How to license?

[johannesr]

Greetings,

I have the following setup:
- 1 physical Windows Server 2016 Essentials
- 5 Clients (Windows 10)
- 1 "Backupserver"

The backup server is technically speaking a Win10 machine with VBR installed, acting as backup repository, located behind a firewall to prevent
nasty things like crypto trojans. I have the neweset agent installed on all machines as a proof of concept. All fine so far.

What I want to achieve:
- daily backup of the client machines (once is enough, just for quick restore, all data is stored on the Windows Server)
- backup of the windows server machine each hour (works, tested it before - backup only takes a couple of minutes)
-- later - when the client gets proper internet at home - I would like to replicate all the backups through the vpn to a secondary target.

I do not see any technical issues here. But I am not sure how to properly license the scenario? I heard if I buy one server license for VBR that I do not have to license the agents (but I can only have licensed or non-licensed agents).
vice-versa, I can fully license the clients, and can use vbr server for kinda free as my backup repository.

Can somebody help me here?

Thanks in advance
Johannes

[DGrinev]

Hi Johannes and welcome to the community!

If you are going to use replication or backup copy job to the secondary target, you should have Veeam B&R license, since free version cannot do that. Thanks!

[johannesr]

Hi DGrinev,

that means, leaving the agents unlicensed? Or to license both?

[DGrinev]

Since you've small environment to protect, you can stay with free agents. Thanks!

[johannesr]

For the server instance I need application aware backups (SQL and Active Directory). That means, I need to license the server agent, and thus, all the other agents too, since I cannot mix licensed and unlicended agents, right?

[DGrinev]

Right. In this case the server agent license is needed. Thanks!

[johannesr]

So I need to license every agent, because mixing is not supported?

[DGrinev]

Yes, you cannot mix free and paid versions. Thanks!

[johannesr]

so, to sum it finally up - if I want application consistent backups AND backup copy jobs or secondary targets, I need to license everything? agents AND the VBR?

[DGrinev]

That's correct, since you're going to utilize the features available only in paid versions. Thanks!