Overview
By default, a single instance of the CrashPlan app is installed for all user accounts on a device. This default installation type is the best to use. However, if you have devices shared by multiple users, you may wish to change the installation type to "per user" if:
- You need a separate instance of the CrashPlan app for each user account on a device, and
- You are not using CrashPlan's monitoring features
Installation type comparison
Both the default (for everyone) and per user installation types are able to back up data for multiple users on a single device.
- The default installation type uses a single user account with the same backup settings, backup archive, and subscription for all users who sign in to the device.
- The per user installation uses a separate CrashPlan app instance for each user account to manage unique account settings for each user.
Review the table below for more details about the differences between the installation types.
| Install for everyone (default) | Install per user | |
|---|---|---|
| Username and password | Single username and password for all users on the device. | Individual username and password for each per-user installation. |
|
Single encryption key for all users on the device. |
Different encryption key for each per-user installation. |
|
| Backup permissions |
Can back up any file on the device, except those contained in admin exclusions. |
Can only back up files that the individual user account can access, except those contained in admin exclusions. |
| Backup activity | Backs up at all times, regardless of whether users are signed in to the device. | Backs up only for the currently signed-in user. |
| Backup archive | Files included in the backup file selection back up to a single backup archive, regardless of user. | Each per-user installation backs up to a unique backup archive. |
| Encrypted file system | Supports encrypted files, folders, drives, and file systems that are run at a system level (for example, FileVault on macOS). | Supports encrypted files, folders, drives, and file systems that are run at the user level (for example, Windows Encrypting File System). |
| CrashPlan app and tray access | Application and tray visible to all users on the device. Any user can access the application by default. Requires sign in for first use. | Application is visible only for user accounts with an installed CrashPlan app. |
| File restore |
Can restore any files within the backup file selection. |
Can only restore files the individual user account has backed up. |
Considerations for per-user installations
Review the considerations below before installing the CrashPlan app per user.
System requirements
- Per-user installation is supported on Mac and on Windows.
- Only one per-user installation is supported on a single Linux device. Multiple per-user installations are not supported.
Licenses and subscriptions
When you install per user, each user or device requires a subscription and follows the guidelines for subscription consumption.
Permissions
When you install per user:
- The CrashPlan app cannot back up files and folders that the user does not have permission to access. The CrashPlan app relies on the user's system permissions to access and back up files.
- The CrashPlan app cannot back up when the user is signed out of the device.
Volume shadow service (VSS)
(Windows only)
On Windows, the CrashPlan service coordinates with VSS to back up open files. When the CrashPlan app is installed per user, the CrashPlan service does not have full access to VSS. As a result, files that are left open may not back up regularly. If files are not backing up, the history log reports, “Unable to backup n files”. If this occurs, the CrashPlan service will try again later; if the file is closed, then backup will succeed.
Backup does not reach 100%
VSS may not have access to system and application files included in your backup file selection, which can prevent your backup from completing. The CrashPlan app isn't designed to back up restore your operating system or application files, so there is no advantage to backing up these types of files. Do not add these files to your backup selection.
Install per user and for everyone on the same device
Installing the CrashPlan app using both installation types on a single device is not supported.
Install the CrashPlan app per user on Windows and Mac
- Sign in to the device.
The per-user installation of the CrashPlan app is applied to the signed-in user account. - Download the CrashPlan app.
See your system administrator for guidelines on downloading the CrashPlan app. - Open the CrashPlan app installer:
- Windows: Double-click the installer file and follow the prompts.
- Mac: Double-click the DMG file, then double-click Install CrashPlan.
- When prompted for Installation Type, choose the option to install the CrashPlan app for your user account:
- Windows: Select Only for me and continue the installation.
- Mac: Select Change Install Location, then choose Install for me only and continue the installation.
- Create or sign in to your account.
- Repeat the installation for each user account on the device.
- (Mac only) Restart the device.
Mac contacts, reminders and calendars
After backup starts, the Mac operating system prompts for access to your contacts, reminders, and calendars. Click Ok to allow the CrashPlan app access to back up the contents of your user folder. If you select Don't Allow, the CrashPlan app will back up everything other than your contacts, reminders, and calendars.
Command-line installation
To install the CrashPlan app per user on the command line, adapt these examples to your needs.
Command-line installation on Windows
Use msiexec to run the CrashPlan app installer with the following parameters:
msiexec /i "<path_to_known_location>\<CrashPlan_app_version>.msi" /qn ALLUSERS=2 MSIINSTALLPERUSER=1 INSTALL_PER_USER=1 CP_SILENT=true /log install_log.txt
| Parameter | Purpose |
|---|---|
msiexec /i |
Allows the use of Windows Installer from the command line. |
<path_to_known_location> |
The full directory path to the installer file. Examples:
|
<CrashPlan_app_version> |
Replace with the file name and version of the MSI installer for your version of the CrashPlan app. Examples:
|
/qn |
Specifies a silent installation. |
ALLUSERS=2 MSIINSTALLPERUSER=1 INSTALL_PER_USER=1 |
Specifies the per-user installation context. |
CP_SILENT=true |
Prevents the CrashPlan app from opening on the device after installation is complete. |
/log install_log.txt |
Creates an installation log for a given file name. |
Command-line installation on Mac
- Obtain the package (.pkg) installer file for the CrashPlan app:
- Download the CrashPlan app from the CrashPlan console.
- Double-click the CrashPlan app's installer dmg to mount it.
- Copy the .pkg file from the mounted installer to a known location on the destination device.
- Use Apple's
installertool to run the CrashPlan app installer with the following parameters:
installer -pkg "<path_to_known_location>/<CrashPlan_app_version>.pkg42" -target CurrentUserHomeDirectory
| Parameter | Purpose |
|---|---|
installer -pkg |
Allows Mac installer packages to be run from terminal |
<path_to_known_location> |
The full directory path to the installer file. Examples:
|
<CrashPlan_app_version> |
Replace with the file name and version of the package (PKG) file installer for your version of the CrashPlan app. Example: CrashPlan_6.0.0_1466571600600_Mac |
-target CurrentUserHomeDirectory |
Specifies the per-user installation context. CurrentUserHomeDirectory is an Mac domain, not an example. Do not replace this text with a path or folder on your device. |
Change a current CrashPlan app install to per user
If the CrashPlan app is installed for everyone on your device, and you want to install per user instead:
- Perform a complete uninstall of the CrashPlan app.
- Install the CrashPlan app for each user account.
-
Reconnect your previous backup.
Only one user can reconnect to the previous backup.