QuickDR for OCI Virtual Machines: Fast-Track Your Disaster Recovery with Full Stack DR

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) continues to simplify enterprise resilience with an exciting enhancement to its Full Stack Disaster Recovery (DR) service: introducing QuickDR for OCI Virtual Machines (VMs).

This feature brings automated, streamlined DR configuration right into the OCI Compute Console - transforming what used to be a complex, manual process into just a few guided clicks.

What is QuickDR?

OCI Full Stack DR orchestrates the movement of compute, database, and application resources across OCI regions during disaster recovery. Traditionally, protecting moving instances (VMs that run only in the primary region and start in the standby region during DR) required multiple manual steps:

• Creating and replicating volume groups

• Mapping VNICs and configuring network security groups (NSGs)

• Creating and associating DR protection groups

• Defining DR plans (switchover, failover, drill)

With QuickDR, OCI automates these tasks — drastically reducing complexity and time to protection.

How QuickDR Works

From the OCI Console under the Compute section, users can now activate QuickDR and choose between two powerful options:

✅ Set up a new DR Configuration

• Creates new DR protection groups and object storage buckets across primary and standby regions

• Configures volume groups and replication for boot and block volumes

• Generates DR plans: switchover, failover, and start drill

• Allows optional use of existing networking resources or automatically creates new VCNs and subnets

🔄 Update an existing DR Configuration

• Adds new VMs to an existing DR protection group

• Updates DR plans accordingly

• Prompts you to refresh and verify plans after changes, ensuring readiness

🧪 Built for Pilot Light (Cold VM) DR Topology

QuickDR focuses on cost-effective protection of workloads that don’t need always-on standby compute. Under this Pilot Light model:

• VMs run only in the primary region under normal conditions

• During DR, VMs are started (or moved) in the standby region

• Only storage and networking remain ready in the standby region, cutting ongoing costs

✅ End-to-End Automation

QuickDR automatically:

• Creates and manages DR protection groups and volume groups

• Sets up and replicates required storage

• Builds DR plans and ensures they’re ready to execute

It can even auto-create VCNs and subnets in the standby region, mirroring the primary environment.

🧭 Use Cases and Benefits

• Faster DR onboarding for new VMs or workloads

• Lower operational complexity and reduced risk of configuration errors

• Cost-effective DR for applications that don’t require hot standby

• Integrated experience directly from the OCI Compute Console

📌 Key Note

Currently, QuickDR supports cold VM DR topology, where instances move during DR events. Standby compute instances aren’t kept running, making it ideal for DR planning that balances cost and recovery objectives.

📖 Explore the Feature

Ready to see it in action? Dive into Oracle’s step-by-step tutorial and architecture overview here:
👉 QuickDR for OCI Virtual Machines

🙏 Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Suraj Ramesh, Product Manager for OCI Full Stack DR, for authoring the official tutorial and sharing deep insights that helped shape this summary.

In summary: QuickDR for OCI VMs brings agility and simplicity to disaster recovery on Oracle Cloud -  so your teams can spend less time configuring and more time building resilient systems.