Downloading and installing the Windows Agent

You can download the Windows Agent installer from the Management Console and install it on each Windows server that you want to back up. Each server must meet the requirements listed in Windows Agent 26.1 supported platforms, requirements and recommendations.

When you install an agent, you must specify a password for encrypting the agent data. This password is required for recovering the data, so be sure to keep it somewhere safe. You can change the password any time without reseeding the backup data. See Changing an agent password.

For best backup performance, the server must be restarted after the agent is installed. The server can restart automatically after the installation process is complete, or you can restart the server later.

To download the Windows Agent installation kit:

  1. In the navigation pane, click Sites List. Click the name of the site for which you want to download the Windows Agent. On the site page, click the Server Backup tab.

    If you are using Business view in the Management Console, go to Server Backup > Settings.

    Note: If Server Backup is not set up for the site, you must set it up before you can download the agent. See Getting started in the Management Console.

  2. In the Install Server Backup Agent area, do the following:

    • Click Download Windows Agent (.exe).

    • Copy and record the site's keycode. You must enter this keycode when installing the agent. The agent can then contact the console and start backing up the device as specified by the site's storage location and policy.

To install the Windows Agent:

  1. On the Windows server that you want to back up, double-click the Windows Agent installation kit.

  2. In the language list, click the language for the installer UI text, and then click OK.

  3. If a message states that you must install required software, click Install.

  4. On the Welcome page, click Next.

  5. On the Destination Folder page, do one of the following:

    • To install the agent in the default location, click Next.

    • To install the agent in another location, click Change. In the Change Current Destination Folder dialog box, browse to the new installation folder, or enter it in the Folder name box. Click OK. On the Destination Folder page, click Next.

      IMPORTANT: Do not install the Server Backup agent in a Windows-encrypted directory.

  6. On the Register Agent with the Management Console page, click Register new device and then click Next.

  7. Do the following:

    1. In the Password and Confirm Password boxes, enter an agent password for encrypting and recovering agent data. The agent password must contain 20 to 64 characters, with at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one special character. The password can include ASCII characters only, with no spaces or angled brackets < >. The following special characters are allowed: !"#$%&'()*+,-./:;=?@[\]^_`{|}~

      IMPORTANT: This password is required for recovering the data, so be sure to keep it somewhere safe. If you forget your password, you will not be able to restore your data. The password is not maintained anywhere else and cannot be recovered.

    2. (Optional) To check whether the password meets the password requirements, click Test Password. A message indicates whether the password meets the requirements. Click OK.

    3. Click Next.

  8. On the Register Agent with the Management Console page, enter the keycode for the site. When the agent contacts the console, it will start backing up data as specified by the site's backup location and policy.

    If you did not record the keycode when you downloaded the agent software, click Sites List in the Management Console and then click the site name. The keycode appears on the site's Details tab and the Server Backup tab. If you are using Business view in the Management Console, go to Server Backup > Settings to view the keycode.

  9. Click Install.

  10. In the Server restart is recommended box, do one of the following:

    • To restart the server automatically immediately after the agent is installed, click Yes.

    • To restart the server manually later, click No.

    IMPORTANT: For best backup performance, the server must be restarted after the agent is installed.

  11. On the InstallShield Wizard Completed page, click Restart Server or Finish.

    After the agent is installed on the Windows server, the name of the server appears on the Server Backup > Devices page and you can manage the device and its backups. See Managing devices, backups and recoveries.