Requirements for installing CAS

Last published : Apr 02, 2026
The system requirements for the Central Admin Server feature (CAS) are the same as the minimum requirements for Backup Exec, with the exception of RAM. However, processor speed, memory, and disk space requirements may increase based on the number of managed Backup Exec servers, the number of servers being backed up, and the amount of catalog storage space that is required.
On the computer on which you install the central administration server, 1 GB RAM is required, although 2 GB RAM or more is recommended for better performance. Other applications on the Backup Exec server also require a certain amount of physical RAM to function properly. The requirements for RAM may also increase when the central administration server manages more Backup Exec servers or tape hardware.
Before you install CAS, do the following:
  • Ensure that you have administrative rights on computers on which you want to install CAS.
  • Ensure that when you install CAS on Backup Exec servers in multiple domains, the Backup Exec service account is in the trusted domain, and has administrative rights on all of the Backup Exec servers that you want to use as managed Backup Exec servers.
If the Backup Exec Database for the central administration server is installed on a SQL Server instance on a different computer, the account must be a domain account with local administrative privileges on that computer as well.
  • Ensure that the central administration server and the managed Backup Exec servers are part of a domain or domains. CAS is not supported in a workgroup.
  • Use only NetBIOS computer names for managed Backup Exec servers and central administration servers. You cannot enter fully qualified domain names or IP addresses as server names.
  • Ensure that you have the appropriate licenses for Backup Exec. A license for Backup Exec is required in addition to a license for CAS.
  • Ensure that when you install a managed Backup Exec server, both the logged-in user and the Backup Exec service account for the managed Backup Exec server have administrative rights on the central administration server.
More Information
System requirements for Backup Exec
About installing the Central Admin Server feature