Azure Backup Update for Microsoft Azure Recovery Services Agent: January 2017

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Introduction

This article describes the new features, improvements, and fixes that are included in Azure Backup for Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) Agent version 2.0.9062.0. This agent is used by both Microsoft Azure Backup and Microsoft Azure Site Recovery (ASR) for transferring data to Azure.

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New features and Improvements

Support for upcoming regions with Azure Backup

This is the first update of Azure Backup for MARS Agent that officially supports registering to Recovery Services Vaults in upcoming Azure Backup regions. This update also provides Azure Active Directory (AAD)–based authentication for all backup and recovery-related operations in these regions, in addition to existing regions, when available.
Instant Restore (Preview)

Introducing a cloud-first approach to restoring individual files and folders, backed up directly to Azure with any MARS Agent version!

Currently in preview, Instant Restore lets MARS Agent users locally mount a writeable snapshot of a recovery point as a recovery volume, even if the recovery point was created by using an older MARS Agent. Users can then explore all files and folders in the recovery point and recover any set of files and folders of their choice by copying them from the recovery volume to their local computer.

Availability: The preview for Instant Restore is now available in all Azure Backup supported Azure regions.

To use Instant Restore, make sure that your MARS Agent is backing up files and folders to a vault in one of the regions that was mentioned earlier, install this update of the MARS Agent, and then follow the steps here.

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Issues that are fixed

A synchronization issue that was causing online backup jobs for multiple-protection groups (on DPM) to fail repeatedly after the completion of an earlier online backup job
An issue that led to an incorrect error status being displayed when MARS Agent was used with DPM for online backups
An issue that was causing MARS Agent installation on Windows Server 2008 SP2 to check for a deprecated version of Virtual Server
Other stability and reliability issues for backup and recovery

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Update information

To apply this update, install the latest version of the Microsoft Azure Recovery Services agent.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

download icon for contentauto Download the Azure Recovery Services agent update package now.

Note The version for this update of Microsoft Azure Recovery Services agent is 2.0.9062.0.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

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Restart information

If you're running Windows Server 2008 (Service Pack 2 or 2008 R2 Service Pack 1, any SKU), you must restart your server after you apply this update. If you have installed MARS Agent on other Windows Server versions, you do not have to restart the computer after you apply this update.

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Replacement information

This update replaces previously released update 3196148.

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Prerequisites

If you're running System Center 2016 Data Protection Manager (SC DPM), we recommend that you apply Update Rollup 1 for System Center 2016 Data Protection Manager or a later version.

If you're running System Center 2012 R2 Data Protection Manager (SC DPM), apply Update Rollup 11 for System Center 2012 R2 Data Protection Manager or a later version.

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