Physical backup: Veeam Endpoint Backup is replaced by Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows

    Back in the fall, we talked about plans to release an updated solution for backup physical machines running Windows . Well-known to many, Veeam Endpoint Backup FREE has evolved into Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows 2.0, and its beta version is now available for download. (You can find out how to get it at the end of the post.)

    If Veeam Endpoint Backup was intended for backup of user computers, then Veam Agent for Windows has expanded functionality for backup of corporate computers (workstations and servers). What new awaits you? For the answer, welcome to Cat.



    Firstly, key features will be included in all three editions, including FREE. Among them:

    • Windows 2016 Support
    • Source Side Encryption
    • Ability to configure schedules to create an active full backup

    In addition, there will be new recovery options using Veeam Backup 9.5 Free Edition - it will be possible to recover from a backup created by Veeam Agent for Windows, to a virtual machine running Microsoft Hyper-V (including its free version), or to the cloud Microsoft Azure The set of scripts that open in front of you is truly wide and diverse - this includes exporting the contents of the machine’s disk to the virtual disk format, restoring to the cloud, and restoring guest OS files. Naturally, all of them are supported in the commercial editions of Veeam Backup & Replication 9.5.



    Free edition


    Let us dwell in more detail on the new products for Veeam Agent for Windows 2.0 FREE Edition.
    To encrypt data that Veeam Agent performs on the source side, you need to select the appropriate option - this is the checkbox of Enable backup file encryption at the step of additional settings of the backup storage in the job wizard. Next, enter the password and a hint.



    Important! If you use Veeam Backup & Replication repository for storing backup copies, you will not be able to set encryption settings for backups created by Veeam Agent separately, since setting up a backup repository in this case is the prerogative of the Veeam Backup & Replication administrator.

    If you enable encryption for an existing job when editing its settings, then keep in mind that the next time you start Veeam Agent will create an active full backup and only then incremental backups to it. All of them will be encrypted with the specified password.

    Useful: If you accidentally lose or forget your password, you can set a new one in this dialog box. It will then be used when restoring backup chains from files (including those that were encrypted with the old password).

    About creating an active full backup and storing a chain of files, as well as about compression and deduplication settings, I will discuss in more detail in one of the following posts.

    Commercial editions of Workstation and Server



    To begin with, by purchasing a commercial license for the Workstation or Server edition, you can receive qualified technical assistance in 24x7x365 mode.
    In the server edition:

    • Scheduled tasks start automatically
    • implemented backup taking into account the operation of applications (including Microsoft Exchange, Active Directory, SQL Server, SharePoint, Oracle)
    • for database servers, backup of database logs is also supported, which allows for optimal RPO performance during recovery



    For those who travel often, but want to be sure of the data security on their laptop, a new feature of Backup Cache is offered . In the case when the main storage location for backups is temporarily unattainable, you can use it to save the incremental backup created according to the schedule to a local folder. Then, as soon as the main storage is again in the access zone (for example, when connected to the corporate network), the contents of this “backup cache” will be synchronized with the main storage location. In the console, already synchronized backups are marked with an icon with a cloud image with a “daw”:



    Note Cloud with arrows means that the data is in the process of synchronization; if the recovery point has no icon, then in this case it means that the backup is stored in the cache.

    But what about those who work from the home office or constantly traveling, without visiting the office? Or those who use public clouds outside the perimeter of the corporate network? For them, the commercial edition of Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows provides the ability to backup to the Veeam Cloud Connect cloud repository, which can function, for example, on the site of one of the Veeam service providers or mainly the data center of your organization.

    Well, “for dessert”: commercial editions will provide API for working with agents.

    • For the Server version, a full API will be available simultaneously with the Veeam Availability Console.
    • For the Workstation version, Veeam Agent Configurator is offered to export-import and configure the Veeam Agent for Windows license using the command line.

    Veeam Agent Configurator, in particular, allows you to export the agent configuration to an XML file, including settings for both the agent itself and the backup task, so that you can then use this file to automatically install and configure new agents. This can be done using any mechanism that works in your infrastructure, be it logon scripts, group policies, System Center Configuration Manager, etc.
    About the Veeam Availability Console, scheduled for release this year, I recommend watching this webinar (for now in English).

    Edition Comparison


    Comparison table for the most important and major features.
    DescriptionFREEWorkstationServer
    Recovery on VMs based on Microsoft Hyper-VYesYesYes
    Recovery in Microsoft AzureYesYesYes
    Source Side EncryptionYesYesYes
    Backup Cache SupportNotYesYes
    Automated Configuration APINotYesYes
    Application-specific processingNotNotYes
    Backing Up Database Transaction LogNotNotYes
    Indexing and searching guest OS filesNotNotYes
    Technical support 24x7x365NotYesYes

    A full comparison of the features will be prepared along with a set of documents for the release of the release version of Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows 2.0.

    How to determine which edition you need? It depends on what kind of machines you plan to backup. Our agent, of course, identifies the OS version and understands that in front of it is a server or workstation - well, and if necessary, you can install a license for another edition. This can be done manually, or using the Veeam Agent Configurator remote management tool, or - if you plan to backup to Veeam Backup & Replication - use the license management feature in the Veeam Backup & Replication console.



    Where to download the beta version?


    As usual, we indicate your e-mail address here and get a download link to the mail.

    We bring our ideas, finds and suggestions for functionality for the release version to the forum here or leave in the comments to this post.

    Important! Beta upgrade with Veeam Endpoint Backup 1.5 (and earlier) is not supported! Be sure to perform a clean installation! In addition, keep in mind that upgrading from beta to release is also not planned to be supported. Pay attention to the license validity period - for the beta version it will expire on May 1, 2017.
    Only the release version will support the upgrade with Veeam Endpoint Backup 1.0 and 1.5.

    What else to read and see


    An article on Habré about Veeam solutions planned for release this year
    Link for requesting a beta version
    Webinar about Veeam Availability Console

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