How does CrashPlan for Small Business backup work?
Backup begins with a process called data deduplication. The Code42 app analyzes a small piece of the file (a block), and checks to see if that block was previously backed up.
- If that block was already backed up, the Code42 app moves on and analyzes the next block.
- If the block has not yet been backed up, the Code42 app compresses the block to save storage space, encrypts the block to secure the data, and sends the block to the backup destination.
As a result of this analysis, compression, and encryption activity for new files, your first backup may take longer than you expect. However, once your first backup is complete, the process is much faster because the Code42 app only needs to back up new files and changed blocks of data for each file. For more information, see:
I just got a backup alert. What do I do?
The Code42 app sends email warnings and alerts to help you stay informed about the status of your backups. If you receive a backup alert and you're not sure why, see What to do after receiving a backup alert for CrashPlan for Small Business.
Why does CrashPlan for Small Business report a different size of backup than my computer?
If you compare the size of your files selected for backup to the file size the Code42 app reports it's backing up, you may notice a difference. Multiple factors can contribute to this difference, such as our our deduplication and compression processes. For more information, see:
In addition, you may notice that the Code42 app and Code42 console show slightly different values for the size of your backup. This because they calculate KB differently.
In general, we recommend that you back up the files you create, edit, and access. Typically, these are stored in your User directory or Home folder. The Code42 app isn't designed to back up system and application files. For more information, see What should you back up with CrashPlan for Small Business?.
How do I add a computer/device?
To add a computer, simply download the Code42 app from the Code42 console, install it, and sign in. The device then appears on the Active Devices list in the Code42 console. For full instructions to get up and running protecting your data, see Set up CrashPlan for Small Business.
Can I back up an external drive, NAS, or a mapped drive?
- External drives: You can use the Code42 app to back up storage connected to your device such as an external hard drive directly attached via USB, Thunderbolt, or Firewire.
- NAS or mapped drive: You can back up mounted Network Attached Storage (NAS) on Mac and Linux, but not Windows (due to an OS-level restriction built into Windows). Using CrashPlan for Small Business on a headless computer and installing it on a NAS device are unsupported and will not work on either of those configurations. Because the Code42 app requires fast disk I/O, you may see performance bottlenecks on a NAS that is not fiber attached and is serving multiple purposes.
How do I fix this error: "Code42 CrashPlan cannot connect to its background service"?
The graphical user interface that you interact with when using CrashPlan for Small Business needs to connect with the service that runs in the background. They connect on a local network connection that is built into every device. If they can't connect, then you will see this error message. The first thing to try on all platforms is to restart the Code42 service. If this doesn't resolve the issue, try the recommended solutions in Cannot connect to background service in CrashPlan for Small Business.
Why isn’t my backup reaching 100% complete?
When your backup is unable to reach 100% complete, it is often because the Code42 app can't access some of your files. This may happen if a file is in use by another application or locked due to permissions. Click the link for your OS below to troubleshoot:
How much data can I back up per day?
You can expect to back up an average of 10 GB of data per day if your computer is powered on and not in standby mode. Consider updating your device's sleep settings to complete a large backup more quickly.
What if I have many terabytes (TBs) of data?
Each new file that the Code42 app backs up is indexed, compressed, and deduplicated, which takes time. This usually isn't a problem for smaller backups, but if you have a large backup (more than 1 TB of data or more than 1 million files), you will likely need to increase the amount of memory available to the Code42 app to get your backup to complete. For more information, see:
Can I back up my server with CrashPlan for Small Business?
CrashPlan for Small Business is designed to protect all your endpoint data by backing up user files. However, you can back up your server using CrashPlan for Small Business, provided it meets our system requirements.