Configuring off-host backup options for a backup job

Last published : Apr 02, 2026
Off-host backup enables Backup Exec to move backup processing from the host computer, which is the remote computer that contains the volumes selected for backup, to the Backup Exec media server. The off-host backup creates a snapshot of the volume or volumes that are selected for backup on the remote computer. The snapshots are then imported to the media server, where they are backed up.
To configure off-host backup options for a backup job
  1. On the Backup and Restore tab, right-click the server, servers, or server group that you want to back up.
  2. Select Backup , and then select the type of backup that you want to perform.
  3. On the Backup Definition Properties dialog box, in the Selections box, click Edit.
  4. On the Backup Selections dialog box, check the boxes for the resources that you want to back up and uncheck the check boxes for the resources that you do not want to back up.
  5. Click OK.
  6. On the Backup Definition Properties dialog box, in the Backup box, click Edit.
  7. On the Backup Options dialog box, select the schedule for this job.
  8. On the Backup Options dialog box, in the left pane, select Advanced Disk-based Backup.
  9. Set any of the following options for this job:
    Use offhost backup to move backup processing from the remote computer to the Backup Exec server Select this option to enable off-host backup.
    Off-host backup enables Backup Exec to move backup processing from the host computer to the Backup Exec server. The off-host backup creates a snapshot of the volume or volumes that are selected for backup on the remote computer. The snapshots are then imported to the Backup Exec server, where they are backed up.
    Continue the backup job (offhost backup is not used) Select this option to let the backup job complete without using the off-host feature if either of the following conditions occur\:
    - The selected volumes do not support off-host backup.
    - An error occurs that is related to the snapshot import or the volume import.
    Fail the backup job (further selections are not backed up after failure occurs) Select this option to fail the backup job if either of the following conditions occur\:
    - The selected volumes do not support off-host backup.
    - An error occurs that is related to the snapshot import or the volume import.
    Process logical volumes for offhost backup one at a time Select this option to enable the backup of multiple volumes in one job, while a snapshot is created of only one logical volume at a time. To ensure database integrity, or if a volume contains mount points, multiple volumes may need to be snapped at one time.
    After the logical volume is snapped and backed up, the snapshot is deleted before the next logical volume is snapped. This option increases the ability to meet the minimum quiet time that is needed to complete a snapshot.
    A logical volume can comprise multiple physical volumes. A single logical volume can encompass all of the volumes on which databases reside.
  10. On the Backup Options dialog box, click any of the optional settings in the left pane that you want to set for this job.
  11. Click OK.
  12. On the Backup Definition Properties dialog box, click OK.
More Information
About the Advanced Disk-based Backup feature
How to use off-host backup to process remote computer backups on the Backup Exec server