Managing large-scale Veeam Agent deployments specially in v13. can be challenging, but PowerShell automation makes it efficient and repeatable. In this post, we’ll cover how to generate a deployment kit, create custom credentials, build containers, configure protection groups, and add computers from a CSV—all in one script.
Why Use a Deployment Kit?
The deployment kit allows you to pre-package Veeam Agent installation files and dependencies, so endpoints don’t need to download components from the backup server. This is ideal for large deployments or environments with limited bandwidth, as well as the environments were having local admin rights is not allowed.
Prerequisites
- Veeam Backup & Replication installed.
- PowerShell module for Veeam loaded.
- Administrative privileges on the backup server.
- A CSV file with machine IPs or hostnames.
Step-by-Step Process
1. Generate the Deployment Kit
Generate a deployment kit by the powershell Generate-VBRBackupServerDeployerKit which lasts for maximum 8760 hours (1 Year)
Create a deployment kit valid for 8760 hours (1 year):
Generate-VBRBackupServerDeployerKit -ExportPath “C:\DeploymentKit” -AllPlatforms -ValidityPeriodInHours 8760
Parameters:
-ExportPath: Directory where the kit will be stored.-ValidityPeriodInHours: Validity period in hours.
2. Create Custom Credentials
Create the custom credential per computer New-VBRIndividualComputerCustomCredentials
Securely store credentials for endpoints:
$hosts = Import-CSV -Path “C:\Computers.csv”
foreach ($host in $hosts) {$creds += New-VBRIndividualComputerCustomCredentials -HostName $host -UseTemporaryCertificate}
3. Create a Container
Create the Container New-VBRIndividualComputerContainer
Group computers for easier management:
$container = New-VBRIndividualComputerContainer -CustomCredentials $creds
4. Create a Protection Group Using Deployment Kit
Create the Protection Group Add-VBRProtectionGroup
Group computers for easier management:
Add-VBRProtectionGroup -Name “Windows CSV” -Container $container
Conclusion
Leveraging PowerShell with Veeam Backup & Replication simplifies large-scale agent deployments and ensures consistency across your environment. By generating a deployment kit, creating custom credentials, and organizing endpoints into containers and protection groups, you gain full control over installation and management. This approach not only saves time but also reduces manual errors, making it ideal for enterprise environments with hundreds or thousands of endpoints.
For even greater efficiency, consider automating the process with scripts that pull machine details from CSV files and apply deployment kits seamlessly. With these steps, your backup infrastructure will be more robust, scalable, and ready for long-term reliability.
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