NovaBACKUP 22 System Requirements
Hardware, operating systems, prerequisites, supported applications, backup devices, and Disaster Recovery requirements for NovaBACKUP PC Agent and Server Agent 22.
Applies to: NovaBACKUP PC Agent and NovaBACKUP Server Agent, version 22.0 and newer. Last updated October 2026.
Check these requirements before you install NovaBACKUP 22 or upgrade a computer from NovaBACKUP 21.x. They cover hardware, operating systems, the software components setup installs for you, supported applications, backup devices, and Disaster Recovery.
Hardware
| Component | NovaBACKUP PC Agent | NovaBACKUP Server Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 64-bit (x64), 1.3 GHz single core minimum. 2 to 4 cores recommended. | 64-bit (x64), 1.3 GHz single core minimum. 2 to 4 cores recommended. |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended | 8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended |
| Disk space | 10 GB free on the operating system drive. The installation itself uses about 2 GB. | 10 GB free on the operating system drive. The installation itself uses about 2 GB. |
| Network | TCP/IP network. Internet access for activation, cloud backups, updates, and the setup downloads listed below. | TCP/IP network. Internet access for activation, cloud backups, updates, and the setup downloads listed below. |
Supported Operating Systems
NovaBACKUP 22 supports 64-bit editions of these operating systems:
| Operating system | NovaBACKUP PC Agent | NovaBACKUP Server Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2 | Yes | Yes |
| Windows 10, version 22H2 | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server 2025 | No | Yes |
| Windows Server 2022 | No | Yes |
| Windows Server 2019 | No | Yes |
| Windows Server 2016 | No | Yes |
Important: NovaBACKUP 22 supports only 64-bit (x64) editions of Windows on computers with x64 processors. 32-bit editions of Windows and computers with ARM-based processors are not supported.
Important: A NovaBACKUP PC Agent license cannot be activated on Windows Server. To protect a server, use a NovaBACKUP Server Agent license.
Software Installed by Setup
NovaBACKUP setup checks for these Microsoft components and installs any that are missing. You do not need to install them first.
- Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 or newer
- Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime
- Microsoft .NET 8.0 Runtime (x64), version 8.0.31 or a newer 8.0 version
- Microsoft ASP.NET Core 8.0 Runtime (x64), version 8.0.31 or a newer 8.0 version
Setup downloads the .NET and ASP.NET Core runtimes from Microsoft during installation, so the computer needs internet access. On a computer without internet access, install both runtimes from https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/8.0 before you run setup.
Note: Install the 8.0 runtimes. NovaBACKUP setup does not accept .NET 9 or .NET 10 in their place. Install the .NET Runtime and the ASP.NET Core Runtime from the same 8.0 release.
Note: NovaBACKUP 22 uses the ASP.NET Core Runtime. You do not need the ASP.NET Core Hosting Bundle or Internet Information Services (IIS).
Supported Applications (NovaBACKUP Server Agent)
Application backups need a NovaBACKUP Server Agent license that includes the matching plug-in.
Microsoft SQL Server
- Microsoft SQL Server 2025
- Microsoft SQL Server 2022
- Microsoft SQL Server 2019
- Microsoft SQL Server 2017
- Microsoft SQL Server 2016
Microsoft Hyper-V
- Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2025
- Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2022
- Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2019
- Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2016
To back up Hyper-V virtual machines, install NovaBACKUP Server Agent on the Hyper-V host. Hyper-V backup is supported on Windows Server only. It is not available on Windows 10 or Windows 11, even with Hyper-V turned on, because the Hyper-V backup component it needs ships only with Windows Server.
VMware
VMware backups are not supported in NovaBACKUP 22. On a computer upgraded from NovaBACKUP 21.x, existing VMware jobs in the Virtual Dashboard keep running, and you manage them in the Legacy NovaBACKUP UI.
Supported Backup Devices
Local and network storage
- Internal SATA, SAS, SCSI, and NVMe hard drives and SSDs
- External hard drives (USB or Thunderbolt) formatted with NTFS or ReFS
- USB flash drives formatted with NTFS
- RDX drives, used through their drive letter
- Network shares on a NAS, SAN, or Windows server, over SMB
Note: Format external drives larger than 2 TB with a GUID Partition Table (GPT) instead of MBR.
Cloud and offsite storage
- NovaBACKUP Cloud
- Amazon S3 and S3-compatible storage
Disaster Recovery
A backup job with Disaster Recovery selected backs up the drive Windows runs from (usually C:) for full system recovery. Other drives are backed up only when you also select them in the job. Full system recovery has these requirements:
- The computer starts in UEFI mode, and its system disk uses a GPT partition table. Computers that start in legacy BIOS mode with an MBR disk are not supported for Disaster Recovery.
- Each restore recreates one disk. A computer with several disks needs a separate restore for each disk.
- A restore recreates the EFI system, Microsoft Reserved, recovery, and basic data partitions.
Because Disaster Recovery backs up files instead of a disk image, it supports computers that use BitLocker-encrypted volumes, dynamic disks, or Storage Spaces.
Recovery media
| Media | Requirements |
|---|---|
| ISO file | Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) with the Deployment Tools feature, plus the Windows PE add-on. The ISO file is typically about 2 GB. |
| USB flash drive | Windows ADK with Deployment Tools, plus the Windows PE add-on. A USB flash drive of at least 2 GB. |
| Recovery partition | A GPT system disk with a Windows recovery partition, which most Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers already have. Does not need the Windows ADK. |
To start from NovaBACKUP recovery media, a computer needs a 64-bit processor, at least 2 GB of RAM, and a display resolution of at least 800 x 600.
Restore to a Hyper-V virtual machine
To restore a Disaster Recovery backup as a virtual machine, you need a computer running Windows 10 or Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, or Windows Server, with the Hyper-V role turned on. NovaBACKUP creates a Generation 2 virtual machine.
Installation Notes
- Install NovaBACKUP with an account that has administrator rights. You cannot install it from a standard user account.
- Antivirus and endpoint detection and response (EDR) software can slow down or block backups. See Antivirus and EDR Exclusions for NovaBACKUP 22.
Related Articles
- Upgrading from NovaBACKUP 21.x to NovaBACKUP 22
- Clean Install vs. Upgrade, and Reaching Legacy Image Data
- Getting Started with NovaBACKUP 22
Information in this article is subject to change without notice. NovaBACKUP Corporation and NovaStor make no representations or warranties with respect to its contents and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.
Still Need Help?
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- Email: support@novabackup.com
- Phone: +1 805-579-6700 (press 2 for support)
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