Recovery Manager for AD Forest Edition 10.3 - Quick Start Guide

Installing Backup Agent

Recovery Manager for Active Directory allows you to back up computer collections using Backup Agent preinstalled on each target domain controller (DC). The advantages of using preinstalled Backup Agent are as follows:

• Performing a backup without having domain administrator privileges. It is sufficient if Recovery Manager for Active Directory runs under a backup operator's credentials.

• Reducing network traffic when backing up a computer collection.

You can install Backup Agent using the Backup Agent Setup Wizard or perform a silent installation.

Installing Backup Agent using the Setup Wizard

To install Backup Agent using the Backup Agent Setup Wizard

1. On the target DC, run the Backupagent.msi file located in the Setup folder on the Recovery Manager for Active Directory Installation CD.

2. Follow the instructions in the Backup Agent Setup Wizard.

3. On the Specify Backup Agent Port page, specify the TCP port number Recovery Manager for Active Directory will use to connect to Backup Agent. Click Next and follow the provided instructions to complete the wizard.

A silent (or unattended) installation of Backup Agent does not require any user interaction. With this method, you specify the Backup Agent installation parameters at a command prompt before running the installation.

Performing a silent installation of Backup Agent

To perform a silent installation of Backup Agent

1. Copy the Backupagent.msi file from the Setup folder on the Recovery Manager for Active Directory Installation to the target DC where you want to install Backup Agent.

2. Enter the following syntax at a command prompt on the target DC:

Msiexec /i "<Path to the Backupagent.msi file on the target DC>" [ERDPORT="<PortNumber>"] [FIREWALL_SETTINGS_CONFIGURE="<Value>"] /qn

Optional parameters are surrounded by brackets.

The table below describes the parameters you can use to perform a silent installation of Backup Agent. Note that by default the silent installation process uses a local system account. To install Backup Agent on a remote DC, this account must be given permissions to access that DC.

Silent installation parameters

Changing Backup Agent port number

Optionally, you can change the TCP port number that Backup Agent uses.

To change the Backup Agent port number

1. On the target DC, start Registry Editor (regedit.exe), and then locate and select the HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ErdAgent registry key.

2. In the details pane, double-click the ImagePath value, and use the Value data text box to specify the port number in the following way:

%SystemRoot%\RecoveryManagerAD\ErdAgent.exe -I -P:3899

In this example, Backup Agent will use port 3899.

3. When finished, click OK.

4. Close Registry Editor.

5. Restart the Backup Agent service.

By default, Recovery Manager for Active Directory (RMAD) uses TCP port 3843 to connect to Backup Agent. If you have specified a different port number, or if you have changed the port number after installing Backup Agent, for RMAD to work properly, perform the following steps:

1. Start the Recovery Manager Console (snap-in). In the console tree, select Recovery Manager for Active Directory, and click Settings on the Action menu.

2. On the General tab of the Properties dialog box, select the Connect to the backup agent using specific TCP port check box, and then specify the appropriate port number in the Port box.