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How to migrate from "Agent for Windows" to "Backup & Replication Console"

  • June 13, 2026
  • 2 comments
  • 21 views

richardcavell

Hello. I am a single user, and I have a Windows 11 Home mid-range gaming PC with a 1 terabyte internal SSD for personal use. I presently have Veeam Agent for Windows (free edition, can do only one job at a time). It was 176 megabytes. It backs up my filesystem to an external 1 terabyte mechanical hard disk. There are no virtual machines here. I figured out how to use Agent without problems. It works like a charm. Set and forget.

 

I want to add a second job, being a whole-volume-to-external hard disk job. But the free version of Agent can’t do two jobs for free. In fact, I wouldn’t mind a third job, which is to backup my most sensitive files more often. I would buy a license for Agent, but they’re only available in the UK in packs of 5!

 
I downloaded Backup & Replication Community Edition, which is 17.9 gigabytes. It is said to allow up to 10 jobs at once. It is obviously much more powerful and gargantuan than Agent. I can’t figure out how to use it. I don’t have a separate server. I can’t see my existing backup job anywhere on the console.


How do I migrate from Agent to B&R?

2 comments

Chris.Childerhose
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You need to add the repository to the console and when it rescans it will import the backups in to the console.  You then create an agent job and map the backup there.  Then you can create a second job or copy job if needed.


coolsport00
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  • Veeam Legend
  • June 13, 2026

Hi ​@richardcavell - as Chris shared, to use your former VAW Free backups, you will need to import that Repository into VBR. Backups are then discovered in the Repository by Veeam to use for Recovery purposes if needed. They won’t be used in any Job (I guess you could eventually if you wanted), but rather just for recovery if it’s needed until you hit retention on your new Jobs.

To use Agent Backup Jobs in VBR, there are a couple layers to create before you can do an Agent Backup. You need to 1st create a Protection Group, then add your physical device(s) to the Protection Group, then create an Agent Backup Job of the Protection Group. Start with this section of the VBR User Guide and work through it:

https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/userguide/protect_comp.html?ver=13

Hope that helpsl

Best.