Step-by-Step Guide for Manual Agent Installation on Windows, Linux, and Mac Hosts | Vembu BDR Backup Server

Manual Agent Installation: Adding Hosts (Windows/Linux/Mac) to BDRShield Backup Server

KB ID: 115202

Overview

This knowledge base article provides step-by-step instructions for manually installing the BDRShield Backup Agent (BBA) on various host operating systems (Windows, Linux, Mac) to establish connections with the BDRShield Backup Server.

BDRShield Backup Agent (BBA)

BDRShield Backup Agent (BBA) operates with the service name "BDRShield Delegation Service (BDS)" and is a crucial component for efficient backup operations. It must be installed on the respective backup hosts running Windows, Linux, or Mac systems.

Installation Steps for Individual Backup Hosts

Windows Host

1. Download the appropriate BDRShield Backup Agent (BBA) version for the host OS from the backup server console.
2. Run the BBA setup file on the backup host and follow the on-screen instructions for installation.
3. During installation, provide necessary information including Display Name, Backup Server DNS Name/IP Address, Backup Type, and Reboot Option 
Display Name: Enter a name to identify the host in the backup server.
Backup Server DNS Name/IP Address: Enter the BDRShield Backup Servers's DNS Name/IP Address to register this host with the backup server.
Choose Backup Type and Reboot Option: Choose the appropriate backup type and reboot option from the following choices based on your preferences: (Applicable only for Windows Installer)
  1. No disk image backup required for this host. (Note: You can use this installation for Files/Folders Backup, Integration Service for Hyper-V Backup, and/or Backup Proxy for VMware)
  2. Automatically reboot the host immediately. (Note: The changed block tracking (CBT) driver for disk image backup will be installed and the host will reboot immediately after installation)
  3. I will manually reboot the host later. (Note: The changed block tracking (CBT) driver for disk image backup will be installed and disk image backups will only be successful after a manual reboot)
4. Upon successful installation, the agent will establish an automatic connection with the backup server.
For a step-by-step process, check out the video below

Linux Hosts

1. Download the appropriate BDRShield Backup Agent (BBA) version for the linux host from the BDRShield backup server console.
2. Install the Backup Agent on the Linux Machine
  1. On your Linux machine, open the terminal.
  2. Sign in as the root user:
sudo su
  1. Locate the BDRShield Delegation Service file and unzip it:
unzip <BDRShield_Delegation_Service.zip>
  1. Run the BDRShield Delegation Service binary file:
./BDRShield_Delegation_Service.run
3. Accept the terms and conditions to proceed.
4. Enter the DNS name or IP address of the BDRShield Backup Server.
5. Choose File Level Backup for Linux, as BDRShield supports only file and folder backups for Linux.
6. Review the configuration settings, then click Install to complete the installation.
Notes
Note: The BDRShield Backup Agent will automatically connect to the Backup Server using the provided IP or DNS details.
7. Once installation is complete, the backup agent will connect to the backup server.
8. Confirm that the Linux host appears as a data source in the BDRShield Backup Server console.
For a step-by-step process, check out the video below

Mac Hosts

1. Download the Mac version of BDRShield Backup Agent (BBA) from the backup server console.
2. Execute the command below on the Mac backup host:
sudo sh BDRShield_Delegation_Service_5_6_0_2_U2_IMac_arm64.bin "Enter Backup Server IP Address/DNS Name"
3. The agent will establish a connection and register the Mac host with the backup server.
For a step-by-step process, check out the video below

Bulk Installation of BDRShield Backup Agent (BBA)

Download BBA and use the provided commands to install it on multiple backup hosts simultaneously, based on your desired backup type and reboot option.
Choose one of the following methods to install the backup agent:

Method 1: Group Policy Object (GPO) Deployment

For bulk deployment via Active Directory, you can select from two options:
Option 1 - Deploy MSI and MST File via AD GPO:
Create an MST file using the Orca tool, then deploy both the generated MST and downloaded MSI file via AD GPO.
For detailed instructions, refer to KB: 115216
Option 2 - Deploy PowerShell Script via AD GPO:
Create a PowerShell or batch script with the MSI silent installation commands and deploy it through AD GPO.
For detailed instructions, refer to KB: 115217

Method 2: Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) Software

Use any RMM software to deploy the backup agent on multiple hosts simultaneously. For full details, refer to KB: 115218

Method 3: Advanced Deployment

The advanced deployment option allows importing hosts from Active Directory (AD) or an LDAP server to the BDRShield Backup Server. You can select hosts to install the Backup Agent automatically, manually, or using third-party tools.
For full details, refer to Import Hosts from AD/LDAP Server

Connection Establishment Between Backup Host and Backup Server:

1. Successful connection status is displayed as 'Idle' on the backup host in the BDRShield Server.
2. If not connected, ensure BBA (BDRShield Delegation Service) is installed and running.
3. BBA uses port 32005; check firewall rules to ensure communication.
4. For detailed error resolution, refer to logs located in specific directories for both backup host and server.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Error 117073: Host Not Found
    Solution: Ensure that the host details are correctly added in the Data Sources menu.

  • Error 117074: Unable to Connect to Server
    Solution: Verify that the correct backup server IP or DNS is specified.

  • Error 117076: Incompatible BDS Version
    Solution: Ensure that the BDS version installed is either the same as or older than the server version.

  • Error 117072: Duplicate BIOS UUID
    Solution: Only hosts with unique BIOS UUIDs can be added. Check for duplicates and ensure all hosts have distinct identifiers.

  • Error 117011: Unsupported OS
    Solution: Verify the operating system version against the supported OS list to ensure compatibility.

If connection issues persist, contact support at bdr-support@vembu.com for assistance.

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