|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data Backup FAQs
|
|
|
How often can I do a backup
You may back up your data as often as you like, as long as your computer is turned on and connected to the Internet. The easy-to-use DataBak Backup Wizard lets you set days and times for your backup to automatically happen.
Top
What should and should not be backed up
The DataBak service is intended to protect your critical data files, not the commercial software that you install from disk or CD. If you were to have a system crash it is better to re-install your software so that essential information can be written back into the Windows registry database that is part of your operating system.
We would also caution against including multi-media files in your backup. Their size and sheer volume would make it costly and lengthy to backup/restore via the Internet. Although you could order a CD of your backups, it is generally cost-prohibitive.
Although by no means an exhaustive list, remember to include:
- My Documents
- Items on your Desktop
- Email folders eg Outlook
- Fax folders
- Sales data
- Accounts data
If in doubt, contact your Technical support or software suppliers.
Top
Selecting or Deselecting files in Backup View
When you open the Backup Client, a scan of your hard disk is initiated. Upon completion, folders and files are displayed in a window similiar to Windows Explorer. There are two ways to select files.
- Manually by selecting the box next to a folder or file.
- Automatically using filters to select types of files. This is a very effective way to include files in the backup. The are several predefined filters to backup for example all Microsoft Office documents inclding Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint documents. Additional filters can be defined to include or excule file types.
Top
How to confirm backups are taking place
The easiest way to confirm that your backups are taking place is to check the logs. Here's how:
- Open the Backup Client.
- Click the Log tab.
- Highlight the log for any session that you want and then click the View Details button (bottom of window).
Each log lists every file that was marked as needing to be backed up, and ends with a summary of the backup session.
Top
What files were backed up
The easiest way to determine what files were backed up is to check the logs. Here's how:
- Open the Backup Client.
- Click the Log tab.
- Select the log for any session that you want.
Each log lists every file that was marked for backup, and ends with a summary of the backup session.
Top
Message in Log: "0 Files backed up"
There are several circumstances that may prevent files from being backed up:
- You cancelled the backup. Normal backups will resume without error.
- You ran a second backup immediately after another backup, so there were no changed files.
- Files needing backup were open. Close all files that you want backed up.
- Insufficient resources on your computer, such as not enough free hard disk space, not enough available RAM, too small a page file, open files, or numerous background processes.
- An outbound connection to the Internet could not be made. See Connections.
Also, confirm that your connection setting in the software is correctly set for the way you connect, either Dial-Up Networking (Modem) or Direct Connection. AOL is an example of a Direct Connection because the connection is already open when you go to back up. (Connection Settings are under View|Options|General, on the menu bar.)
- The Backup Client is installed in the same folder with the files you are trying to back up. Application programs, such as the backup software, should always be installed in a folder of their own, not mingled with files from other programs.
- You are running Norton Anti-Virus software and may have encountered a rare incident that causes the backup to stop transmitting files (Contact Support via a Support Request.)
Top
Deleting files from storage
Special Note:
It is a common mistake by computers users to accidently delete folders and files often without realising they have done so. We have therefore adopted a policy of disabling the automatic file deletion option by default in our Backup Client. You can of course enable this at your discretion. We recommend you manually delete files using the Delete tab in the Backup Client. Whilst we appreciate this is more labour intensive it is safer from a data protection perspective.
Automatic File Deletion:
The deletion of files from the backup server can be acheived automatically by enabling the "Send deleted file lists to the Backup Server" option on the Backup Client. To do this open the Backup Client on your computer and from the menu select View|Options|Backup, then select the General Options tab and under Miscellaneous, tick the box next to "Send deleted file lists to the Backup Server".
When you enable the this option files deleted on your computer will be scheduled for deletion on the Backup Server. Deleted files will be retained on the Backup server for the same period of time as defined in the "Keep file versions for x days" option (set via the Backup Client details in the Customer Area of this website). The deleting of files from the server is initiated after a backup is received at the Backup Server. When the deleted file's retension period has expired it is deleted from the Backup Servers storage.
Top
Where your data is stored
Each Backup Client is assigned to a mirrored pair of data centres that are geographically separate. The redundancy of a mirrored pair increases the security of your stored data. Additionally, the data centres are themselves backed up.
Top
|
|
|
|
|