Installing agents

You can install agents on machines running any of the operating systems listed in "Which backup agent to install".

In Windows

Some Backup features require Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable. Please ensure that it is already installed on your machine or install it before installing the agent. After the installation, a restart may be required. The Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package can be found here: https://support.microsoft.com/help/2999226/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows.

1. Ensure that the machine is connected to the Internet.
2. Log on as an administrator and start the setup program.

3. [Optional] Click Customize installation settings and make the appropriate changes if you want:

   • To change the components to install (in particular, to disable installation of Cyber Protection Monitor and Command-Line Tool).
   • To change the method of registering the machine in the Cyber Protection service. You can switch from Use service console (default) to Use credentials or Use registration token.
   • To change the installation path.
   • To change the user account under which the agent service will run. For details, refer to "Changing the logon account on Windows machines".
   • To verify or change the proxy server host name/IP address, port, and credentials. If a proxy server is enabled in Windows, it is detected and used automatically.
4. Click Install.
5. [Only when installing Agent for VMware] Specify the address and access credentials for the vCenter Server or stand-alone ESXi host whose virtual machines the agent will back up, and then click Done. We recommend using an account that has the Administrator role assigned. Otherwise, provide an account with the necessary privileges on the vCenter Server or ESXi.
6. [Only when installing on a domain controller] Specify the user account under which the agent service will run, and then click Done. For security reasons, the setup program does not automatically create new accounts on a domain controller.
7. If you kept the default registration method Use service console in step 3, wait until the registration screen appears, and then proceed to the next step. Otherwise, no more actions are required.

8. Do one of the following:

   • Click Register the machine. In the opened browser window, sign in to the service console, review the registration details, and then click Confirm registration.

   • Click Show registration info. The setup program shows the registration link and the registration code. You can copy them and perform the registration steps on a different machine. In this case, you will need to enter the registration code in the registration form. The registration code is valid for one hour.

     Alternatively, you can access the registration form by clicking All devices > Add, scrolling down to Registration via code, and then clicking Register.

     Do not quit the setup program until you confirm the registration. To initiate the registration again, you will have to restart the setup program and repeat the installation procedure.

     As a result, the machine will be assigned to the account that was used to log in to the service console.

   • Register the machine manually by using the command line. For more information on how to do this, refer to "Registering machines manually".

In Linux

Read the Linux backup agent prerequisites guide first to ensure you have everything you need to successfully run the agent installer.

To install Agent for Linux, you need at least 2 GB of free disk space.

1. Ensure that the machine is connected to the Internet.

2. As the root user, run the installation file.

   If a proxy server is enabled in your network, when running the file, specify the server host name/IP address and port in the following format: --http-proxy-host=ADDRESS --http-proxy-port=PORT --http-proxy-login=LOGIN--http-proxy-password=PASSWORD.

   If you want to change the default method of registering the machine in the Cyber Protection service, run the installation file with one of the following parameters:

   • --register-with-credentials – to ask for a user name and password during the installation
   • --token=STRING – to use a registration token
   • --skip-registration – to skip the registration

3. Select the check boxes for the agents that you want to install. The following agents are available:

   • Agent for Linux
   • Agent for Virtuozzo
   • Agent for Oracle

   Agent for Virtuozzo and Agent for Oracle require that Agent for Linux (64-bit) is also installed.

4. If you kept the default registration method in step 2, proceed to the next step. Otherwise, enter the user name and password for the Cyber Protection service, or wait until the machine will be registered by using the token.

5. Do one of the following:

   • Click Register the machine. In the opened browser window, sign in to the service console, review the registration details, and then click Confirm registration.

   • Click Show registration info. The setup program shows the registration link and the registration code. You can copy them and perform the registration steps on a different machine. In this case, you will need to enter the registration code in the registration form. The registration code is valid for one hour.

     Alternatively, you can access the registration form by clicking All devices > Add, scrolling down to Registration via code, and then clicking Register.

     Do not quit the setup program until you confirm the registration. To initiate the registration again, you will have to restart the setup program and repeat the installation procedure.

     As a result, the machine will be assigned to the account that was used to log in to the service console.

   • Register the machine manually by using the command line. For more information on how to do this, refer to "Registering machines manually".

6. If UEFI Secure Boot is enabled on the machine, you are informed that you need to restart the system after the installation. Be sure to remember what password (the one of the root user or "acronis") should be used.

   During the installation, a new key is generated, used to sign the snapapi module, and registered as a Machine Owner Key (MOK). The restart is mandatory in order to enroll this key. Without enrolling the key, the agent will not be operational. If you enable UEFI Secure Boot after the agent installation, repeat the installation including step 6.

7. After the installation completes, do one of the following:

   • Click Restart, if you were prompted to restart the system in the previous step.

     During the system restart, opt for MOK (Machine Owner Key) management, choose Enroll MOK, and then enroll the key by using the password recommended in the previous step.

   • Otherwise, click Exit.

Troubleshooting information is provided in the file: /usr/lib/Acronis/BackupAndRecovery/HOWTO.INSTALL

In macOS

1. Ensure that the machine is connected to the Internet.
2. Double-click the installation file (.dmg).
3. Wait while the operating system mounts the installation disk image.
4. Double-click Install.
5. If a proxy server is enabled in your network, click Protection Agent in the menu bar, click Proxy server settings, and then specify the proxy server host name/IP address, port, and credentials.
6. If prompted, provide administrator credentials.
7. Click Continue.
8. Wait until the registration screen appears.

9. Do one of the following:

   • Click Register the machine. In the opened browser window, sign in to the service console, review the registration details, and then click Confirm registration.

   • Click Show registration info. The setup program shows the registration link and the registration code. You can copy them and perform the registration steps on a different machine. In this case, you will need to enter the registration code in the registration form. The registration code is valid for one hour.

     Alternatively, you can access the registration form by clicking All devices > Add, scrolling down to Registration via code, and then clicking Register.

     Do not quit the setup program until you confirm the registration. To initiate the registration again, you will have to restart the setup program and repeat the installation procedure.

     As a result, the machine will be assigned to the account that was used to log in to the service console.

   • Register the machine manually by using the command line. For more information on how to do this, refer to "Registering machines manually".

10. If your macOS version is Mojave 10.14.x or later, grant full disk access to the protection agent to enable backup operations.

    See https://kb.acronis.com/content/62133 for instructions.