Acronis BackupAgent Replication Replication Manual
Replication Manual
1. Product Information
Product: BackupAgent Replication Option
Version: 4.0
2. Introduction
BackupAgent Replication is an optional module for the BackupAgent Cloud Backup Platform
(BackupAgent Platform) server software that allows the replication of data on storage locations
to an external location.
Replication can be used to create a backup of the backups for failover purposes. It can also be
used in a LAN based backup setup: high speed backup and restore using the internal LAN,
augmented with replication of the data to a safe offsite location.
These usage scenarios are explained in more detail in the Concepts & Overview chapter.
This manual covers the requirements and installation of the replication option, as well as the
configuration and monitoring of replication.
Chapter 4 covers the requirements for all the components of the replication solution. In Chapter
5 we provide a general overview of the solution: concepts, usage scenario’s, and features.
Chapter 6 explains the steps necessary to install and setup the components. The configuration
and monitoring of replication is covered in chapter 7. Chapter 8 covers the unfortunate case in
which you have to recover form an emergency situation.
3. Requirements
The BackupAgent Replication option consists of three components:
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The BackupAgent Platform server software:
The server’s Management Console is used for configuration and monitoring of
replication. It is available from v4.0.
The Replication Client:
Component is installed on storage location and responsible for the actual replication of
the data on the storage locations to the Replication Server.
The Replication Server:
Component is installed on the replication destination: the location data is replicated to.
This component cooperates with the client component.
Note: Make sure that the same version is used for all three components.
3.1 BackupAgent Platform requirements
Replication is introduced as an optional module for the BackupAgent Platform server as of
version 4.0. If you want to use replication, make sure the server (BackupAgent Platform) is
upgraded to at least this version.
As replication is an optional module, a license update might be necessary. If you haven’t updated
your license, contact BackupAgent first to obtain a new license before upgrading the
BackupAgent Platform server. Make sure you have a license that includes the replication option,
and use this license when updating the BackupAgent Platform.
For system requirements of the BackupAgent Platform, please see the BackupAgent Server
installation manual.
3.2 Replication Client component requirements
The server that uses the Replication Client must meet the following requirements:
Windows Server 2008 R2 with latest updates and patches
250 MB available RAM
Local user account having access to the storage locations
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Always use the same version number of the Replication Client component as the BackupAgent
Platform. After running the setup, the Replication Client shall be installed as a separate windows
service called ‘BackupAgent Replication Client’.
3.3 Replication Server component requirements
The server that uses the Replication Client must meet the following requirements:
Windows Server 2008 R2 with latest updates and patches
250 MB available RAM
Enough free space to hold all the data that shall be replicated
Always use the same version number of the Replication Server component as the BackupAgent
Platform.
4. Concepts & Overview
4.1 Usage Scenario’s
There are several usage scenarios for replication that are supported by the BackupAgent
Replication module. The most important ones are discussed here.
4.1.1 Backup of the backup
Creating a backup of your backups is a crucial step in providing a safe and reliable online backup
service to your customers. In case of an unexpected hardware failure on a storage location you
need to be able to recover your customer’s data.
The replication module allows the replication of all data on the storage locations to a second -
preferably offsite - location. When a primary storage location fails, you can configure the location
that data was replicated to as a temporary storage location. In the meantime you can fix the
problem. After the problem has been fixed, you can use our User Reallocation Tool to copy data
from the replication location back to the original storage location and automatically redirect
users to this location again.
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4.1.2 Appliance: support of LAN based backup + replication
This scenario combines LAN speed backup and restore with failsafe remote backup. The
BackupAgent Platform server software is installed in the local network of a company. Desktop
and server clients use this server for fast LAN speed backups and restores. The replication
module replicates the data from the server to a remote location.
4.2 Concepts and Features
The BackupAgent replication option can be used to replicate data on the server’s storage
locations to another location.
4.2.1 Level of replication
Replication is configured and takes place at the level of the storage location. The administrator
configures replication tasks for every storage location that is created in the server. The replication
module will always replicate all data on the storage location.
Replication within a storage location is performed at the account level. This means that by
replicating a storage location, all accounts on the storage location are replicated, one by one. The
application keeps track of which account is being replicated. This means that if a replication run
is suspended (after it runs out of its replication window), it will automatically resume from the
next account.
4.2.2 Continuous replication
Replication is continuous which means that once a replication task is finished it will automatically
start again. This ensures that changes on the storage location are replicated as soon as possible.
Replication is incremental, meaning that it will only copy files to the external destination that are
not already there, as well as changed files.
Although the replication is continuous, it can be controlled by the concept of replication windows.
