Do we need to use a Storage Node?
Using Acronis 12.5 Advanced Server Update 2 trial. We have (2) servers on the same network to backup to one tape device. One server has the internal tape drive-single tape and is the Management Server. The other Server is an agent.
So we need to create a Storage Node? If so, why?
Thanks!

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Thank you for clarifying this for us. We have a second, but related question. The Management Server has the tape drive and we also want to backup SQL from this server and files/folders. The second Server (without the tape) is our Exchange Server and Domain Controller (backup Active Directory) so in this case the alternative method you described will not work. Additionally, we want to use the application-aware method and we do not have any files/folders to backup on the second server.So in order to backup both of these Servers, do we have to create 2 separate plans and point the Management Server directly to its tape device and the point the second server to the Storage Node--or can we point both to the Storage Node and have one backup plan? Note we want to do full backups on our daily tapes, and overwrite the tapes on backups so I do not see how to do this in two separate plans to one tape. We have 10 tapes, one for each day of week (M-F), so 10 days worth of backups. We have about 600GB to backup between these 2 servers.
Actually, I am not sure how to get all of this into one plan --can't see a way --. Might be a separate posting. I guess we would like to know at very least if the Storage Node is optional destination for the first server even though it has the tape drive?
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Hi,
>>or can we point both to the Storage Node and have one backup plan?
Yes, that's the idea - you can have a single backup plann applied to both machines, where the target destination would be centralized location on tape managed by Acronis Storage Node. There is no need to configure 2 separate backup plans in this scenario.
Note however that in order to get applications protection for backups saved on tapes, you'll need to have separate backup plans for Exchange and SQL databases (e.g. create application DBs backups instead of "Entire machine" ones). This is caused by tape-specific limitations - if the backup location wasn't tape one, then you could've done everything with a single plan: protect both machine and applications inside. The full list of tape-related limitations can be found here: https://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/documentation/AcronisBackup_12.5/#38832.html
Thank you.
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In reply to Hi,… by truwrikodrorow…

Thank you again for clarifying. After reading the tape limitations, we have a concern on #3 -
You cannot create application-aware backups of physical and virtual machines. |
Confusing...does this mean we cannot create application-aware backups to tape for Exchange and SQL -or do we read this as we cannot do both Physical & VM at same time to tape? It seems by your response we should be able to use the tape
Secondly, if we create 2 plans to run to the same tape, on different schedules, how do we make sure the second plan does not overwrite what the first plan wrote to the tape earlier. We need to overwrite the daily tape on each use?
If it comes to this, what would be the best choice to backup to for our scenario instead of tape device -an NAS?
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Hi,
Application-aware backup means "single-pass" approach where you back up "Entire machine" and get ability to perform application items recovery from the same backup along with ability to recover disks/volumes or files/folders. When saving "Entire machine" backups to tape you will be able to recover only disks/volumes or files/folders from such backups. Therefore you'll need to have separate additional plan applied to the machine which will protect the SQL/Exchange databases, so in total it would be 2 plans: one "Entire machine" and one "Applications" type selected in "What to backup" section:
Concerning the 2nd part: different plans will try to pick up different tapes available in Free pool, so there will be no case where tape written by 1st plan is overwritten with 2nd plan unless you enable the "Overwrite a tape in the stand-alone tape drive when creating a full backup" option described in the tape-related backup options: https://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/documentation/AcronisBackup_12.5/index.html#1171.html
With NAS instead of tape the setup would be as simple as apply a single "Entire machine" plan with enabled applications protection to both machines - there will be no need in separate application protection plans.
Thank you.
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