---
title: How to Add a Windows Server to an Existing Acronis Backup 12.5 Cluster
description: To add a new Windows server to an existing backup cluster, you need to log in to your Acronis Backup Management server from this machine and download and install a backup client.
canonical_url: https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/add-windows-server-to-acronis-backup-advanced-cluster/
locale: en
last_updated: 2026-10-27
---

[Acronis Blog](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/)
# How to Add a Windows Server to an Existing Acronis Backup 12.5 Cluster

To add a new Windows server to an existing backup cluster, you need to log in to your Acronis Backup Management server from this machine and download and install a backup client.

[Learn More](https://www.acronis.com/en/products/cyber-protect/)

[![Image 2: Acronis Editorial Team](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/d85707ae91461544212d39836dc32b42.png)](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/acronis/ "Acronis Editorial Team")

[Acronis Editorial Team](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/acronis/)

3 min read

Last updated 06 February 2019

Other languages available:[Deutsch](https://www.acronis.com/de/blog/posts/add-windows-server-to-acronis-backup-advanced-cluster/)  
[Français](https://www.acronis.com/fr/blog/posts/add-windows-server-to-acronis-backup-advanced-cluster/)  
[日本語](https://www.acronis.com/ja/blog/posts/add-windows-server-to-acronis-backup-advanced-cluster/)

To add a new Windows server to an existing backup cluster, you need to log in to your Acronis Backup Management server from this machine and download and install a backup client.

New servers can also be added remotely, but it requires additional [server preparation](https://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/documentation/AcronisBackup_12U4Beta/index.html#36533.html), which we’re trying to avoid!

_PLEASE NOTE: Your VM/Servers must be able to communicate with each other and, preferably, be on the same network — see “How to Open Ports for Acronis Backup 12.5 Installation on Microsoft Azure.”_

Log in with RDP and open your **Acronis Backup Management Server** in the web browser by going to URL First-VM-IP:9877 — just substitute the “First-VM-IP” with the IP address of your first Windows VM (the one that runs the Acronis Backup Management Server).

Enter your first VM’s Administrator’s username and password and click **“Sign In”**.

![Image 3: Windows Server-1](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/ed17253370caec95161da7c8818ff23a.png)

Windows Server-1

After signing in, you should see the main backup dashboard (yours may look different, depending on which widgets you have enabled).

![Image 4: 22.png](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/3686c7e9e046c443bab8e86b86780b53.png)

22.png

Click **Devices** and then the “**Add**” button at the top right.

![Image 5: 23.png](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/af5138840cb569bb7b766c64a7d99c55.png)

23.png

Click “Windows” in the Servers category:

![Image 6: 24.png](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/45659884be3de1818cbdd8d74b07c893.png)

24.png

Click the “**Download**” button to download the installer and run it manually (because you’re already logged in to the server that you wish to protect).

![Image 7: 25.png](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/ec04ca71d0ad55b1a69ea5f41be127d0.png)

25.png

Download the file and run the installer. Select “**Install a backup agent.**”

![Image 8: 26.png](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/573338238aa12238812c348dfe0faac8.png)

26.png

Enter the IP address of the VM that runs the management server (your first Windows VM) and its Administrator’s username and password. Click “**Done**.”

![Image 9: 27.png](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/a83f1358c442b3065906af7d9f0d5753.png)

27.png

Now just sit and wait. The installer will try to connect to the management server and add this server to the list of machines to backup.

![Image 10: 28.png](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/2daa623c35d86efb57efdd1ea6accab7.png)

28.png

That’s it! After it’s installed, open Acronis Backup Management Server in a web browser as you did above and you should see this server under “**Devices** – **All machines”**. Now you can setup a backup plan as you did for your first VM.

[Data protection](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/data-protection/)  
[Corporate cybersecurity](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/corporate-cybersecurity/)  
[Cyber protection for businesses](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/cyber-protection-for-business/)  
[Security software for business](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/security-software-for-business/)  
[Cloud backup](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/cloud-backup/)  
[Disaster recovery](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/disaster-recovery/)

## Written by

![Image 11: Acronis Editorial Team](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/d85707ae91461544212d39836dc32b42.png)

Acronis Editorial Team

Acronis is a global cyber protection company that provides natively integrated cybersecurity, data protection, and endpoint management for managed service providers (MSPs), small and medium businesses (SMBs), and enterprise IT departments.

[Previous post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/weak-link-why-saving-money-using-outdated-software-puts-data-risk/)  
[The Weak Link: Why Saving Money by Using Outdated Software Puts Data at Risk](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/weak-link-why-saving-money-using-outdated-software-puts-data-risk/)

[Next post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/create-windows-linux-virtual-machines-on-microsoft-azure/)  
[How to Create Windows and Linux Virtual Machines (VM) on Microsoft Azure](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/create-windows-linux-virtual-machines-on-microsoft-azure/)

About Acronis

Acronis is a leader in AI-native cyber protection, unifying data protection, cybersecurity, IT operations and hybrid infrastructure to deliver business continuity, security and compliance with less cost and complexity. More than 21,000 service providers trust Acronis to protect over 750,000 businesses in 150 countries. Acronis is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

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