Forum Discussion

pmevalenzuela's avatar
pmevalenzuela
Level 5
11 years ago

Backup Exec 2014 - Agent for Windows

Hi,

I got four (4) servers

Server 1 = AD

Server 2 = MS SQL

Server 3 = MS SQL

Server 4 = MS SQL

 

I have 2x Agent for Windows & 2x Agent for Application and Database

 

This is my distribution of the Agents:

 

Server 1 (AD) = Agent for Windows

Server 2 (MS SQL) = Agent for Windows

Server 3 (MS SQL) = Agent for SQL

Server 4 (MS SQL) = Agent for SQL

 

 

Question:

1. How can you control what licenses are applied to each server.

2. When I add servers it automatically install Agent for Windows...

3. How can you view what Agents are installed per server

 

 

Thanks,

Paul

 

 

 

 

 

2014
Agents
Backing Up
Backup and Recovery
Backup Exec
Windows Server (2003-2008)
  • pkh's avatar
    pkh
    11 years ago
    Q1. Yes Q2. Yes, but do not backup the SQL databases. Otherwise, you would be violating the Agent for Applications and Databases license. Q3. If you don't need to restore individual AD objects you just need an AWS license to backup the system state of the DC which contains AD. The term "agent" had been a source of confusion for users. There is only one physical remote agent to load on a remote server. This physical agent contains the capability to backup everything. The capability to backup a certain application/database is also called an agent and this capability is unlocked in the physical remote agent when you install the appropriate agent license on the media server
  • pkh's avatar
    pkh
    Moderator
    11 years ago

    There is only one physical agent to install on a remote server.  It has all the agent capabilities built into it.  These are activated when you install an agent licence on the media server and this gets complicated starting with BE 2012 when all the agent licences are combined into one monolithic Agent for Applications and Databases licences.

    So when you install 1 Agent for Applications and Databases licence on the media server, all the agents are unlocked on all the servers.  It is up to you to manage the number of Agent for Applications and Databases licences to ensure compliance.  You need one Agent for Applications and Databases licence per application per server.  The control of which server gets which licence is manual.

    In your case, if you just have your current set of licences, you would be in violation if you backup the SQL instances on all your servers.  You would need one more Agent for Applications and Databases licence.  Either that, or you do not backup the SQL database on one of the servers.

  • pmevalenzuela's avatar
    pmevalenzuela
    Level 5
    11 years ago

    Hi, pkh,

     

    Can I control the what license will be assigned to a server?

    My scenario is I only have 2 Agent for Application and Database.

    But there are four (4) servers. If strictly speaking all these servers need Agent for Application and Database.

     

    By the way pkh, if we disable GRT as I understand we don't staging space anymore ?

     

     

    Thanks,

    Paul

     

     

     

  • pkh's avatar
    pkh
    Moderator
    11 years ago

    For AD, depending on your needs, you may not need an Agent for Applications and Databases licence.  See my article below

    https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/articles/how-backup-ad-and-what-licences-do-i-need

    There is no GRT to disable since you are using physical machines.

  • pmevalenzuela's avatar
    pmevalenzuela
    Level 5
    11 years ago

    Hi. pkh,

     

    Thanks again for the insight.

     

    For servers with Agent for Windows. I plan just to a full backup of the physical machines. As I understand everything will be backup including all applications and files.

    I don't plan to a do SQL DB level backup.

     

    If  my licenses for application and database is lacking, will BE 2014 prevent me from running backups eventhough I have Licenses for Agent for Windows on that server.

     

    Thanks,

    Paul

  • pkh's avatar
    pkh
    Moderator
    11 years ago
    No. For SQL, the .mdf and .ldf files would automatically be excluded from any backup by AFE. You would not be prevented from doing your backups but you might get a warning message about the lack of a license
  • pmevalenzuela's avatar
    pmevalenzuela
    Level 5
    11 years ago

    Even if I do Full backup I cannot backup the .mdf & .ldf files ?

    What is AFE ?

     

    Thanks,

    Paul

  • pmevalenzuela's avatar
    pmevalenzuela
    Level 5
    11 years ago

    Hi, pkh,

     

    last question.

     

    Since, I have agent for application and database I will be able to backup the SQL files eventhough I'm lacking licenses for Agent for Applicaion and Database on the two (2) servers.

     

    You mentioned, for AD I can just use Agent for Windows license if I don't need granular restore.

     

    Before, wasn't there a separate Agent for Windows and Agent for Application and database?

     

    Now in BE2014, one agent for all features ? If I got this right ?

     

     

    Thanks,

    Paul

  • CraigV's avatar
    CraigV
    Moderator
    11 years ago

    ...the 2 types of licenses (application and Remote Server) have always been separate.

    As explained, once loaded on the media server, it allows the media server to see the respective application on the remote server through the RAWS agent.

    If you have 2 servers with databases on, you'd need 2 x Agent for Applications and Databases installed on the media server to be compliant.

    Thanks!

  • pkh's avatar
    pkh
    Moderator
    11 years ago
    No. Yes Yes. From BE 2012 onwards. Before that, there is no Agent for Applications and Databases license. Each agent has its own license Yes. All the agents use the Agent for Applications and Databases license