Forum Discussion

Izauddin's avatar
Izauddin
Level 2
12 years ago
Solved

Backup Exec 2012 support for Windows 2012 server

Hi,

My customer recently purchase a new spanking hardware running Windows 2012 server, and since their environment are using BE for quite some time, opted to purchase the BE2012 for their new Win 2012 server without realising the BE2012 is not supported on Win2012 server.  Furthermore their new server is running Exchange 2013 for their mail server and at the moment are in full production mode, without proper backup plan since BE2012 is not supported on the W2012 server.

I have successfully installed a trail version in a Windows 2012 server using a custom install with sqlexpress 2008 R3, but haven't try the backup and recovery yet. Since the beta program has been closed, my question is when Win 2012 server will be supported and how to get it when it is available.

 

2012
Backup and Recovery
Backup Exec
Compatibility
Installing
Not Applicable
  • Siddhant_Saini's avatar
    Siddhant_Saini
    12 years ago

    I'd request you to refer to the following options supported by Backup Exec 2012 Service Pack 2: 

    • Protection of Windows Server 2012 servers using the Agent for Windows. This includes support for:
      • Microsoft data deduplication-enabled volumes (backs up and restores data in non-deduplicated data format)
      • New ReFS (Resilient File System)
      • Windows Recovery Volume (WinRE)
      • New Hyper-V version
      • Updated Failover Clustering (CSV)
      • Native 4K (Advanced Format) drives
      • Online restore of computer and system components
    • Updated protection of SQL to include:
      • SQL 2012 SP1
      • SQL 2008 R2 SP2
    • Protection of Exchange 2013 (Non-GRT only)
    • Support for Exchange 2010 SP3 (pending final release from Microsoft)
    • Protection of SharePoint Server 2013 (Non-GRT only)
    • Support for VMware vSphere 5.1
      • ESX 5.1 and vCenter 5.1

    Installation of Backup Exec 2012 (as a media server/Backup Exec Server) on a Windows Server 2012 is not supported. You would be able to perform a backup/restore of a Windows Server 2012 by installing a Remote Agent for Windows Servers(RAWS) on it. 

    Service Pack 2 for Backup Exec 2012 should be released by end of July 2013. 

  • Donald_Eady's avatar
    Donald_Eady
    12 years ago

    Unfortunately Izauddin as you've already discovered Windows 2012 as a media server is not supported at this time. In fact i don't believe that SQLExpress 2008 R3 is even supported. I'm glad to hear that you were able to get it installed and up and running but please be advised that Symantec has not yet tested this configuration and cannot assure that either backups and or restores will be successful. Again this configuration is unsupported and as such you will have a difficult time in getting assistance should some thing go wrong. 

     

    As for your question on a projected supportability for WS2012 as a media server, this cant really be answered. I can say that it is currently being looked into but there is no road map internally/publicly that declares a date or SP release that would provide this support. When support does become available It would be announced publicly and you would get it by downloading the update directly or via live update as in the past. 

  • Siddhant_Saini's avatar
    Siddhant_Saini
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    I'd request you to refer to the following options supported by Backup Exec 2012 Service Pack 2: 

    • Protection of Windows Server 2012 servers using the Agent for Windows. This includes support for:
      • Microsoft data deduplication-enabled volumes (backs up and restores data in non-deduplicated data format)
      • New ReFS (Resilient File System)
      • Windows Recovery Volume (WinRE)
      • New Hyper-V version
      • Updated Failover Clustering (CSV)
      • Native 4K (Advanced Format) drives
      • Online restore of computer and system components
    • Updated protection of SQL to include:
      • SQL 2012 SP1
      • SQL 2008 R2 SP2
    • Protection of Exchange 2013 (Non-GRT only)
    • Support for Exchange 2010 SP3 (pending final release from Microsoft)
    • Protection of SharePoint Server 2013 (Non-GRT only)
    • Support for VMware vSphere 5.1
      • ESX 5.1 and vCenter 5.1

    Installation of Backup Exec 2012 (as a media server/Backup Exec Server) on a Windows Server 2012 is not supported. You would be able to perform a backup/restore of a Windows Server 2012 by installing a Remote Agent for Windows Servers(RAWS) on it. 

