Next in the introduction page of the stage 2 installer to proceed with the restore.
5. Once you have reviewed the backup details, click Next to go to the final step. Click Finish then OK to complete stage 2. The vCSA will be restarted to complete the restore process.

If for any reason the restore process fails, power off, delete the partially recovered VM, and try again.