About protecting a specific node in a SQL Server availability group

This topic describes how to protect a specific node in a SQL Server availability group (AG) using a legacy SQL Server policy.

Note the following when you configure a NetBackup policy to protect a specific node in an availability group:

For this backup scenario, do not use the PREFERREDREPLICA TRUE keyword in your batch files. Backups are skipped if the backup policy does not include the node that hosts the preferred replica.
Review the information on support and limitations for AGs.
See About using NetBackup to protect SQL Server availability groups.

Note:

Perform the following configuration steps after you create the SQL Server availability group.

Table: About protecting a specific node in a SQL Server availability group

Step	Action	Description
Step 1	Verify that you have a supported SQL Server configuration.	See the Application/Database Agent Compatibility List.
Step 2	On the node that you want to protect, install the NetBackup client.	See NetBackup server and client requirements.
Step 3	On the node that you want to protect, configure the NetBackup services.	See Configuring the NetBackup services for SQL Server backups and restores .
Step 4	Create a policy for each type of backup you want to perform.	See Configuring an automatic backup policy for a specific node of a SQL Server availability group.
Step 5	On the node that you want to protect, create a batch file for each type of backup that you want to perform.	See Creating a batch file for the policy that protects a specific node in an availability group. See About using batch files with NetBackup for SQL Server.
Step 6	Add the batch files to the policies that you created.	See Adding the batch files to the policy that protects a specific node in the availability group.