Consider upgrading previously deployed Backup Agents off-hours during a single time period or in stages according to your corporate change policies. You can remotely upgrade previously deployed agents through the SQL Safe Agents view in the Management Console.
The Backup Agent is automatically installed on the local computer when you install or upgrade any of the other SQL Safe Backup components.
Backup Agent compatibility with Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM)
SQL Safe Backup 6.4 and later includes extensive enhancements to how SQL Safe Backup handles backing up to and restoring from TSM Server. If you store backup files on a TSM Client node, ensure you upgrade the Backup Agents that perform backups and restores using those files.
Backup Agent compatibility with Backup Policies
The latest version of SQL Safe Backup requires version 8.2 or higher Backup Agents to successfully run new Backup Policies and edit existing Backup Policies (created with SQL Safe 5.0 or earlier).
If you want to continue using 5.0 or earlier Backup Agents for existing Backup Policies, install the current version of SQL Safe Backup alongside your current SQL Safe Backup deployment. Use the latest installation of SQL Safe Backup to create and manage new Backup Policies and use SQL Safe Backup 5.0 to maintain existing policies (created with SQL Safe Backup 5.0 or earlier).
Backup Agent compatibility with Log Shipping Policies
Because SQL Safe 5.0 Backup Agents cannot restore backups written by more recent versions of the Backup Agents, environments that include Log Shipping policies require a specific upgrade path. First upgrade the Backup Agents running on the SQL Server computers hosting the secondary databases and then upgrade the Backup Agents running on the SQL Server computers hosting the primary databases. Otherwise, when SQL Safe Backup attempts to ship a new transaction log backup, the restore operation will fail and the Log Shipping policy status will show that the associated jobs are out of date until all the Backup Agents have been upgraded.
How to upgrade a Backup Agent using the Management Console
This procedure guides you through the process of upgrading previously deployed Backup Agents using the Management Console. You can also manually upgrade a Backup Agent using the setup program.
To upgrade deployed Backup Agents:
- Verify that your environment includes the newest version of the SQL Safe Management Console.
- Start the new SQL Safe Management Console, and navigate to the SQL Safe Agents view. To access the SQL Safe Agents view, click the SQL Safe Agents tab.
- For each Backup Agent you want to upgrade, select the SQL Server computer that is hosting the agent, and then click Upgrade SQL Safe Backup Agent on the right-click context menu. You can include the following options to upgrade your agent:
- Install SQL Safe Agent Extended Stored Procedures.
- Include Backup Service Install Log.
Keep in mind that you can perform single and mass Backup Agent Upgrades. In the SQL Safe Agents tab, click on Upgrade Agents and follow the wizard. For more details, go to Upgrade the SQL Safe Backup Agent.