Backup Example

The following example is of a Full Working Free Product called the "Cobian Backup” program and it shows how a complete backup solution can be implemented. This backup strategy has been chosen based on the recommendation from our “backup strategy” page.

Here is what you will get:

Remote backup is done automatically.

Data will be saved both on the remote computer as well as on your personal computer - so there will be 2 copies at all times.

To improve reliability, the remote backup is also backed up on daily basics.

The backup media is hard disk which is consider to be relatively safe.

As the data backup is in three different disks it is a fairly safe backup program.

User will not have an access to the remote backup (except when using the backup program) so data can not be deleted accidentally.

When required all remote backed up files are transfer in an encrypted zip format.

The “remote ” backup up server can be any remote computer which is accessed via an ftp program. If needed, any virtual web server with ftp access can be used. (Almost any web hosting company provides this kind of services for a few dollars a months). It is important to verify that your provider is reliable, and provides his own backup to your virtual server so you can have another backup of your backed up data.

To implement this backup strategy, we have chosen to use the “Cobian Backup” program. This program is reliable, can implement all the tasks we needed and is completely free of charge. Before continue, you need download and install the Cobian Backup program from http://www.cobian.se .

The following sections show you how to setup your backup program..

Backup Type: We choose to use a full back up once, followed by daily incremental backups. The full backup keeps a complete copy of your data. The incremental backup keeps a copy of your data that has been modified since the last backup.

Full backup:

Creating the full backup configuration follow the steps below:

First step is to create a full backup of your data.

Start the Cobian program and click on “task -> new task” to create a new task that will handle the full backup.

In order to configure the full backup task, use the following parameter:

• The “general” parameter

Use the following configuration:

• The “Files” parameter:

“Source” should contain a list of all the directories that you want backed up.
“Destination” contains the directory where the backup will be stored.

• The “Schedule” parameters – “Schedule type” set to “Manually”

• The “Archive” parameters“should be set as shown below (this will zip and encrypt the backup).

In the “Special” parameters you can add files type that should not be included in the backup.

Setup is now ready. Click on OK to save it.

Running the full backup configuration

Now the backup is ready to run. Click on the “full backup” icon, and then choose “Task -> Run Selected task”.

When the backup up done, the backup file is found on the target directory. (In our example the backup file is located on C:\backup\backup.zip).

Saving the full backup configuration

Unlike the incremental backup, which is done completely automatically, the full backup needs some manual intervention. (Note that as the full backup is done only once, so this manual intervention is acceptable). In order to complete the full backup process, we now need to transfer the backed up file “backup.zip” to the remote computer.

In the incremental backup this transfer will be done automatically. However, due to the expected huge file size of the full backup, the transfer might take a few days, and required a special transfer program. To make a secure transfer of the file to your external server, use “filezilla” program from http://filezilla.sourceforge.net/

We are not ready to setup the incremental backup. As mentioned before the incremental backup will be done both on the local computer and remote computer.

Local Incremental backup

Local backup incremental

The “local incremental backup” is the backup done on a local disk with all the files that have changed since the last backup. This backup will always be followed by a “remote incremental backup” that saves the same backed up data on a remote machine. The “local incremental backup” can be very helpful for a quick data restore. In case the “local incremental backup” is destroyed, there will always be a reliable copy on the “remote incremental backup”.

In order to configure the local backup task, use the following parameter:

• The “general” parameter – note the usage of “incremental” backup type.

• The “files” parameter:

• The “Schedule” parameter – a daily backup

• The “Archive” parameter – note that “No compression” is set as compression method

• The “Special” parameter

• The “Event” parameter:

• The “Advanced” parameters:

Setup for “local incremental backup” is now ready. Click on OK to save it.

Now we need to setup the “Distance incremental backup”

Remote backup incremental

The “Remote incremental backup” is the same data backed up by the “local incremental backup” but on a remote machine. In case the “local incremental backup” is destroyed, there will always be a reliable copy on the “remote incremental backup”.

In order to configure the remote backup task, use the following parameter:

• The “general” parameter –

  Note the usage of “incremental” backup type.
  Note the selection of “Create separated backups using timestamps”.

• The “files” parameter – note that

  Our back up source is the “local backup” data. (we are backing up the “local backup”)
  The backup up destination is the remote server.

• The “Schedule” parameter – note that backup time is 15 min after the “local incremental backup”.

• The “Archive” parameter – the backup file will be password protected

• The “Special” parameter – contains file type to be excluded from the backup (temporary files).

• The “Events” parameters:

• The “Advanced” parameters:

Setup for “remote incremental backup” is now ready. Click on OK to save it.

Now we need to setup the automatic running of those backup.

Set up Automatic Running

In order to configure the incremental back up (local and distance) to run automatically every day, you need to configure the following options:

• Run missed backups
• Run without asking

As shows below:

Setup for the “automatic running” of your backup program is now ready. Click on OK to save it.

Putting it all together

If you followed the steps above, your backup program should now be operational.

A full back up will now be your remote computer, and every day, an incremental backup will be done automatically, and your backed up data will be transfered to the remote computer.