    Service Pack 2 for Backup Exec 2012 should be released by end of July 2013. 

  • Donald_Eady's avatar
    Donald_Eady
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    Unfortunately Izauddin as you've already discovered Windows 2012 as a media server is not supported at this time. In fact i don't believe that SQLExpress 2008 R3 is even supported. I'm glad to hear that you were able to get it installed and up and running but please be advised that Symantec has not yet tested this configuration and cannot assure that either backups and or restores will be successful. Again this configuration is unsupported and as such you will have a difficult time in getting assistance should some thing go wrong. 

     

    As for your question on a projected supportability for WS2012 as a media server, this cant really be answered. I can say that it is currently being looked into but there is no road map internally/publicly that declares a date or SP release that would provide this support. When support does become available It would be announced publicly and you would get it by downloading the update directly or via live update as in the past. 

  • Izauddin's avatar
    Izauddin
    Level 2
    12 years ago

    Thank you guys for the answer. Basically there is no date yet for BE to be released as a media server on WS2012. I guess it is unfortunate for my customer since they are actually very old school in doing backup. They did not use remote agent for back for all their important server. They usually installed BE on a server for standalone backup for that particular server.

    And for this situation they actually bought 2 BE2012 to backup their WS2012+Exchange 2013 and another WS2012 server. Look like they have to changed how they doing backup.

  • MusSeth's avatar
    MusSeth
    Level 6
    12 years ago
    Subscribe to thread vSphere 5.1 Support Update on forums here as stated by sid in the above post that will support both win 2012 and esx 5.1...you will get the information on that thread for the release once posted.
  • MusSeth's avatar
    MusSeth
    Level 6
    12 years ago
    backup exec 2012 SP2 has been released you can get the link to download backup exec 2012 SP2 which supports windows server 2012 and vmware 5.1 from blog https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/blogs/backup-exec-servive-packs-generally-available With this patch You can backup windows server 2012 remotely with raws however installing backup exec 2012 on windows server 2012 is still not supported
  • Siddhant_Saini's avatar
    Siddhant_Saini
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    Izauddin, based on your situation, you could install Backup Exec 2012(with Service Pack 2) on a Windows Server 2008 R2 server and then perform a backup of both your Windows Server 2012 servers using Remote Agent for Windows (RAWS). 

    With the configuration you have, you might want to get the following licenses: 

    1. Backup Exec 2012 Server license: Quantity- 1 for the Backup Exec Server. 

    2. Remote Agent for Windows Servers (RAWS): Quantity- 2 for both the Windows Server 2012. 

    3. Agent for Application and Databases: Quantity -1 for backing up Exchange 2013(Non GRT) based on one of your Windows Server 2012 server. 

    Since you have already purchased the licenses for Backup Exec 2012, you might want to further check with your reseller or the licensing team if they could facilitate the exchange of licenses. 

    Note: You will have to first download and install Backup Exec 2012 Service Pack 2. Please use the following link for doing so: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH203155

  • CraigV's avatar
    CraigV
    Moderator
    12 years ago

    ...as per the post 9 hours ago, SP2 is officially out which supports Windows Server 2012...no need to install on Server 2008 R2 as a result of this.

    Thanks!

  • Siddhant_Saini's avatar
    Siddhant_Saini
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    Yes Craig, Backup Exec Service Pack 2 officially support Windows Server 2012; not as a Media Server. It supports it with RAWS installed on it. Backup Exec 2012 Service Pack 2 will still need to be installed on Windows Server 2008 R2 or which ever Operating System(for Media Server) is mentioned in the Software Compatibility List. 

  • CraigV's avatar
    CraigV
    Moderator
    12 years ago

    OK, and in future please post a link to the blog that you took the information from.

     

    Thanks!