How-to Install the Cohesity Helper App (Windows)

Introduction

The Cloud Data Protection platform requires the installation of a Helper App to facilitate several backup configurations such as SQL Databases, Exchange Servers, and Physical Machines. This agent allows Cloud Data Protection to integrate natively with the previously mentioned software to ensure optimal backups are performed.

System Requirements

Please ensure the VM has up-to-date VMware Tools installed and network connectivity open on TCP Ports 111, 443, 445, 902, 2049, 3260, 5986, 50051, and 8080. Please contact Expedient to add a static route to the appropriate Cohesity cluster. By default, this external communication is blocked.

Procedure

Download the Cohesity Helper App

1. Log in to the respective Cloud Data Protection system
2. From the navigation bar at the top of the page, select the Protection → Sources tab
3. Open the add sources menu and then select the Download Cohesity Agent button from the bottom of the menu.
4. Select Windows via the blue arrow on the right
5.  Move downloaded agent to the server requiring Cohesity Helper App

 Install via the Setup Wizard

1. Login to the server to which you wish to install the agent software on
2. Run the downloaded or copied executable
3. Select Next
    
4. If you are performing an upgrade, select Yes. Otherwise, you may skip this section.
   
5. Select the appropriate Add-on Components
   1. If the server is a virtual machine, Do Not Check any Add-on Components and click Next.
        
   2. If the server is a physical machine without the need for MS SQL backups, Check the Volume CBT (Changed Block Tracker) option, ensure the File System CBT (Changed Block Tracker) option is Unchecked, and click Next.
      
      
   3. If the server is a physical machine needing MS SQL backups, Check both the Volume CBT (Changed Block Tracker) option and the File System CBT (Changed Block Tracker) option and click Next.
      
       
   4. The Volume CBT (Changed Block Tracker) option requires a reboot to activate; however, it will not force the operation.
6. The default installation method will utilize the Local System account as the service account for the helper app.
   
   
   If desired, you may specify a different service account by selecting The following user account: and entering the applicable credentials. 

7. Review and click Install when ready
   
   
8. The Cohesity Agent will start automatically upon completion of the install

 Setting Permissions in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

If this installation of the helper app is configured to protect SQL, ensure you grant permissions to the appropriate service account managing your Agent installation. By default, this will be NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. However, this can be changed during the app installation if desired.

1. Launch SQL Server Management Studio and login to the appropriate instance
2. Expand Security, Logins, and select NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
   
3. Right Click and select Properties
4. Select Server Roles, check the box next to sysadmin, and select OK.
    

4. Exit SQL Server Management Studio
5. Open the Task Manager and select the Services tab.
6. Locate the CohesityAgent service, Right Click, and select Restart

 Silent Install via Powershell

Alternatively, you can install the Cohesity Helper App on Windows servers by using the following parameters:

Example Installation Commands

The default name for <InstallerExeFile> is Cohesity_Agent_<Version>_Win_x64_Installer.exe.

The Cohesity Agent version is subject to change. Please, download a new Cohesity Agent file with each new set of installations.

 A full table of the parameters can be found below: