Installation of Agent for Exchange

Agent for Exchange enables data protection of Microsoft Exchange servers.

Preparation

Licenses. Ensure that you have a sufficient number of licenses. You need one license per Exchange server. If you have an Exchange cluster, we recommend obtaining licenses for each node of the cluster. Agent for Exchange requires either of the following licenses to work:

• Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 for Microsoft Exchange Server.
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 Advanced Server SBS Edition.

To use the product in the trial mode, you do not need licenses.

Requirements. Ensure that the Exchange server meets the following requirements:

• For Microsoft Exchange Server 2013: Cumulative Update 1 (CU1) or later must be installed.
• For Microsoft Exchange Server 2007/2010: The MAPI Client and Collaboration Data Objects (version 1.2.1) package must be installed. To download and install this package, visit http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36771.
• For Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2: Hotfix http://support.microsoft.com/kb/908072 must be installed.
• The Exchange writer for VSS must be turned on. In Windows Small Business Server 2003, the writer is turned off by default. For instructions on how to turn it on, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/838183/.

Which setup program to choose?

Agent for Exchange is included in the setup programs of both the stand-alone and advanced editions of Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5. The functionality provided by the agent is the same in both setup programs. However, certain advanced features can be used only in combination with components of the advanced Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 editions. Here are some tips to help you choose between a stand-alone and an advanced configuration.

• Setup program for stand-alone editions of Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5
  Recommended for backing up Exchange data in simple Exchange organizations having a stand-alone Exchange server that hosts all Exchange services and data.
• Setup program for the advanced editions of Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5

  Recommended for large Exchange organizations where multiple Exchange servers are integrated into a cluster. The following features can be used only in advanced Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 configurations:

  • Comprehensive protection of Exchange clusters

    Requires installation of Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 Management Server and installation of Agent for Exchange on each cluster node.

  • Using the Express full backup method

    Requires installation of Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 Management Server and Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 Storage Node. Requires installation of the "Deduplication for Microsoft Exchange Server" add-on to Agent for Exchange.

    The add-on is purchased separately. You do not need to purchase and install this add-on if Agent for Windows and its deduplication add-on are already installed on your Exchange server.

Installation from the setup program for stand-alone editions

Run the setup program and follow the on-screen instructions.

Installation from the setup program for advanced editions

Remote installation of Agent for Exchange is not possible, because the agent setup has certain requirements that can be checked in the local interactive installation mode only.

Installing the agent on an Exchange server

1. Run the setup program.
2. Proceed to the window where you are asked how you want to use this machine and select the Back up this machine's data check box.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions. If you installed the management server, choose to register Agent for Exchange on it during installation.

Installing agents on Exchange cluster nodes

To back up data in an Exchange cluster, install the agent on each node of the cluster. When installing the agent on a cluster node, specify an existing account of a domain user for the agent service. With this account, the agent will be able to access the clustered data on any of the nodes. The account must have administrative privileges on each of the cluster nodes.

To install the agent on a cluster node

1. Run the setup program.
2. Proceed to the window where you are asked how you want to use this machine and select the I want to manually select the Acronis components and customize the installation process check box.
3. In the components tree, select Agent for Exchange.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

   Details. When prompted to assign logon accounts to the Acronis services, in Acronis Managed Machine Service (agent), select Use an existing account and specify the account that has administrative privileges on each of the cluster nodes. Alternatively, you can choose to create a new account for the agent. Then, when creating centralized backup plans or recovery tasks, you will need to specify credentials for the domain account that has the necessary privileges.

   If you installed the management server, choose to register Agent for Exchange on it during installation.