How do I get started with backups for desktops and laptops?

Licensed users will have a Crashplan account created for them 24 hours after their Illinois account has been added. To begin using Crashplan, simply install the client on your machine and your files should automatically begin backing up. NOTE: Crashplan is not a free services and licenses need to be purchased from WebStore.

How do I get started with backups for desktops and laptops?

It's as easy as 1-2-3!

 

Step 1: Purchase a license from the WebStore

     

     Use your browser to navigate to CrashPlan License - Unit Annual Purchase\Renewal 

     A license is associated with an email account, either @illinois.edu or @uillinois.edu.

Step 2: Download and Install the Crashplan App

1. Use your browser of choice to navigate to the Crashplan website.

     (You may navigate directly to: https://console.us5.crashplanpro.com)

 2. Select 'Small Business Login' (NOT Enterprise Login!) and login using your UIUC credentials:

     Username:  Your email address (e.g. mynetID@illinois.edu) 

     Password:  Your AD common password (i.e. the password that you've likely already set at https://identity.uillinois.edu/ to allow you access other Illinois services)

NOTE:  You will likely be redirected to a University of Illinois branded page where you need to re-enter your login information.  If you cannot log in and you're new faculty/staff, please allow 24 after initial account creation for your Crashplan account to be provisioned. If 24 hours have passed and you still cannot log in, please contact techservices-crashplan@illinois.edu.

3.  Click on Administration at the top

4.  Click on Downloads    

5.  Download the application that is appropriate for your operating system.

6.  Double-click on the downloaded file to begin installation.

7. After the client installs, it should prompt you to enter your username, password, and server address.  Please enter the following information:

    Username:  Your email address (e.g. mynetID@illinois.edu)

    Password:  Your AD password (i.e. the password that you've likely already set at https://identity.uillinois.edu/ to allow you access other Illinois services)

    Server:  clients.us2.crashplan.com

8. Mac Users Only: CrashPlan requires full disk access to be enabled. Please check your System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Full Disk Access      tab and ensure that CrashPlan is present on the list. Add it, if necessary. Full-disk access must be re-enabled after any updates.

Step 3: Select Your Files And Start Your Backup

CrashPlan selects your user folder, documents, and desktop for initial backup by default and immediately starts backing these up after installation. The user folder contains commonly-used folders for pictures, music, documents, downloads, and more. Your departmental IT staff may select more/less/different files to be backed up by default.  If your administrative staff allows you to select different files to be backed up, you can select them by doing the following (instructions based on the Windows Desktop Client):

Go to Home page and click Manage Files ... in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

Navigate to the drive, folder, or files that you want to add or remove, then:

• • Deselect the check box next to any item you want to delete from your backup.
  • Select an empty box to add an item to your backup.
  • A minus sign indicates that a subfolder within this folder is selected for backup. New subfolders within the folder will not be automatically added to your backup file selection.
  • A check mark indicates that this folder is selected for backup. New subfolders within the folder will be automatically added to your backup file selection.

1. Click Save.
   If you deselected any files or folders, the Delete Files from Backup warning displays.
2. If applicable, select I understand to confirm you want to delete deselected files from your backup.
3. If applicable, select Delete.
   After changing the file selection, the CrashPlan app synchronizes the files selected for backup with the files already backed up to that destination.

View your backed up files.

As soon as a file is backed up it can be downloaded. To view your backed up files:

1. Open and sign in to the CrashPlan app.
2. Go to Home and click Restore Files in the upper right-hand corner of the page (see above).
   The list of backed up files appears.
3. Simply click the folder name to see its contents and select the folders/files to restore.
4. Click Restore Files ... to begin the restore.

What If Some Of My Files Don't Appear In The List Of Backed Up Files?

• The CrashPlan app backs up your most recent files first. This means your oldest files may not appear in your list of backed up files right away, but they are continually added as the CrashPlan app works through its "to-do" list.
• Make sure the file is included in your backup selection.

Deciding What To Back Up

The short answer is, "Back up the files that matter to you." CrashPlan for Enterprise is designed to back up and download your user files.

CrashPlan for Enterprise is designed to protect your user files. In other words, the files you create, edit, and access that allow you to get your job done. They also include certain files created by applications based on your information and settings in those programs.

• Examples: Documents, spreadsheets, photos, videos, Outlook messages, web browser bookmarks
• Location: Typically stored in a User directory or Home folder

Don't back up operating system and application files

CrashPlan for Enterprise isn't designed to back up system and application files and we don't recommend adding these files to your backup selection. Doing so could cause issues with the priority and status of other files you want backed up. Additionally, since CrashPlan for Enterprise isn't designed to download your operating system or applications, there is no advantage to backing up these types of files.

System files

These are files that your device needs to work correctly. They may be a part of your operating system, a third-party device driver, or another source. Typically, you don't interact with these files directly.

Application folders

These folders contain the files that allow various applications - like your email, word processor, and web browser programs - to work correctly. Like system files, you don't typically interact with these files directly.

What happens if the entire hard drive is selected?

If you select your entire hard drive as your backup set, including system and application files, these files could prevent your business files from backing up efficiently.

As part of its normal operation, your device creates new system and application files, which are small. Because the CrashPlan app prioritizes the to-do list based on size and creation date, the system files are backed up before other files in your backup selection.

Some symptoms you might see if the CrashPlab app backs up system or application files:

• Time to complete backup selection increases, sometimes by many days.
• Backup never reaches 100%.
• Backup status is incorrectly reported.
• No files are displayed on the Get Files screen.

Step 4. View Your Configuration in the CrashPlan Cloud

        Use this CrashPlan URL to view your backup configuration and status: https://crashplan.com/sign-in/

and be sure to select the 5th option 'CrashPlan for Small Business'.

        (Note that this URL replaces the previous URLS: www.crashplan.com/console and https://console.us2.crashplan.com '