Best practices for Backup Exec 12.5 installation

Best practices include tips and recommendations to help you install or upgrade Symantec Backup Exec for Windows Servers more effectively. For more information about installing Backup Exec, see the Backup Exec for Windows Servers Administrator's Guide.

The following best practices are for preparing to install or upgrade Backup Exec:

• Visit the Symantec Support Web site to check for updates to the documentation.

• Review the Readme document and Documentation Addendum for updates to the Backup Exec Administrator's Guide.

• Use only standard ANSI characters for the computer name of the computer on which you want to install Backup Exec. You may receive errors if you install Backup Exec on a computer with a name that uses non-standard characters.

• Ensure that the .NET framework is installed on the computer on which you want to install Backup Exec. Backup Exec uses the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0. Installing the .NET framework expedites Backup Exec's installation process.

• Run Microsoft Windows update.

• Document your current configuration and settings if you upgrade Backup Exec. You can verify your configuration after the upgrade is complete.

• Upgrade the central administration server first if you perform a rolling upgrade in an existing Central Admin Server Option (CASO) environment. Upgrade the managed media servers as soon as possible afterwards.

• Back up your server before you install or upgrade any software, including Backup Exec. Copy Backup Exec's Catalogs and Data folders for additional security.

• Pause or stop all jobs before upgrading Backup Exec. If you run Backup Exec jobs during an upgrade, the jobs fail.

• Pause all communications with secondary media servers in CASO or SSO environments.

• Delete any unnecessary job history and alert history before an upgrade to help expedite the process.

• Disable any monitoring utilities that may restart services. If a Backup Exec service restarts during an upgrade, the upgrade may fail and the database may become corrupted. The related SQL instance's service, for example, may affect an upgrade if it is restarted.

• Run the Environment Check utility. The Environment Check utility automatically runs during local installations. Symantec recommends that you also run the utility for remote installations. You should address all warnings and errors before you install Backup Exec.

• Perform database maintenance on your Backup Exec database immediately before an upgrade.

• Close all instances of the Backup Exec Administration Console before the upgrade.

The following best practices are for the installation or upgrade process:

• Use an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) for your media server during the installation. A UPS helps ensure that you do not have a failed installation due to a power outage.

• Install Backup Exec to a drive that is neither compressed or encrypted if you use SQL Express for the Backup Exec database.

• Wait until after the installation to make configuration changes. Do not make configuration changes during the installation.

• Allow Backup Exec to create a backup of the previous version's data to the DataBackup folder. The Backup Exec installer prompts you to allow it to create this backup. In the event that the upgrade fails, this backup helps you restore your environment. The backup requires an additional amount of space equal to the amount of space that you use for Backup Exec data. So if you have 8 gigabytes of stored jobs and catalogs, the backup requires an additional 8 gigabytes. Make sure you have enough disk space to create this backup before you proceed.

The following best practices are for after the installation or upgrade process:

• Run Symantec LiveUpdate to check for any Backup Exec updates.

• Run Microsoft Windows Update. Backup Exec uses many Microsoft technologies that may have been updated since Backup Exec's release.

• Monitor your disk space regularly to prevent disk space problems. Backup Exec's space requirements vary depending on usage and installed options. The requirements in the Administrator's Guide do not include space estimates for the CloneCD option, Intelligent Disaster Recovery files, catalogs, or job logs, for example.

• Consult any of the following resources on the Help menu if you have questions or difficulties:

  • Use the Administrator's Guide for comprehensive information about Backup Exec.

  • Use the Backup Exec Help for searchable, topic-based documentation.

  • Use the Getting Started screen to help you work through the most common configuration steps.

  • Use the Backup Exec Assistant for access to wizards, documentation, and technical support.