Install Veeam Backup and Replication with the default PostgreSQL

Since ransomware remains a persistent and immediate threat to global business operations. Organisations frequently face minimal time to mitigate impact, restore systems, or assess damage during attacks. Therefore, in this article, I will show you the steps to install Veeam Backup and Replication with the default PostgreSQL to protect our critical business data. Please learn how to upgrade Veeam Backup and Replication v11 to 12.1, and how to upgrade Veeam ONE to v12.1.

Given that the human factor is involved in 82% of breaches. Workforce end users pose a significant threat vector. Deploying robust enterprise backup and recovery solutions like Veeam Backup and Replication can serve as a formidable defence and to recover data in the event of ransomware attacks or accidental deletion etc.

Also, see Install PostgreSQL on Windows server as Veeam Database Engine, and how to fix “Error 1069: Windows could not start the Veeam backup service on local computer“.

Veeam Backup and Replication is a popular choice for data protection and backup solutions due to several key features and advantages. Do you know why threat actors are targeting backups? Failing to have secure backups almost assures that you will either pay the ransom or face disastrous consequences. Your critical backups are a primary focus for this reason.

MSSQL Limitations

SQL Server Express Edition has introduced critical limitations such as utilising only one socket or four cores, a 1.4GB per instance constraint, and a 10GB database limit, which has necessitated the migration to paid SQL Server versions for larger backup environments exceeding 500 machines. But with PostgreSQL, you do not have any restrictions on CPU and Memory use

Due to these limitations, Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition should only be used for evaluation purposes or in case of a small-scale production environment. For environments with a lot of VMs, it is necessary to install a fully functional commercial version of Microsoft SQL Server.

Because of this, the default installations of Veeam Backup & Replication since v12 use PostgreSQL. This is because, PostgreSQL does not have the limitations discussed above. For existing Veeam Backup & Replication deployments upgraded from version 11a or older. Manual migration to PostgreSQL is required, as they continue to utilise Microsoft SQL Server. Here is an article on the reasons to migrate to PostgreSQl and how to Migrate Veeam Configuration Database to PostgreSQL Server.

However, according to this documentation, Veeam still recommended to use Microsoft SQL Server when you back up more than 5000 VMs.

Workgroup or Management Domain?

Properly planning your Veeam Backup and Replication (VBR) is crucial because Veeam recommends avoiding the installation of VBR on the same domain as your production environment. Below is a best practice image form Veeam.

When securing administrative accounts and the VBR installation you have a few options to consider as shown in the image above:

• Add the Veeam components to a management domain that resides in a separate Active Directory Forest and protect the administrative accounts with two-factor authentication mechanics (recommended).
• Add the Veeam components to a separate workgroup and place the components on a separate network where applicable. This approach is fast and I will be employing it in my lab.
• Add the Veeam components to the production domain but make sure the accounts with administrative privileges are protected with two-factor authentication.

The last option above is insure and this is because, when your production environment goes down along with its domain controllers, it will impact your ability to perform actual restores due to the backup server’s dependency on those domain controllers for backup console authentication, DNS for name resolution etc. Please see how to access shared resources from two different domains. Visit this website for more information on the right planning.

Download Veeam Data Platform

Veeam Data Platform confidently reduces incident response time with the latest release, featuring Veeam Backup & Replication v12.1, Veeam ONE v12.1, and Veeam Recovery Orchestrator v7.

Packed with new features, it proactively hunts for threats in your backups through SIEM, YARA, and NIST cybersecurity best practice integrations. This release empowers you to take a stand against cyberattacks, providing the assurance and confidence needed in the face of security challenges.

In VBR v12 and above, you can use both SQL Server and PostgreSQL as a configuration database. Whereas with V11, you could only use SQL Server.

Kindly Download the trial version. In this way, you will achieve resilience which comes from confidence in your production, response and recovery. Download Veeam Data Platform iso and required licenses.

Mount the installation image. Autorun opens a splash screen. Click on install.

Select Veeam Backup and Replication v12.1

Click on Veeam Backup and Replication

Read and accept the license agreement. To accept the license agreements and continue installing Veeam Backup & Replication, click I Accept.

Since I also requested a trial licence, I will be using this solely for demonstration. To install a license, you have 2 options to choose from. I will have to browse the locations of my license file.

The setup wizard checks whether the machine has the necessary software installed during the System Configuration Check step. If any required components are missing, the setup attempts to install them automatically.

I will be using the recommended LOCAL System Account, click Next to conetinue.

Database Engine

As mentioned above and in the title, I will be installing VBR with the default PostgreSQL.

I am fine with the default data location as shown below.

Review or specify the port configuration to be used for Veeam Backup and Replication. I am OK with the defaults.

Now, you are ready to install VBR onto your system. Click Install

As you can see below, the installation is in progress

Click Finish when the installation process is complete.

To connect to VBR console, click on the shortcut on your desktop and click on connect.

You can start protecting your environment with the Veeam Backup and Replication.

I hope you found this post on how to Install Veeam Backup and Replication with the default PostgreSQL very useful. Please feel free to leave a comment below.