Q .: can I backup several computers with a single client license?

Yes, you can.

Our client software will back up any computer that the operating system can see as a mapped (shared) drive letter.
For example, if you have four workstations and one file server, you can back all five computers up with one copy of the client software.

Install the client software on one of the workstations which has mapped drives to all the other computers and the data on all computers will be backed up as well. You can back up data on ANY operating system that Windows can see as a mapped drive. This means that you can back up Unix data, Macintosh, AS400, virtually anything that the computer running the client software can access as a shared drive.

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Q .: what are the different types of backups?

There are four types of backups that can be performed. Choose the one that best suites your needs.

Incremental:
Entire files will be backed up which have been modified since the last backup. Then, after they are backed up, the files will be marked on the disk as having been backed up. This is often the default and most widely-used method of backing up data files.

Differential:
Entire files will be backed up which have been modified since the last backup, the same as incremental. However, after the files are backed up, they will not be marked as having been backed up. The reason for this option is in case you also want to do tape backups as well as remote backups. Since your tape backup software relies on the marks placed on the files to determine which files need to be backed up, you don't want marks added before the tape backups are made.
All plans are initially set to provide a BitBack backup. If you actually require a differential backup for the reasons stated above, simply select the option on the "specification" page.

Full:
Entire files will be backed up regardless of whether they have been changed or not since their last backup. This is the least-used option because it results in the largest backup sets and the longest on-line times.

BitBackup:
BitBackup is considered a special form of incremental backup. The first time that a BitBackup set is executed all files in the selection list are backed up - irrespective of the archive flag on the files. However, in subsequent runs, only files which have been changed (as indicated by the file archive flag) or are new will be backed up.

This option creates sub-file or "patch" backups providing the smallest backups and taking the least amount of time. This is the recommended default system for larger files such as databases, Outlook personal storage files (email), large documents and/or any other data files which change only modestly each day.

Warning: Due to disk cache requirements, use of the BitBackup feature on PCs with less than 5 GB of free disk storage is not recommended.

go here for a more detailed understanding of how BitBackup works (PDF).

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Q .: what if I lose my encryption key?

Our remote backup software is so secure that it's impossible for ISecureDat to recover the files if a customer forgets or loses his encryption key. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you make a Key Disk during installation of your software, and that you record your encryption key on paper, keeping it in a safe place.

There is however, an alternative which can be used in emergencies.
Our software has a built-in Key Escrow system which can be activated or deactivated by ISecureDat. We have this feature enabled as a default feature.

This exclusive, highly secure triple-key cryptographic key recovery module allows ISecureDat's software manufacture (and nobody else) to restore a hopelessly lost encryption key, but only with your approval. They will need some files from your latest backup on our Server, a key file generated by our Server, and a legal document signed by you and ISecureDat authorizing them to recover this key.

For security reasons they didn't make the process easy or cheap. There is a substantial fee to have them attempt to recover a lost encryption key. This fee is payable whether or not they are successful. The process requires the consent of you and ISecureDat, and can only be done if the ISecureDat has turned on the Key Escrow feature. Our software providers cannot recover an encryption key without your consent and ISecureDat's together.

Obviously, we highly recommend that you makes a Key Disk during installation of your software, which the software will ask you to do alleviating a lot of trouble and expense.

As of recent, ISecureDat now offers a free service for it's clients, to retain a copy of your encryption key if you wish. Click here for details

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Q .: problems installing client on Windows 2003 server

Problem:
Windows 2003 installation issue. The Data Execution Prevention (DEP) Feature in Windows 2003 prevents proper installation of Remote Backup. This article applies only if DEP settings are turned on for "All programs and services except those I select:".

Cause: Windows is trying to protect your computer against unauthorized programs. You need to authorize this installation.

Solution:
Uninstall or Remove the Remote Backup client from Add/Remove programs if it already exists. Delete the folder \Program Files\Remote Backup (or Application Folder). Reboot the server.

As a work around - you need to first add the setup executable file (default-setup.exe from the client installer) to the DEP Exception list before attempting to install.

