Specifying Microsoft SQL servers

When installing Acronis Backup Management Server, you need to specify the Microsoft SQL servers that the management server will use:

• The operational SQL server ensures synchronization of the Acronis Backup components. It stores a database with rapidly changing operational data. Therefore, we recommend that it reside on the same machine as the management server.
• The reporting SQL server stores the operation log and statistics. The databases stored on this server may become considerably large over time. The reporting SQL server can be the same as the operational SQL server, or it can be a different server that is installed on the same or a different machine.

By default, a new instance of SQL Server will be installed on the machine and used as both the operational and the reporting SQL server.

The following version of SQL Server will be installed:

• In the Windows 8/8.1 and Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 operating systems: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express.
• In other Windows operating systems: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express.

The name of the instance is ACRONIS. Click Change if you want to specify a different name or select an existing SQL server instance.

Selecting an existing SQL server instance

You can select any edition of Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Microsoft SQL Server 2008/2008 R2, or Microsoft SQL Server 2012. The instance you choose can also be used by other programs.

Before selecting an instance installed on another machine, make sure that SQL Server Browser Service and the TCP/IP protocol are enabled on that machine. For instructions on how to start SQL Server Browser Service, refer to: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189093.aspx. You can enable the TCP/IP protocol by using a similar procedure.

Instance name. Specify the instance name in the form MachineName\InstanceName. For example, specify: dbserver\MyDatabases. If only one SQL server instance is installed on the machine, you can specify just the machine name.

Authentication. Choose whether the management server will use Windows Authentication or SQL Server Authentication to connect to the SQL server.

• If you choose Windows Authentication (recommended by Microsoft as more secure), the management server will connect using the account of the management server service.

  If the SQL server and the management server are installed on different machines, make sure that the account:

  • Exists on both machines. For example, it can be a domain user account.
  • Has rights to create databases on the SQL server. The easiest way to ensure this is to include the account in the Administrators group on the SQL server’s machine before proceeding with the installation. You can remove the account from this group after the installation is complete.
• If you choose SQL Server Authentication, specify the login name and password of a SQL server login account that has rights to create databases on the SQL server.