Silent installation of Backup Manager

Silent installation is a way to install backup devices through the command line on Windows.

Silent installation vs. Quick Installation vs. Legacy installation

Three installation methods available are:

  1. Quick Installation – The Automatic Deployment feature lets you install Backup Manager on multiple devices simultaneously
  2. Silent Installation – lets you install one device at a time using the command line on Windows
  3. Manual Installation - lets you install one device at a time manually

Please see the table below for the differences between these options.

Quick Installation Silent installation Manual Installation
Supported versions All Windows, macOS and Linux on which Backup Manager works (full list) All Windows, macOS and Linux on which Backup Manager works (full list) All Windows, macOS and Linux on which Backup Manager works (full list)
Feature availability Only resellers and end-customers All types of customers Only resellers and end-customers
Number of installations Multiple devices simultaneously One device at a time One device at a time
Details required for installation

Installation command (generated automatically)
  1. Device name
  2. Device password/installation key
  3. security code/encryption key
  1. Device name
  2. Device password/installation key
  3. security code/encryption key

Instructions

Here is how to perform the silent installation of the Backup Manager:

  1. Run your terminal emulator as an administrator.
  2. Download the Backup Manager for Windows from the Management Console's Downloads page.
  3. Run the installer and submit appropriate parameters for the installation. Here is an example:

mxb-windows-x86_x64.exe -user "support_win_jab67v" -password="ab0982b2bxgt" -encryption-key "SECUR_ITY2016!"

Technically, you can submit the name of the installer alone. In that case you will be offered to provide the remaining parameters when you start the Backup Manager software for the first time.

All text values must be submitted in straight double quotes.

Installation parameters

Required parameters

Parameter Description Supported values
-user A device name for authentication (generated automatically when you add a device in the Console) Text
-password The installation key associated with the device name (generated automatically when you add a device in the Console) Text
-encryption-key

Enter a security code/encryption key that will be used to encrypt your data.

Please store the key in a secure location as it will not be possible to re-install the Backup Manager and recover your data without this key.

If you are re-installaing an existing device that was installed by means of the automatic deployment, use the -passphrase parameter instead.

Text (6-100 symbols)
-passphrase The passphrase generated through the Console (used instead of the security code/encryption key for re-installing existing devices installed by means of the Quick Installation) Text

Proxy settings (optional)

Parameter Description Supported values
-use-proxy This setting prompts the Backup Manager to connect to the Internet through a proxy server.
  • 1 (use a proxy connection)
  • 0 (do not use a proxy connection) – default
-proxy-type The type of the proxy server
  • HTTP
  • SOCKS4
  • SOCKS5
-proxy-address The host name or IP address of the proxy server IP address or host name, for example 192.188.33.55 or some.server.com
-proxy-port The port number of the proxy server Number (0 by default)
-use-proxy-authorization Prompts the Backup Manager that the proxy requires authorization by username.
  • 1 – the proxy requires authorization
  • 0 – the proxy does not require authorization (default)
-proxy-username A username for access to the proxy server Text, for example domain\username or username
-proxy-password A password for access to the proxy server Text

Misc. optional parameters

Parameter Description Supported values
-encryption-method (legacy)

Supported by the Backup Manager 17.4 and earlier versions.

This setting lets you customize the data encryption method. Starting from the 17.5 release, AES-256 has become the common encryption method for all installations. All previous installations retain their original encryption method selections.
  • AES-256 (default)
  • AES-128
  • Blowfish-448
-restore-only This flag lets you install a backup device in the restore-only mode (for example, because it is already installed on another computer). N/A (enter the parameter as is)
-silent This flag prevents the installer from displaying warning and error messages. It also prevents the Backup Manager from starting automatically after the installation. N/A (enter the parameter as is)
-no-shortcuts

This flag prevents the installer from creating a Backup Manager shortcut in the Windows Start menu.

If the shortcut is missing, the only way to start the Backup Manager is by typing in its URL into a web browser or by launching a remote connection to the device from the Backup & Recovery Console.

 N/A (enter the parameter as is).