4.2.3 Replication window
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For every replication task a replication window can be configured. The window specifies the time
replication is allowed to run. This way you can configure replication to run in non-peak hours.
When a replication runs out of the window, the account it was replicating at that moment will be
finished, and after this, the replication is suspended. When the replication window is entered
again, replication will automatically resume from the next account.
4.2.4 Bandwidth throttling
You can configure the maximum used bandwidth per replication task, per storage location that
is being replicated.
4.2.5 Central configuration and monitoring
Although the system consists out of three components, they can be configured and monitored
centrally in the server’s Management Console.
In the Management Console you can configure the replication tasks and select which storage
locations should replicate to which destinations. The Management Console also provides
monitoring of the replication: which tasks are running and their status, as well as reports of
previous replication runs.
4.2.6 Supported replication setups
The replication module replicates data from storage locations to replication destinations. A
storage location is controlled by a Replication Client component. A replication destination is
controlled by a Replication Server component.
The system supports several different setups. You can have one or more storage locations in
your system that need to be replicated. Storage can be direct attached or a NAS; it can be local
to the BackupAgent server or remote. For every storage location you need to install a Replication
Client that has to be matched to a Replication Server (a replication destination). You can replicate
each storage location to its own destination (n-n), or you can replicate each storage location to
the same destination (n-1).
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The above implies that the configuration of a replication task basically means selecting a
Replication Client to replicate from, and a replication destination to replicate to.
4.3 Components
The replication module consists out of three components: configuration and monitoring is part
of the BackupAgent Platform server; Replication Client; Replication Server.
4.3.1 BackupAgent Platform
As of release 4.0 the BackupAgent Platform server software contains the replication module. The
Management Console can be used to setup the replication tasks and monitor their status and
replication progress.
4.3.2 Replication Client
The Replication Client component is installed on each storage location (or on a machine that has
access to the storage location). The Replication Client gets its configuration from the
BackupAgent Platform server and uses this to actually start and perform the replication. For this
it cooperates with the Replication Server component. It regularly updates the server with
progress and status information.
4.3.3 Replication Server
The Replication Server component is installed on the destination machine. It cooperates with the
Replication Client to perform the actual replication. One Replication Server can accept data from
several different Replication Clients.
5. Installation
5.1 Planning your replication topology
Every storage location should have one Replication Client serving it. A Replication Client can
potentially serve several storage locations. The Replication Client needs access to the storage for
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the storage location, so keep this in mind when planning your replication topology. See different
topology scenarios below.
5.1.1 Scenario 1: Simple replication of local disks
Replication Client is installed on BA server with local storage
Replication Server is installed on different machine with local storage
Both servers are connected via IP network with at least port 873 is open
5.1.2 Scenario 2: Replication of a Linux based NAS
Replication Client is installed on BA server with storage on a Linux NAS
Replication Server is installed on separate machine with local storage
Both servers are connected via IP network with at least port 873 is
5.1.3 Scenario 3: Replication of a Windows based NAS
Replication Client is installed on BA server with storage on a Windows NAS
Replication Server is installed on a separate machine with local storage
Both servers are connected via IP network with at least port 873 is open
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5.1.4 Scenario 4: Replication of a Windows based NAS
Replication Client is installed on a Windows NAS with local storage
Replication Server is installed on a separate machine with local storage
Both servers are connected via IP network with at least port 873 is open
5.1.5 Scenario 5: Replication with destination on a Linux based NAS
Replication Client is installed on BackupAgent server
Replication Server on separate machine with storage on a Windows NAS
5.2 Upgrading the BackupAgent Platform server
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Make sure the BackupAgent Platform is at least running v4.0. If this is not the case, you need to
upgrade the server to this version. Please contact BackupAgent for instructions.
The replication requires an activated module in the license. If this module is activated you are
able to configure the Replication from within the Management Console: ‘Server settings’
‘Replication settings’.
If this option is not enabled, please contact BackupAgent for a new license key with the replication
option enabled.
5.3 Installing the Replication Client component
Install the Replication Client on a Windows based computer which meets these requirements:
Windows Server 2008 R2 with latest updates and patches
250 MB available RAM
Local user account having access to the storage locations
Installation is a straight forward process. After starting the setup, you shall be guided through
the installation:
Setup starts
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License agreement
Detection of .Net 4.0
Because the BackupAgent Replication Client is a .Net 4.0 application, it detects if this framework
is not installed. If this is not the case, the setup will automatically download and install the .Net
4.0 framework.
Please be aware that after installing the .Net framework a reboot is required before you will be
able to continue the installation of Replication Client.
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