How to Seed your initial Backup

How to Seed your initial Backup - SAFE Backup

Seeding an initial backup can be very useful if you have a large amount of data to backup and or have a slow upload connection to the internet. To create a seed, plug in the Hard Drive you are wanting to backup the client to run the backup to - this is what you will send to us to do the seed. ,

You will need to create yourself a backup set with all the data you require to be backed up. Login to the client and click on Backup Sets


Select "Add new backup set".

Name the backup set and select backup type. For this example, we are using a simple File Backup. Press "Next" when ready.

The next step is selecting the files for the backup. I would always recommend you use the "I would like to choose the files to backup" option and unselect the predefined locations the software gives you. Once sources are selected press "Next" on the bottom right of the window.

The next step is the schedule, as we are doing a seed we are going to toggle "Run scheduled backup for this backup set" to the "Off" position. Press "next" bottom right.


The next page is where you set the "Destination" for the backup, you will need to press "Add", this will then open a "New Storage Destination/Destination Pool" window where you can select the local drive you have plugged in.

When you select the "Local" destination you need to add the path via the "Change" button. Press "Test" to ensure this works, then press "ok" to the bottom right.

Please leave "OpenDirect" as "Off" and press "Next" to continue.


The next page is for Encryption, this sets the encryption key you will need to use when restoring the data. You can set a different key via the "Custom" option but we recommend using the "user password" option so the encryption key is the same as the login password. Whatever you set please keep a record of it as we cannot see encryption keys. Once decided please press "Next". You will then be given the chance to view the encryption key, you can "unmask" it if you wanted to confirm. Press "confirm" to continue.

You have now made your set and you will need to run the backup, select ""Backup now" if you are ready, this will add the backup too the hard drive you plugged in.


After running the seed backup you should see "Backup Completed Successfully"  if not, please contact us so we can see why it failed and if the data on the seed drive is worth sending to us.

It's also worth looking at the seed location to make sure you have data.  In the example below you will see there are two folders.  Settings and a numeric folder number.  Right click on the numeric folder and click properties.  The amount of data shown should equal the data size you're backing up allowing for some compression.


PLEASE NOTE: Do not delete this backup set even after you have sent it to us otherwise the seed will be useless to us.

Once we have uploaded the seed to our servers we will inform you that it is completed.  You will then need to perform the following tasks. Open the backup client and select "Backup Sets" and select the set you have just seeded. To the left select "Destination".



Double click the "Local" destination we created for the seed and select "Delete this storage destination" bottom left.


You will then be prompted to confirm you want to the delete the destination.
 
If you do not have a storage location for our server set up you will need to add one, and a schedule. Login to the backup client, select "Backup Sets" and choose the set in question. On the left hand side select "Destination" and to the right "Add new storage destination/destination pool".


Using the drop down select one of the server locations and press "ok" to the bottom right and press "Save" on the "Destination" window.

You will then need to add a schedule, select "Backup Sets" and select the set in question. On the left hand side select "Backup Schedule" then toggle "Schedule" to "On". You can either leave the default schedule that is set, edit it by clicking the "Backup Schedule", or "Add" a new one.


When adding a new schedule this is what you will see.

Change the times to what you would like and press "ok" and "Save". You are nowready for the next schedule to run.


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