Device Backup reference (Small Business)

Updated May 31, 2023 17:05

Overview

The Backup tab under Device Backup allows you to control how and when backup operations take place, what files to include and exclude from backup, the frequency of backup, and how long versions should be retained.

General

SMB_Device_Backup_Settings_backup_sets_options_6.8.3.png

Item	Description
a	Backup Sets	Displays Backup Sets where you can create and configure backup sets.
b	Backup will run	Indicates whether backups are always running or running only at specific times.
	Always - Backup is always running.
	Between specified times - Backup will run only at specified times. When set to run between specified times, the CrashPlan app uses the time provided by the device's operating system.
c	Preferred time for verification scan	Scans the system for file changes and deleted files within your backup selection at the interval and time of day that you specify. If the device is powered off or asleep at the scheduled scan time, the scan runs 30 minutes after the device reconnects.
d	Push	Applies these settings to existing devices in addition to new devices.

File selection

Item	Description
a	Included files	Adds pathnames of directories that should be included in backups of this device. Pathnames are case sensitive (see alert below).
b	+	Adds item to the Included filenames list.
c	Included filenames list	Displays pathnames of directories that are included in backups. A yellow folder icon indicates a folder. A purple document icon indicates a file. Click the X to remove an item from the list.
d	Excluded files	Adds pathnames of directories that should be excluded from backups of this device.
e	+	Adds item to the Excluded filenames list.
f	Excluded filenames list	Displays pathnames of directories that are excluded from backups. A yellow folder icon indicates a folder. A purple document icon indicates a file. Click the X to remove an item from the list.
g	Push	Applies these settings to existing devices in addition to new devices.

Consideration: Keep in mind that excluding previously selected files results in excluded files being deleted from the backup archive. The now-excluded files will not be available for restoring.

Included and excluded files
Inclusions are processed first, followed by exclusions. Files that are in both the inclusions and exclusions will be excluded, since the exclusion list is processed last.

Incorrect drive-letter capitalization may cause data loss
Drive letters are case sensitive. Adding a file path with incorrect capitalization of the drive letter removes all files from the backup file selection for devices with a different case drive letter. For example, adding a file path that starts with lowercase c (such as c:\Users) removes the backups of files whose actual path on disk starts with a capital C (such as C:\Users).

The CrashPlan app does not back up Windows UNC file paths
The CrashPlan app does not support Universal Naming Convention (UNC) file paths (for example, //SERVERNAME/shareddir/).

File selections must use an absolute path (for example, C:/) to enable backup and restore.

Filename exclusions

PRO_DeviceBackup_FilenameExclusions_annotated_export.png

Item	Description
a	Platforms	Displays excluded filename patterns per platform.
b		Enter filename pattern to exclude from backup.
c	Regular Expression	Enter text in the form of a Regular Expression (regex).
d	+	Adds text in text box to list of filename patterns to exclude.
e	Import	Displays window in which you can paste the contents of a text file with filename patterns / regex items you wish to exclude.
f	Export	Displays window in which you can copy the contents of the excluded files list, which you can in turn paste into your favorite text editor for editing.
g	Push	Applies these settings to existing devices in addition to new devices.

Frequency and versions

SMB Frequency and versioning 10_14_21.png

Item		Description
a	Frequency - Back up new version	Indicates how often CrashPlan for Small Business backs up and creates new versions of files in your archive.
b	Versions to retain from last week	Indicates which versions to keep from last week (not including today).
c	Versions to retain from last 90 days	Indicates which versions to keep from last 90 days (not including last week).
d	Versions to retain from last year	Indicates which versions to keep from last year (not including the last 90 days).
e	Versions to retain from previous years	Indicates which versions to keep from previous years (not including last year).
f	Remove deleted files after	Period after which deleted files are removed from the archive.
g	Push	Applies these settings to existing devices in addition to new devices.

Advanced settings

SMB advanced settings 10_14_2021.png

Item	Description
a	Back up open files	Indicates whether files that are open (in use) at the time of back up are backed up.
b	Push	Applies these settings to existing users in addition to new users.

Pausing controls

Admin_pausing_controls_6.8_small_business.png

Item	Description
Allow pausing of Backup	Allows users of the CrashPlan app to pause backups. Leaving this setting unselected removes all pause controls from the CrashPlan app.

Ensure complete backup sets
Disallowing users of the CrashPlan app from pausing backups ensures more complete sets of backed up files. If they pause backups often, users may not get complete sets of backed-up files.