Dell EMC Avamar for Windows Servers 19.7 User Guide

Performing BMR backups

You can perform an on-demand BMR backup of various versions of Windows Server and Windows client computers, including the System State, critical disks, and Active Directory data on a domain controller.

1. In the AUI navigation pane on the left, click , and then click Asset Management.
   The Asset Management window is displayed.
2. In the domain tree, select the domain for the client.
   A list of Avamar clients is displayed in the pane below the domains list.
3. In the list of clients, select the Windows computer. To back up Active Directory data, select the domain controller.
   You can only view clients in the domain for the login account. To view all clients, log in to the root domain.
4. Click BACKUP.
   The Backup wizard is displayed. In the Plugin pane, a list of plug-ins that are installed is displayed.
5. In the Plugins pane, perform the following steps:
   1. Select the Windows VSS plug-in plug-in for the platform.
      Do not select individual items in the Windows VSS plug-in, or the backup fails with an error message that you must select all items in the Windows VSS plug-in.
   2. Browse to and select one or more folders and files for the backup.
      NOTE If you are backing up SIS-enabled volumes on Windows Storage Server 2008 or 2008 R2, or deduplicated volumes on Windows Server 2019, 2016, or 2012, select the entire volume for backup. However, you can restore individual folders and files from the volume backup.
   3. Click NEXT.
   The Basic Configuration pane is displayed.
6. In the Basic Configuration pane, complete the following fields:
   1. Select the backup retention policy settings:
      • To automatically delete this backup from the Avamar server after a specific amount of time, select Retention period. Specify the number of days, weeks, months, or years for the retention period.
      • To automatically delete this backup from the Avamar server on a specific calendar date, select End date and browse to that date on the calendar.
      • To keep this backup for as long as this client remains active in the Avamar server, select No end date.
   2. In the Avamar encryption method list, select the encryption method to use for data transfer between the client and the Avamar server during the backup.
      The encryption technology and bit strength for a client/server connection depends on several factors, including the client operating system and Avamar server version. The Avamar Product Security Guide provides additional information.
   3. In the Optionally select a proxy to perform backup list, select the proxy.

      The default setting is Automatic, which enables the Avamar server to choose the best proxy for this operation.

   4. Click NEXT.
      The More Options window is displayed.
7. In the More Options pane, set the plug-in options.
   1. To view advanced options, select Show Advanced Options.
   2. (Optional) Type a descriptive label for the backup in the Snapup label box.
   3. To perform a BMR backup, select the Create Disaster Recovery Backup checkbox.
   4. To perform a nondisaster recovery backup on a domain controller so that you can restore Active Directory data, clear the Create Disaster Recovery Backup checkbox.
   5. Specify whether to ignore missing Windows System State files during the backup by selecting or clearing the When backup detects missing Windows System State files, complete the backup successfully without exceptions checkbox. When you select the checkbox, warnings appear for the missing files and the backup completes successfully. When you clear the checkbox, errors appear for the missing files and the backup completes with exceptions. On Windows Server 2019, 2016, or 2012 or Windows 8, specify whether to include or exclude a non-critical disk when a service or application is installed on the disk and causes the disk to become critical.
   6. Select the Ignore third-party services when identifying critical volumes. Applies to Windows 8 (or later) checkbox to exclude the noncritical disk from the backup, or clear the checkbox to include the noncritical disk in the backup.
   7. To store the backup on a Data Domain system instead of the Avamar server, select the Store backup on Data Domain system checkbox, and then select the Data Domain system from the list.
   8. From the Encryption method to Data Domain system list, select the encryption method for data transfer between the client and the Data Domain system during the backup.

   Windows VSS plug-in backup options provides details on each of the options.

8. To exclude noncritical dynamic disks from the backup, add the following attribute:
   1. Click More.
   2. In the Enter Attribute box, type --exclude-non-critical-dynamic-disks.
   3. In the Enter Attribute Value box, type true.
   4. Click +.
9. Click FINISH.
   The following status message is displayed:

   Backup initiated.