Backup sets allow you to divide the files on a device into separate groups, and back up each group to its own destination with its own settings.
For example, you can back up frequently changed documents with a high priority each day, while backing up relatively static system files with a lower priority only once a week.
Most devices do not require more than one backup set. Before creating additional sets, review Backup set best practices to determine whether they are appropriate for your environment.
What each backup set controls
Each backup set has its own settings, listed below. These settings are configured per set, so two sets on the same device can differ.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Identifies the set in the CrashPlan app and console. |
| File selection | The files and folders included in the set. |
| Destination | Where the set backs up. Sets can share a destination or use different destinations. See Backup sets and destinations. |
| Priority | Determines the order in which sets back up. See Backup set priority. |
| Schedule | Whether backup runs continuously or only between specified times. |
| File exclusions | Files the set does not back up. |
| Version and retention settings | How often new versions are captured and how long they are retained. Configured in the CrashPlan console. |
Backup set priority
Backup sets back up in priority order. The set with priority 1 backs up completely before the set with priority 2 begins, and so on.
Priority also determines which settings apply when sets share a destination. When multiple sets back up to the same destination, the version and retention settings of the highest-priority set are applied to every set using that destination. See How exclusions and retention settings apply across backup sets.
Backup sets and destinations
A device maintains one archive at each destination it backs up to. Every backup set using a given destination backs up into that single archive. Backup sets are shown separately in the device's configuration, but their data is stored together at the destination.
Sharing a destination has several consequences for backup sets:
- File exclusions defined in any set are applied to the entire archive during archive maintenance, regardless of which set backed the data up.
- Version and retention settings are taken from the highest-priority set using that destination.
- Restoring from a destination shows all of the files it holds for the device, not the files from a single backup set.
- Creating another backup set does not add another copy of your data at a destination. A redundant archive is created by adding a destination, not by adding a backup set.
For details, see How exclusions and retention settings apply across backup sets and Backup set best practices.
The default backup set
Every device has a default backup set. This is the first backup set created when the device was added to your CrashPlan environment.
The default backup set cannot be deleted. Any additional sets you create can be deleted.
To stop using an additional set while retaining its files, move that set's file selection into the default set first. See Can't delete a backup set for the full procedure.
Who can create and change backup sets
Backup sets are available to you only if your administrator permits it. Settings are locked individually, so some options may be available to you while others are not.
Administrators can lock any of the following:
- Adding and removing backup sets
- Set name
- Priority
- Schedule
- File selection
- Destinations
- File exclusions
- Backup frequency and version retention
- Backup of open files
- The ability to pause backup
If a setting appears unavailable
Your administrator has locked it. Contact your administrator to request a change.
To enable and configure backup sets for an organization, see Configure device backup settings and Organizations - Device Backup Defaults - Backup settings reference.