Start up Console and Connect on boot?

[TheWaterbug]

I have a box dedicated to being a Veeam B&R server, repository, and console. That's this box's sole purpose in life; it will never do anything else.

Therefore, if it's on, I want to see the B&R console. If it had to be rebooted for any reason, I want to see the console, and I want it to be Connected.

I've followed these instructions to bypass UAC and get the Console to start up automatically at boot (including this fix for Error 2147942667 if you copy/paste the arguments from the shortcut created by the install) but it still asks me to Connect.

Is there a command-line argument to Connect automatically?

Task arguments are as follows:

Code: Select all

–logon VeeamBackupServer:localhost:9392:current

Thanks!

[Gostev]

There's no need to jump through the hoops with a command line imho. Just populate all backup server connection settings on the Veeam logon form including credentials, and click the "Save shortcut" link. This will create a custom shortcut on Desktop.

Move this shortcut file to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\StartMenu\Programs\Startup.

I cannot try it myself right now, but it should work just fine!

[TheWaterbug]

^^
Thanks! I tried this, but it doesn't run at bootup. I think it's because that shortcut wants to pop up a UAC dialog, and having it in the Startup items doesn't allow that.

My previous attempt used Task Schedule to run with elevated privileges to avoid the UAC dialog, but it was the :current argument that was popping up the Connect dialog. That saved shortcut avoids the Connect dialog, but pops up the UAC dialog.

I can't figure out how to avoid both dialogs. I can't figure out how to call that saved shortcut from a scheduled task. If I try to browse to that saved shortcut, it populates the task with contents of the saved shortcut, not the shortcut itself, and then it doesn't include the saved password.

[oleg.feoktistov]

Hi Steven,

When saving the shortcut, did you tick "Use Windows session authentication" checkbox?
It appears like you did.
Try unticking it and then proceed as per below:
1. Specify username on Connect pop-up in domain\username format.
2. Input your password.
3. Save the shortcut (It should prompt you whether you want to save these credentials for quick access - click "Yes").
In this case it creates a separate record in Windows Credential Manager.
4. Create a new task in Task Scheduler pointing to the shortcut, add arguments with the username you highlighted
previously in domain\username format and configure it to run with highest privileges.
Finally, the task in Task Scheduler should look like that:
Program/script:

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"C:\Program Files\Veeam\Backup and Replication\Console\veeam.backup.shell.exe"

Add arguments:

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-logon VeeamBackupServer:localhost:9392:domain\username

Start in: blank

So, every time the task runs, it should parse the password for the username you specified from Windows Credential Manager and bypass
both UAC and Connect pop-up.

Hope that helps.
Oleg

[TheWaterbug]

Hmmm. I tried this, and it's still not working for me.

I created the saved shortcut and the new Task in Task Scheduler, exactly as you've described. When I test the Task in Task Scheduler by clicking Run, it runs without asking for a password.

But if I reboot, then it asks me for a password.

[oleg.feoktistov]

I tried it numerous times and, oddly, it stopped working for me either.
Nonetheless, given that the corresponding record exists in Credential Manager, I got it running on Windows Server 2016 with the following Task setup in Task Scheduler:

Program/script -

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C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe

Add arguments -

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-command "start-process 'C:\Program Files\Veeam\Backup and Replication\Console\veeam.backup.shell.exe' -argumentlist '-logon VeeamBackupServer:localhost:9392:domain\username'

Please have a try.
Thanks!