Registering an agent as an existing device

If an agent is removed from a server or is not working correctly, you can reinstall or repair the agent and register it as the existing device in the Management Console. After this re-registration, backups continue without requiring a new "seed" backup, and you can recover data from previous backups.

Note: The first backup after re-registration could take longer than expected while the agent reads device data.

Note: If you register an agent as an existing device, but the agent is installed on a server that differs significantly from the original one, a large amount of data will be backed up during the first backup after re-registration.

To register an agent as an existing device, you must obtain a re-registration code for the device from the Management Console. You can enter this code when installing a new agent or repairing an existing agent to register the agent as the existing device. See Installing an agent and registering it as an existing device or Repairing an agent and registering it as an existing device.

You can only register an agent as a device that is offline and is not scheduled for deletion or expired in the Management Console. You cannot register an agent as a device that is online, scheduled for deletion, or expired.

Installing an agent and registering it as an existing device

To install an agent and register it as an existing device:

In the Management Console, do the following to obtain a re-registration code for the device:
1. In the navigation pane, go to Server Backup > Devices.
2. (Optional) Click the name of the site with the device for re-registering an agent. If you are using Business view in the Management Console, you do not have to click a site name.
3. Click the name of the device for re-registering an agent.
4. On the device details page, click Agent Commands > Re-register Device.
  Note: This command is only available for a device that is Offline and is not Scheduled for Deletion or Expired.
5. On the Agent Command: Re-register Device page, click Generate Code.
6. Click Copy to copy the re-registration code. Keep the code somewhere safe. You must enter the code to register an agent as the existing device, and cannot view the code in the Management Console after you close this page.
  Note: The re-registration code is valid for one hour, and can only be used to re-register one agent.
7. Click Close.
On the Window server that you want to register as an existing device, double-click the Windows Agent installation kit.
In the language list, click the language for the installer UI text, and then click OK.
If a message states that you must install required software, click Install.
On the Welcome page, click Next.
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.
On the Register Agent with the Management Console page, click Claim existing device registration, and then click Next.
Do the following:
- In the Re-registration code box, enter the code that you obtained in Step 1.
  
  IMPORTANT: Enter the re-registration code exactly as it appeared in the Management Console. The code is case-sensitive and must include all characters, including dashes.
- In the Agent password box, enter the original agent's password. The agent password is used for encrypting agent data.
Click Install.
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.
On the InstallShield Wizard Completed page, click Restart Server or Finish.

The agent obtains the policy of the original device. If the Run first backup after agent installation option is selected in the policy, a backup starts after the agent is installed.

Repairing an agent and registering it as an existing device

To repair an agent and register it as an existing device:

In the Management Console, do the following to obtain a re-registration code for the device:
1. In the navigation pane, go to Server Backup > Devices.
2. (Optional) Click the name of the site with the device for re-registering an agent. If you are using Business view in the Management Console, you do not have to click a site name.
3. Click the name of the device for re-registering an agent.
4. On the device details page, click Agent Commands > Re-register Device.
  Note: This command is only available for a device that is Offline and is not Scheduled for Deletion or Expired.
5. On the Agent Command: Re-register Device page, click Generate Code.
6. Click Copy to copy the re-registration code. Keep the code somewhere safe. You must enter the code to register an agent as the existing device, and cannot view the code in the Management Console after you close this page.
  Note: The re-registration code is valid for one hour, and can only be used to re-register one agent.
7. Click Close.
On the Windows server that you want to register as an existing device, double-click the agent installer.
On the Welcome page, click Next.
On the Program Maintenance page, click Repair, and then click Next.
On the Register Agent with the Management Console page, do the following.
- In the Re-registration code box, enter the code that you obtained in Step 1.
  
  IMPORTANT: Enter the re-registration code exactly as it appeared in the Management Console. The code is case-sensitive and must include all characters, including dashes.
- In the Agent password box, enter the original agent's password. The agent password is used for encrypting agent data.
Click Install.
Click Finish.