Installing Backup Exec to a local computer

The Backup Exec CD includes an installation program that guides you through the installation process.

You can also use the installation program to upgrade from a previous version of Backup Exec. Information about upgrading from a previous version of Backup Exec is available.

See Upgrading from previous versions of Backup Exec.

If you want to install Backup Exec to a non-English version of Windows, you must download the SQL Express SP2 setup file from the Microsoft Web site before you install Backup Exec if all of the following are true:

In addition, if you upgrade from a previous version of Backup Exec that uses a non-English version of Windows, you must download the SQL Express SP2 setup file for that language from the Microsoft Web site.

Note:

If you install Backup Exec through Terminal Services and the installation media is on a shared drive (CD-ROM or network share), you must install it using a UNC path. Installation via mapped drives is not supported in this situation.

To install Backup Exec to a local computer

  1. From the installation CD browser, click Installation, and then click Start the Backup Exec Installation.

  2. On the Welcome panel, click Next.

  3. Click I accept the terms of the license agreement, and then click Next.

  4. Check Local Install, and then click Install Backup Exec software and options.

  5. Click Next

    For first-time installations and upgrade installations, the Backup Exec Environment Check runs automatically after you click Next.

  6. Review the results of the Environment Check.

  7. Do one of the following:

    • If the Environment Check does not reveal any issues that may prevent a successful installation of Backup Exec, click Next.

    • If the Environment Check reveals issues that may prevent a successful installation of Backup Exec, click Cancel to exit the wizard. Correct the issues before you attempt to install Backup Exec again.

  8. Do one of the following:

    If you have serial numbers for Backup Exec and its options

    • Go to https://licensing.symantec.com to activate the product.

      After you activate the product, Symantec sends license keys to you. License keys are required to install Backup Exec and its options. You can access the Web site from any computer that has Internet access.

    • When you receive your license keys, go to step 9.

    If you have license keys for Backup Exec and its options

    Go to step 9.

  9. Select one of the following methods to enter license keys:

    To enter license keys manually

    Do the following in the order listed:

    • Type a license key into the license key field.

    • Click Add.

    • Repeat for each license key for each option or agent that you want to install.

    To import license keys from a file

    Do the following in the order listed:

    • Click Import.

    • Select the besernum.xml file.

    To install an evaluation version

    Do the following in the order listed:

    • Leave the license key field blank.

    • Proceed to step 10.

  10. Click Next.

    The license keys that you entered are saved to the besernum.xml file, which is located in the Windows or WINNT directory.

  11. Check any additional features to install.

    See About Backup Exec's standard features.

  12. Do one of the following:

    To change the directory where the Backup Exec files are installed

    Click Change to select a new directory.

    To accept the default directory (recommended)

    Proceed to step 13.

    Symantec recommends that you do not select a mount point as the destination directory because if you delete the mount point, Backup Exec is uninstalled.

  13. Click Next.

  14. Provide a user name, password, and domain for an Administrator account that the Backup Exec system services can use, and then click Next.

    See About the Backup Exec services account.

  15. On the Symantec Backup Exec Database panel, do one of the following to select a location to store the Backup Exec database.

    The Symantec Backup Exec Database panel does not appear for upgrades. You cannot change the database location during the upgrade process. If you want to change the database location after the upgrade, use BEUtility.

    To create a local Backup Exec SQL Express instance

    Do the following in the order listed:

    • Click Create a local Backup Exec SQL Express instance to store the database on.

    • To change the location of the Backup Exec SQL Express instance, click Browse.

    • Select the location, and then click OK.

    To use an existing SQL Server 2000 or SQL Server 2005 instance

    Do the following in the order listed:

    • Click Use an existing SQL Server 2000 (SP3a or later) or SQL Server 2005 (SP2 or later) instance on the network to store the database on.

    • Select the instance.

    When Backup Exec is installed into an existing instance, the automated master database restore feature is not available. To recover the Master database, you must replace it with the Master database copy that Backup Exec automatically creates and updates when the Master database is backed up.

    Caution:

    During the installation process and upgrade process, Backup Exec stops and starts the SQL service several times. Other user-created databases that use the SQL Server instance are unavailable during the process. To avoid such conflicts, you should install Backup Exec into its own SQL instance.

  16. Click Next.

    Backup Exec attempts to connect to the instance.

  17. If the Symantec Backup Exec Database panel appears, perform the following steps to identify the location of the SQL Express SP2 setup file:

    • Click Browse.

    • Navigate to the location where you downloaded the SQL Express SP2 setup file.

    • Click OK.

    • Click Next.

  18. If prompted, select how the Symantec Device Driver Installer should install device drivers for the tape storage devices that are connected to the server, and then click Next.

    It is recommended that you select Use Symantec device drivers for all tape devices.

  19. If you are prompted, enter information or choose settings for additional options that you want to install. Click Next after each selection.

  20. Read the Backup Exec installation review, and then click Install.

    The installation process takes several minutes to complete. During the process, the progress bar may not move for several minutes.

  21. When the installation is complete, you can run LiveUpdate, view the readme, and create a shortcut to Backup Exec on the desktop.

  22. Click Finish to close the installation wizard.

  23. If Restart System appears, restart the computer in order for the configuration to take effect.

    The installation process creates a job log named bkupinst.htm on the computer where Backup Exec is installed. This file lists any errors that may have occurred during installation. The last line of the log indicates if the installation was successful and if you must restart the computer.

More Information

About the installation log

Post-installation tasks