How to add SMB repository to Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365

Scenario 1: Microsoft Windows SMB share with authorization

Prerequisites:

• To use the SMB 3.0 share as a storage system, make sure you are using Windows 8/Server 2012 or later; older OS versions do not support the SMB 3.0 share as a storage system.
• The Veeam Servers and the SMB share location must be deployed within the same or a trusted domain.
   

Configuration

1. Open folder sharing settings for planned repository location and add all Veeam servers using their computer names.
   
   For example, if your Veeam server is called WIN-F4N92CDLKET, the list would look like this:

Scenario 2: Standalone storage appliance

In this example, we will use a Synology appliance, but the same method should work for any standalone device that supports Microsoft Active Directory and its computer groups. 

1. Add the Veeam server and all remote backup proxies (if any) to the Active Directory domain.
2. Create an Active Directory group in this domain and add all Veeam servers to it as “computer” objects:

3. Add the storage device to the same domain:

4. Make sure that the SMB 3.0 protocol is enabled, and previous versions are not allowed to use:

5. Create an SMB shared folder and grant read/write access to it for the domain group that was created earlier:

Scenario 2 Alternate: Add standalone storage appliance using iSCSI protocol (Best Practice)

In this scenario, we will use the Synology appliance as an example, but the same method would work for any storage appliance that supports the iSCSI protocol.

1. Within the Storage Appliance, open the iSCSI manager and create a new LUN and Target:

2. On the Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 server:
   1. Open the iSCSI Initiator.
   2. Enter your storage appliance IP address.
   3. Click Quick Connect…
   4. Click Done.