You can use a SQL Server Intelligent Policy to protect the preferred or primary replica in a SQL Server availability group. Note the following before you configure the policy:

• When you protect the preferred replica, NetBackup honors your SQL Server backup preferences. These preferences include the preferred replica, backup priority, and excluded replicas. NetBackup backs up the preferred replica, as determined by SQL Server.

• NetBackup can only fully protect the availability group environment if each replica on which backups occur is registered in the Applications utility.

• Note that NetBackup runs a backup job on each replica in the availability group. On replicas which are not the backup source, the job skips the backup.

• Review the information on support and limitations for availability groups.

  See About using NetBackup to protect SQL Server availability groups.

• Review the prerequisites for protecting the availability group.

  See Prerequisites for protecting SQL Server availability groups.