CrashPlan for Small Business FAQs

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:

• How CrashPlan for Small Business backup works
• Set up CrashPlan for Small Business

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.

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:

• Why does the Code42 app show a different number of files than my computer? (CrashPlan for Small Business)
• How CrashPlan for Small Business backup works

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?. 

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.

• 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. 

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.

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:

• Windows
• Mac
• Linux

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. 

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:

• What should you back up with CrashPlan for Small Business?
• How CrashPlan for Small Business backup works

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.

You can restore files from the Code42 app or from the Code42 console. We recommend using the Code42 app to restore files whenever you have access to one of your devices. The Code42 console is convenient for restoring files when you are not near one of your devices, but these restores are limited to 250 MB. 

When you get a new device, the Code42 app's replace device wizard can help you transfer files, move your backup, and update settings from a previous device. After you have installed the Code42 app on your new computer, you will need to associate the new device with your existing archive.

In the wizard, the transfer files step is an opportunity to download files from your archive. If you do not need to download your previously backed-up files to your new device right now, you can skip it. Regardless of what you choose, everything currently in your archive will remain there as long as it is selected for backup and you haven't changed the default file retention settings.

We offer a 30-day free trial for CrashPlan for Small Business. Your trial is a fully functional version of the software and online service. It is exactly the same as the software and online service that you get when you purchase.

Code42 offers CrashPlan for Small Business to businesses in all countries excluding those under U.S. sanctions. Pricing may vary based on location.

Download the Code42 app from your CrashPlan for Small Business Code42 console.

We use the decimal system to measure storage in the Code42 app: 1 TB = 1000 GB. For more information, see Why does the Code42 app show a different number of files than my computer? (CrashPlan for Small Business). 

You can use CrashPlan for Small Business with up to 199 users. If you have 200 users or more, contact sales for information about Code42 for Enterprise.

We do not currently offer a seeded backup service for CrashPlan for Small Business.

Start your free trial of CrashPlan for Small Business and enter your credit card or PayPal billing information. At the end of your 30-day trial, you will automatically be billed and start paying for your subscription.

Our payment processor, Digital River, accepts most major credit cards, as well as PayPal.

Your subscription to CrashPlan for Small Business lasts 30 days. You can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no contracts.

Yes, all CrashPlan for Small Business plans are set to automatically renew by default. To view and print your CrashPlan for Small Business invoices, go to Account in the Code42 console. 

We bill your credit card 4 days before your actual renewal date to make sure you don't miss any days of service. If that fails (because your card expired, for example), we try again on the expiration day itself and then 7 days after expiration.

At the beginning of each monthly billing cycle, the device count is automatically updated and you are charged for the current number of active devices in your organization, even if those devices are not currently being backed up. 

Your CrashPlan for Small Business subscription is always billed for a minimum of one computer. If you have no computers, your CrashPlan for Small Business subscription is billed for one computer. Be sure to add a computer to get the most out of your CrashPlan for Small Business subscription. 

If you initiate a credit card chargeback (dispute your payment for your CrashPlan for Small Business subscription): 

1. We contact you to clarify if you want to continue your subscription or cancel it. 
2. If you do not respond within 7 days, we cancel your subscription.
3. Your data is deleted according to our retention policy for canceled subscriptions.

Digital River is our vendor for processing CrashPlan for Small Business subscription payments.

We do not have an affiliate or partner program.

CrashPlan for Small Business uses AES-256 encryption. For more security details, read CrashPlan for Small Business encryption information

Your data is stored in one of the CrashPlan for Small Business data centers in the US and Australia. Data is not transferred between data centers.

We ensure and monitor appropriate ISO27001 or SSAE16 certifications for our cloud data centers, and are an ISO27001-certified organization. 

Yes. Code42 currently enters business associate agreements (BAAs) with CrashPlan for Small Business customers. For specific questions about regulated data, contact our Customer Champions. For more information about obtaining a BAA for HIPAA compliance, see Obtain a BAA with Code42. 

The information we collect from you is only for the purposes of providing you a backup service and communicating with you about the backup services we provide. Read our complete Privacy Statement for more details.