What is Veritas Backup Exec and How does Backup Exec work?

Veritas Backup exec is a backup software which helps you protect your business environment which includes Windows, Linux and Virtual servers to storage devices like disk, tape and cloud.

Veritas Backup exec is a simplified backup solution suitable to protect small, medium and large scale of business environment. It offers very simple and easy to manage graphical user interface (GUI) which is easy to operate and optimize the day to day backup and restore operation.

History

Backup exec software was initially owned by Seagate Software in 1996. Later Seagate Software was acquired by Veritas Software in 1999 along with Backup exec. Now in 2005 Symantec acquired Veritas software including Backup exec.

In 2015, again Symantec separated it’s portfolio and it was decided that security software portfolio would remain with Symantec and Backup and other software would go to a new company formed which was named Veritas Technology Cooperation acquired by the Carlyle Group.

In year 2016 Veritas introduced itself as a new independent company which offered Backup exec, NetBackup and other software.

Backup exec versions of Veritas – 1999

VERITAS Backup exec 7.3
VERITAS Backup exec 8.0
VERITAS Backup Exec 8.6
VERITAS Backup Exec 9.0
VERITAS Backup Exec 9.1
VERITAS Backup Exec 10.0

Backup exec versions of Symantec – 2005

Symantec Backup Exec 10d
Symantec Backup Exec 11d
Symantec Backup Exec 12
Symantec Backup Exec 12.5
Symantec Backup Exec 2010
Symantec Backup Exec 2012
Symantec Backup Exec 2014
Symantec Backup Exec 15

Backup exec versions of Veritas – 2016

Veritas Backup Exec 15
Veritas Backup Exec 16

Backup Exec versions Veritas – 2017

Veritas Backup Exec 20.1
Veritas Backup Exec 21

Backup Exec Architecture

UI (user interface): is very simple and easy to manage which provide the all the option for day to day backup operation

Management service: is responsible for performing all the operation and allows all the changes which takes place with every transaction

Metadata service: is responsible for keeping the track of all transaction and segments which are created with each and every operation a user performs

Business objects : Separates the client from directly accessing the backup end

All client go through bemsdk to business object

Client don’t talk to bengine, adamm, BEDB, etc

Browsing is the exception

Backend:

Media server
Data Server
ADAMM
Backup Exec Database (BEDB
Catalog

Media server (Backup Exec Job Engine Service):

The component which actually runs the job

Business objects are used to submit jobs to media server

Media server talks with the data server to read the data, then talk with ADAMM to write it storage device.

Process name is “bengine.exe”

Data Server (Backup Exec Remote Agent for Windows System Service):

Actually reads the data from file system during backup and writes it to file system during restore.

Resides on the client machine (machine to be backed up or restored)

Process name is “beremote.exe ”

ADAMM (Backup Exec Device and Media Service):

Writes \ reads from the Tape or B2D

Implements the media mgmt rules

Process name is “pvlsvr.exe”

BEDB:

BEDB is hosted in Microsoft SQL Application

Stores backup and restore jobs, and all the job settings

Media settings are stored in this database

Managed by Backup Exec Server Service

Default location of Backup Exec database is C:\Program Files\Veritas\Backup Exec\Data folder

Catalog:

Contains meta data such as which file is backed up, on which tape and on which location it lies

Restore browse view comes from Catalog

Catalogs store the information in files and also on the media

Default location of Catalog is C:\Program Files\Veritas\Backup Exec\Catalogs folder

Backup Exec Services:

Backup Exec Remote Agent Service
Backup Exec Device and Media service
Backup Exec Server Service
Backup Exec Job Engine Service
Backup Exec Agent Browser Service

Backup Exec Error Recording Service
Backup Exec PureDisk File System Service
Backup Exec Management Service

Backup Exec Remote Agent Service (beremote.exe)

Gets invoked on receiving control connection request from job engine.
Gets selection lists and job options from job engine.
Reads the data from the Data Server.
Formats the data into Microsoft Tape Format (MTF).
Sends formatted data over data connection
Also includes Data Store Selection Service (DSSS) (not a separate Window Service).
Does not depend on any other BE service

Backup Exec Device and Media Service (pvlsvr.exe)

Also known as ADAMM
Applies media management rules
The Job Engine communicates with ADAMM for Device requests (mount / unmount)
Depends on SQL Server Service

Backup Exec Server Service (beserver.exe)

Provides BEMSDK services via RPC interface.
BEMSDK has a rich set of classes e.g CBemJobHistory, CBemreport.
Schedules and dispatches jobs.
Manages utility jobs such as inventory, Lock, Unlock
Manages the BEDB
Depends on Backup Exec Device and Media Service

Backup Exec Job Engine Service (bengine.exe)

Engine is an NDMP client
Gets the selection list and job options from beservice.exe
Controls the Job Execution
Acquired device from ADAMM
Connects to Data Server
Gets data from Data Server and writes to tape using ADAMM mover interface
Also gets metadata during the backup to update catalogs and UI
Depends on BE Remote Agent, Device and Media service and BE Server service.

Backup Exec Agent Browser Service (benetns.exe)

Is responding for advertising between media server and clients
It detects the resources published by the remote agent
It has the function of adding remote servers in the Favorite Resources node of Backup selection list
Allows the Backup Exec job engine to discover the Backup Exec agents that are available on the network (specifically UNIX, Oracle and Macintosh)
Depends on Backup Exec Server Service

Backup Exec Error Recording Service (bedbg.exe)

BEDBG is automatically installed as a service during the Backup Exec installation
Continuously monitors the Backup Exec processes
Logs are located at the default location C:\Program Files\Veritas\Backup Exec\BEDBG folder
This service does not depend on any other Backup Exec services

Backup Exec PureDisk File System Service

Process name is PDVFSService.exe
Provides Backup and Restore functionality via an installable file system service
Loads the PDvFS DLL and maintains and open connection to the PD/PDDE server(s).
Does not depend on any other BE service

Backup Exec Management Service

Process name is BackupExecManagementService.exe
Used to capture Telemetry information from users
Installation, Performance and configuration data is periodically transmitted to Veritas (anonymously)
Introduced from Backup Exec 2010 R3
Does not depend on any other Backup Exec services

Ports used by Backup Exec Services: