Install Backup Agent on Windows Server Core

Backup Agent can be installed on instances with Windows Server Core Edition OS.

Windows Core Editions save computing resources by cutting down such features as graphical user interfaces and inessential services. Nonetheless, user data still needs to be kept safe.

This chapter covers the installation of the Backup Agent instance on a computer running under Windows Core.

System Requirements

Backup Agent for Windows Server has a built-in command-line interface (CLI) that appears to be the only tool to manage backup and restore plans on the Windows Core platform.

System requirements are as for Windows Server Core operating system and are as follows:

• Hardware requirements:
  • 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor
  • 512 MB RAM
  • 100 MB minimum disk space
  • Gigabit (10/100/1000baseT) Ethernet adapter
• Software requirements:
• Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022 Core Edition
• Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable x64
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0.

Install and Configure Backup Agent

Install the Backup Agent for Windows Server.

1. Switch to the directory where your Backup Agent installer is located. For example:

cd “C:\users\user\Downloads

2. Run the installer:

installerName.exe /S

3. Navigate to the installation directory. The Backup Agent command-line utility is cbb.exe:

cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Company\online backup

4. Add your MBS account:

cbb.exe addAccount -e yourEmail@yourEmailService.com -p yourPassword

Create a Test Backup Plan

To make sure the installation succeeded, create a test backup plan.

To do this, proceed as follows:

cbb.exe addbackupPlan -n testPlan -d C:\users\user\Desktop -a testStorage

where:

• -n is the plan's name
• -d is the directory to be backed up
• -a is the cloud storage name (check the list of available storage accounts in Storage Account in Management Console)

Run the test backup plan:

cbb.exe plan -r "testPlan"

The plan starts and takes some time to complete.

Alternatively, you can create and edit your backup plans in the Management Console using the Remote Management tool. To do this, proceed as follows:

1. Open the Management Console.
2. In the Computers menu, select Remote Management.
3. Find the required computer, then click the Settings (gear) button.
4. Select Show Plans.
5. To create a new plan, click +.