Setting or changing the alternate location for the disaster recovery information file

Last published : Apr 02, 2026
It is recommended that you specify an alternate location where Backup Exec can store the disaster recovery information files. The disaster recovery information files contain computer-specific information for each computer that you back up with Simplified Disaster Recovery (SDR). When you recover a Backup Exec server from a disaster, you must have the Backup Exec server's disaster recovery information file available. Without it, you cannot use SDR to recover the Backup Exec server.
It is recommended that the alternate location be on another computer or on a different physical drive than the default location. If the Backup Exec server's hard drive is damaged, you can access a copy of the disaster recovery information from the alternate location.You can specify a drive letter that is mapped to a network share as the alternate location.
To use a remote computer's hard drive as the alternate path, establish a valid connection to the remote computer. Specify a UNC path as the alternate path, and then check the directory to ensure that the disaster recovery information files are copied.
For a remote Backup Exec server, specify an alternate location on a shared drive.
You should also create additional copies of the disaster recovery information files and store them in a safe place.
See How Simplified Disaster Recovery uses disaster recovery information files.
To set or change the alternate location for the disaster recovery information file
  1. Click the Backup Exec button, select Configuration and Settings, and then selectBackup Exec Settings.
  2. In the left pane, select Simplified Disaster Recovery.
  3. In the Alternate path field, enter the path where you want to store a copy of the disaster recovery information file, or click Browse to navigate to a path.
  4. Specify the logon account to use to access the alternate path.
  5. Click OK.
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