Backup Exec Announcement: Important Backup Exec Licensing Format Change (.slf to .lic)

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Article ID: 100076822

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Updated On:

Description

What Action Do You Need to Take?

Current Situation Required Action
You have active .slf licenses and are not renewing yet No immediate action. Your system will continue operating normally. Apply Backup Exec 25.1 Update 841033 at your convenience to prepare for future renewals.
You are renewing or purchasing new licenses (Sept 2026+) Upgrade to Backup Exec 25.1 (if needed) and apply Update 841033 before attempting to import your new .lic file.
You received a .lic file and get an error when importing Apply Backup Exec 25.1 Update 841033 immediately, then retry importing the file.

 

 

Upgrade Path Matrix

Find your current software version below to determine the steps required to support the .lic file format:

Current Installed Version Step 1 Step 2
Backup Exec 25.1 (Base, Update 648897, or 661496) Apply Update 841033 Import .lic file
Backup Exec 25.0 Upgrade to Backup Exec 25.1 Apply Update 841033, then import .lic file
Backup Exec 24.x or 23.x Upgrade to Backup Exec 25.1 Apply Update 841033, then import .lic file
Backup Exec 22.x or earlier Upgrading to Backup Exec 25.1 (Including Trial Mode) Upgrade to 25.1 + Update 841033, then import .lic file

 

 

Prerequisites & Installation Steps

Prerequisites:

  • Backup Exec 25.1 must be installed before applying Update 841033.
  • You must use an account with local Administrator rights on the Backup Exec server.
  • Ensure all active backup jobs are completed or canceled before starting the patch.

 

** Important File Security Requirement:
Windows may automatically block files downloaded from the web. You must unblock the .zip archive before extracting it. Right-click the .zip file, open Properties, check Unblock at the bottom of the General tab, and click Apply.

Installation Process:

  1. Download patch file BE1193.1460R841033_x64bit.zip from the licensing portal.
  2. Unblock the .zip file properties, then extract the contents to a local directory.
  3. Log on to the Backup Exec server as a local Administrator and close all active jobs.
  4. Run BE1193.1460R841033_x64bit.exe and follow the on-screen prompts. Backup Exec services will restart automatically.
  5. Verify installation by navigating to the Backup Exec icon (top left in the Backup Exec console) -> Help and Documentation -> About Backup Exec. to confirm (version 25.0.1193.1460) is listed.

 

How to Download the New .lic File

1. Check the email from: DoNotReply@backupexec-cognizant.com and click the ‘Download Your License Key’ box link as shown below.

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2. It should open www.backupexec-cognizant.com/customer on your default browser.
3. Sign in using your registered email address (which was marked in the ‘To’ field when received from license delivery email)
4. Click on ‘Send Code’ and confirm a 6-digit code received on the registered email (Check Spam or Junk folder if not received in inbox)
5. Enter the verification code and sign in to the portal
6. Under ‘License lookup’ section, Enter the entitlement ID in search box and click the ‘Search’ button.
7. You can now verify the details and download the new .lic format License File for Backup Exec.

 

How to Import the New .lic File

** Important File Security Requirement:
Windows may automatically block files downloaded from the web. You must unblock the .zip or .lic file before importing it. Right-click the .zip or .lic file, open Properties, check Unblock at the bottom of the General tab, and click Apply.

Once Backup Exec 25.1 Update 841033 is applied:

  1. Open the Backup Exec console.
  2. Navigate to Settings > Installation and Licensing > Install Features and Licenses on this Backup Exec Server > Import License File.
  3. Browse to your newly downloaded .lic file and click Open.
  4. Confirm activation under Settings > Installation and Licensing > License Contract Information. Your old .slf file can now be archived or safely discarded.

 

Note: Online license activation and call-home functionality are not supported in this release. All license updates must be completed via file import.

 

Issue/Introduction

Beginning September 2026, Backup Exec is transitioning to a new license file format. Newly issued or renewed licenses will now be delivered as .lic files, replacing the legacy .slf file format. To import and use these new .lic license files, your Backup Exec environment must be running Backup Exec 25.1 Update 841033.

Key Summary & Impact

  • No Immediate Action for Existing SLF Files: Active .slf files will continue to work until their expiration date. You do not need to replace them immediately.
  • Required for Future Renewals: When you purchase new licenses or renew existing ones from September 2026 onward, you will receive .lic files.
  • Prerequisite for Import: Backup Exec cannot import .lic files without Backup Exec 25.1 Update 841033 installed. If you attempt to import a .lic file on an unpatched system or on version 25.0 or lower, the import will fail.
  • Version Requirement: If you are running Backup Exec 25.0 or lower, you must first upgrade to Backup Exec 25.1 and then apply Update 841033 to support the new format.

Additional Information

References

 

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