Install the Windows Agent and plug-ins

Beginning in version 9.20, the Windows Agent is only available as a 64-bit application; there is no 32-bit version of the agent. For supported platforms and system requirements, see the Windows Agent release notes. Release notes for current product versions are available here.

Beginning with Windows Agent 8.90a and Portal 8.89, backups on Windows servers can be configured automatically based on job templates. If you install the Windows agent with a default encryption password and register the agent to a Portal child site where agent auto-configuration is enabled, a backup job and schedule can be created automatically. For more information, see Determine whether an agent has been configured automatically.

Note: Agent auto-configuration must be enabled in the child site when the agent first registers to Portal. If you enable auto-configuration after an agent is registered to Portal, the agent will not be configured automatically. To set up agent auto-configuration, see the Portal Administration Guide or Server Backup online help. See Set up agent auto-configuration.

You can automate the deployment of the Windows agent across your organization using Active Directory Group Policy. For more information, see the Agent for Microsoft Windows: Automating Agent Deployment guide.

To install the Windows Agent and plug-ins:

Double-click the Windows Agent installation kit.

The language selection dialog box appears.
In the language list, click the language for agent messages, and then click OK.

The installation wizard starts.
On the Welcome page, click Next.
On the Support Information and Release Notes page, click Next.
On the License Agreement page, read the license agreement. Click I accept the terms in the license agreement, and then click Next.
On the Setup Type page, do one of the following:
- To install the Agent only and use default settings, click Typical, and then click Next. Go to Step 13.
- To install plug-ins and choose settings for the Agent, click Custom, and then click Next.
  
  Note: If you want the agent to be auto-configured, and are registering the agent to a Portal child site where an Image job template is selected, click Custom and select the Image Plug-in in Step 10.
On the Logon Credentials for Agent Services page, specify an account for running Agent services:

Note: The account must be in the Administrators group and have the “Log on as a service” right.
- To run Agent services using the local system account, select Use ‘Local System’ Account.
  
  A local system account is required for restoring files and folders from Image backups.
  
  A local system account cannot be used to back up UNC files and folders.
- To automatically create an account for running Agent services, select Create account automatically.
- To run Agent services using a custom account, select Use custom account. In the Username and Password boxes, enter the custom account username and password.
Click Next.
On the Destination Folder page, do one of the following:
- To install the Agent in the default location, click Next.
- To install the Agent in another location, click Change. In the Change Current Destination Folder dialog box, browse to the new installation folder, or enter it in the Folder name box. Click OK. On the Destination Folder page, click Next.
The Custom Setup page lists each Windows Agent component and plug-in that can be installed with the Agent that you are installing. For more information, see Windows Agent Plug-ins.

The following hard disk icon appears for each component that will be installed:

The following X icon appears for each component that will not be installed:

Note: The “Backup Agent” is the Windows Agent and is always selected and installed.
On the Custom Setup page, do the following:
- For each component that you want to install, click the button to the left of the component name, and then click This feature will be installed on local hard drive.
- For each component that you do not want to install, click the button to the left of the component name, and then click This feature will not be available.
  
  Note: If you want the agent to be auto-configured and are registering the agent to a Portal child site where an Image job template is selected, select the Image Plug-in.
Click Next.
On the Data Encryption Method page, do one of the following:
- For best agent performance and to encrypt data using the optimized AES 256 encryption method that is integrated in the agent, click Encrypt data using the integrated encryption method, and then click Next.
- To encrypt data using an external AES 256 encryption library that is provided with the agent, click Encrypt data using the external encryption library, and then click Next. Some organizations require the external encryption library for audit purposes.
The data encryption method is used for data at rest.

IMPORTANT: The agent is only supported with the external encryption library that is provided with the agent. It has not been tested with other encryption libraries.

Note: You cannot change the data encryption method when you modify or repair the agent. You can only change the data encryption method when you install or upgrade the agent.
On the Register Agent with Portal page, specify the following information:
- In the Network Address box, type the host name or IPV4 address of the Portal for managing the agent.
  
  We recommend specifying the Portal host name when you register an agent to Portal. If the Portal IP address changes in the future, DNS can handle the change and you will not have to manually register the agent to Portal again.
- In the Port box, type the port number for communicating with the Portal. The default port is 8086.
- In the Username box, type the name of the Portal user for the agent. Typically, the user name is an email address. The user must be an Admin user or regular user.
  
  If you want the agent to be auto-configured, the user must be in a child site where agent auto-configuration is enabled.
- In the Password box, type the password of the specified Portal user.
Click Next.
On the Default Encryption Password page, do one of the following:
- If you do not want the agent to be auto-configured, select No and then click Next.
- To auto-configure the agent based on a job template, select Yes. In the Password and Confirm Password boxes, enter the data encryption password for the auto-configured backup job. Click Next.
  
  If you install Windows agent 8.90a or later with a default encryption password and register the agent to a Portal child site where agent auto-configuration is enabled, a backup job and schedule can be created automatically. For more information, see Determine whether an agent has been configured automatically.
On the Ready to Install the Program page, click Install.

The Installing Agent page appears while the Agent is being installed.
On the InstallShield Wizard Completed page, click Finish.

The Windows computer appears on the Computers page for the specified user, and for other Admin users in the user’s site. If the agent is registered to a site where agent auto-configuration is enabled, wait for the agent to be configured. If the agent is not waiting for auto-configuration, you can add a backup job. See Add the first backup job for a Windows computer.