How to Configure Backup Exec Cloud Connector for all Storage Classes of Google (Nearline/Coldline/Regional/Multi-Regional)

Problem

Backup Exec provides the ability to use Google cloud storage class Nearline, Google cloud storage Coldline, Google Cloud Storage Regional, and Google Cloud Storage Multi-regional.

About Google storage class - Nearline, Coldline, Regional, and Multi-Regional

Google Cloud Storage class Nearline: A bucket/container created over Google Cloud storage to store documents or data that is accessed less than once a month.
Google Cloud Storage class Coldline: A bucket/container created over Google Cloud storage to store documents or data accessed less than once a year.
Google Cloud Storage Class Regional: A bucket/container created over Google Cloud Storage to store data and run data analytics accessed frequently in one part of the world.
Google Cloud Storage class Multi-Regional: A bucket/container created over Google Cloud storage to stream videos and host hot web content that is accessed frequently around the world.



Note: The Regional cloud storage class is supported starting with Backup Exec 16 Feature Pack 2.

Requirements

To configure Backup Exec Cloud Connector for Google Cloud Storage Nearline/Coldline/Regional/Multi-Regional, you must have the following items:

• A Google Cloud Platform account.
• A Google S3 interoperability access key. This is generated in the Google Developers Console.
• A Google S3 interoperability secret key. This is generated in the Google Developers Console.
• A Google storage bucket (Nearline or Coldline as per the customer’s requirement).

You must create the bucket before you configure cloud storage in Backup Exec. 

Ensure the bucket names meet the following Backup Exec requirements:

• Bucket names can contain lowercase letters, numbers, and dashes (or hyphens).
• Bucket names cannot begin with a dash (or a hypen).

Note: The buckets are not available for use in Backup Exec if the bucket name does not comply with the bucket naming conventions.
 

Solution

To configure Backup Exec Cloud Connector for Google Cloud Storage Nearline/Coldline/Regional/Multi-Regional:

1. For Backup Exec 15 FP2 - Backup Exec 16, on the Storage tab, click Configure Storage.  For Backup Exec 16.1 and later, on the Storage tab, click Configure Cloud Storage then skip to step 4 below.
2. Select Network storage, and then click Next.
3. Select Cloud storage, and then click Next.
4. Enter the name and description that you want to use for this cloud storage device, and then click Next.
5. Select S3 as the cloud storage provider, and then click Next.
6. For Backup Exec 15 FP2 - Backup Exec 16, in the Server name field, type the following for Google Cloud Storage class Multi-Regional:

7. Click Add/Edit next to the Logon account field.
8. On the Logon Account Selection dialog box, click Add.
9. On the Add Logon Credentials dialog box, do the following:

• In the User name field, type the Google access key.
• In the Password field, type the Google secret key.
• In the Confirm password field, type the Google secret key again. 
• In the Account name field, type a name for this logon account.

10. Click OK twice.
11. Select the Google logon account that you created in step 9, and then click Next.
12. Select the Google storage bucket as the logical storage unit that you want to use, and then click Next.
13. Review the summary, and then click Finish.