What Is a Protection Agent?
Applies To: System Center Data Protection Manager 2010
A protection agent is software that you install on each of the computers that you want to protect with DPM. The protection agent performs the following functions:
Records changes to protected data in a change journal. The protection agent creates a separate change journal for each protected volume and stores the journal in a hidden file on that volume.
Transfers the change journal from the protected computer to the DPM server to enable DPM to synchronize the replica.
Allows the DPM server to browse the shares, volumes, and folders on the protected computer.
A protection agent is controlled exclusively by the DPM server from which it is installed. You cannot assign an installed protection agent to work with a different DPM server.
Software Components
The protection agent software consists of two components: the protection agent itself and an agent coordinator. The agent coordinator is software that is temporarily installed on a protected computer during installation, update, or uninstallation of a protection agent.