To move Veeam 8.0 software and database to a new server, there is a specific procedure you must follow to keep the configuration and the backups intact.
Before moving the DB, from the old server stop and disable all jobs and stop all Veeam services.
Backup Veeam database
When Veeam jobs and services have been disabled, the backup of current Veeam database is the first step to perform.
To find out where the VeeamBackup database is located, open Registry Editor on the old server and navigate to:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Veeam\Veeam Backup and Replication
There are three DWORDs used to identify server, database and instance:
- SqlServerName
- SqlInstanceName
- SqlDatabaseName
From the SQL server or from the old server, open the Server Management Studio and right click the VeeamBackup database. Select Tasks > Back Up to backup the DB.
Specify the backup destination and click OK to execute the backup.
Click OK when the confirmation window is displayed.
Since the Veeam setup is configured to store both the application and the database in the same server, copy the DB to the new server.
Restore Veeam DB
On the new server, Veeam suggests to install SQL Express 2014 for better performance even if SQL Express 2012 is included in the installation files.
To restore the copied database in the new server, open the Server Management Studio, right click the Databases item and select Restore Database option.
Go to the backup file location and select the database backup file and click OK.
Click OK to add the DB backup to restore.
The restore is being performed on the new server.
When the DB has been restored, click OK in the notification window.
The restored database is now listed in the databases list.
Install Veeam Backup & Replication on the new server
During the installation is recommended to use a dedicate service account to run Veeam. The service account must be added to Local Administrators group to complete the installation.
Run the Veeam installer and select the Backup & Replication install option.
Select Next to continue.
Accept the EULA then click Next.
Browse the license file to install and click Next to continue.
Select the program features to install then click Next.
If some requirements are not installed in the new computer, click Install button to deploy missing features.
Missing features are enabled.
When the system meets the requirements, click Next to continue the setup.
Since the system has to point to the restored DB, enable the Let me specify different settings option then click Next.
Select The following user account option and specify the User name and Password of the account for Veeam Backup & Replication service. Click Next.
Select Use existing instance of SQL Server (HOSTNAME\INSTANCE) option. The default instance created during the SQL 2014 installation is presented together with the VeeamBackup database. Make the needed adjustments to match your configuration. Click Next to proceed.
Click Yes to continue the installation.
If you receive this error, it means the used database version is not correct. In the example the restored database was backed up from Veeam Backup & Replication Update 2b whilst the installation files refers to Veeam 8.0.
Change database version
Set the version of the VeeamBackup database based on the version previously installed.
- database from 8.0: '1870'
- database from 8.0 Update 2: '2017'
- database from 8.0 Update 2a: '2018'
Use the follow query to set the correct database version:
Use VeeamBackup
UPDATE [Version] SET current_version = 'number'
Since the used installation files are from version 8.0, the database version must be set to '1870' in order to complete the installation.
From the Server Management Studio, create a new query and type the following commands:
Use VeeamBackup UPDATE [Version] SET current_version = '1870'
Click Execute to run the query. If no errors are displayed in the Messages area, the database version has been updated successfully.
Now the Veeam installation can continue with the Port configuration. Leave default values then click Next.
Specify the vPower NFS and Guest file system catalog locations then click Next.
Enable Check for updates once the product is installed and periodically option and click Install.
The application is being installed in the server.
When completed, click Finish to exit the Wizard.
Apply the latest patch
Once installed the application, apply the latest patch in order to keep the product up-to-date. Currently Update 2b is the latest patch released. Run the Installation Wizard then click Next.
Click Install to apply the patch.
The patch is being installed.
When the patch has been installed, click Finish to exit the Wizard.
If the Veeam service can't start due to wrong database version (check the logs), open the Server Management Studio and create a new query using the following commands to specify the database version related to Veeam 8.0 Update 2a (see above for codes):
Use VeeamBackup UPDATE [Version] SET current_version = '2018'
Click Execute to run the query. If no errors are displayed in the Messages area, the database version has been updated successfully.
After changing the database version, the Veeam service started successfully.
Manage credentials
To finalize the procedure, re-enter the password for every account.
Open the Veeam console.
From the main screen, click on the first icon on the left side to access the options.
Click Manage Credentials item to access the section.
For each account, select the item and click on Edit button.
Click Yes in the warning window.
Type the correct password then click OK.
In Backup Infrastructure section, under Managed servers area to servers are reported as Unavailable. After re-entered the passwords, right click the host reported as unavailable and select Rescan option.
This time the server is rescanned successfully. Click Close to exit.
All Managed servers are available again. Make sure all local drives that were being used as repositories on the old server are now attached with the same drive letters on the new server.
After running a test job to make sure that everything works as expected, enable the configured backup jobs.
Update
Version 9 of Veeam Backup & Replication is available at Veeam website.