To get to these settings:
1. Right-click on "My Computer" and select the Properties page.
2. On the Properties page, select the "Advanced" tab, and click on the "Settings" button in the "Performance" section.
3. On the Performance Options page, select the "Data Execution Prevention" tab.
4. Use the "Add" button on this page to add the affected services to the opt out list.
5. Click "OK" on each of the pages when finished and reboot the system. Add the setup executable file and run the install.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
After installing the client, you should add rbackup.exe and rbclient.exe to the exception list for the client to work properly.

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Q .: how do I setup different schedules or backup sets?

Creating schedules or backup sets allows you to control which files and folders go into which group and which computers are backed up. You can even control departments, data files and times that best suites your needs. Since all that is required is a mapped drive to your server, internal backups and data processing throughout the day can be segregated to different areas of the server. A schedule can then be created to remote backup that area of the server as required.
Download this PDF for instructions on setting up new schedules and removing unnecessary ones.

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Q .: can open files be backed up?

For RBackup versions 9.4 or higher:
Yes, it will! Remote Backup client software (v. 9.4+) natively supports open files of virtually any type. This includes SQL, Exchange, Oracle, Quickbooks, Outlook, etc. This is a standard feature at no additional charge.

For Remote backup versions 9.3 or prior:
Open files such as database files can be somewhat problematic to back up. There are two ways to back them up: turn the Database Server off to back up its files, or back them up using an Open File Utility (such as the "OFM" from St. Bernard Software) which allows backing up the files while they are in use. We'll discuss both methods here.

For companies who can bring their database server down for a few minutes, this backup method is both cheaper and more reliable. It goes like this: shut down the database server, copy the database to a temporary location on the hard drive, start the Database Server, then back up the copied files from the temporary location. This process can be done manually, or it can be automated.

Remote Backup can run two batch files during backup sessions - one before the backup starts, and the other after the session is over. You can include commands in these two batch files which stop the database server, then restart it after the backup is completed. The process (including examples) can be found in the Knowledge Library at this link. An open files utility allows Remote Backup to back up virtually all open files, including Exchange, SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, Outlook, Windows system files, and more.

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Q .: what are these exemptions is see in my backup report?

"File Exceptions" are usually warnings about files that did not get backed up, usually because they were locked by another application. Exceptions can also be generated any time a file didn't backup because of a dropped Internet connections or the network drives become unavailable between the time files are selected and when a backup launches.

Many File Exceptions can also be generated if you try to back up an entire hard drive, or if you try to back up Windows system files, many of which are locked by Windows itself and cannot be backed up, nor should they be.
Select only critical data files for backup.
Do not back up entire hard drives.
Applications and Windows system files can be restored from original distribution CDs; they only lengthen the time required to do a backup; they waste storage space, and cause the catalog file to become far larger than it should be, which will further slow a backup session.

To remove hidden system files from the backup list thus eliminating the exemptions list being created each time your backup runs, use the "Folders Options" through the "Control Panel". Click the "Show hidden files and folders" option button and deselect the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" box so there is no check in it. Click "OK" to save and close the control panel.

 

After a back has been completed, you'll see a number of exemptions. Double clicking "Details" will aid you in discovering which files are the issue and their location ... most of which will be the hidden system files. You'll probably find it easier to work on this issue by using a print out of this list. Now, go back and edit your "Inclusion/Exclusion" list, the hidden system files will be exposed and checked as shown above. Simply add these files to the "Exclusion" list.

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Q .: we need to keep month-end and year-end backups for a period of 3 years.
is it possible to restore a 3 year old backup on your system and what is the procedure?

Yes it is possible to restore a backup from many years past. Our system can be set to automatically delete files older than x days. The default is 90. It can also be set to save a copy of a file older than that if it only has one copy. ISecureDat sets this feature to ON as it's default setting. Both of these features are set up within the client software, so they can be set as required by the client.

In addition to the client managing their own files, you can manually remove files from the server when they are no longer needed in online storage. Once removed, they are then no longer available for restoration. However, these files can be archived offline and copied back to the server when needed. After they are copied back, they can be restored by the client.

There is not an automated procedure built into our software to do this on the server side. You can set up procedures to do this using a standard directory and file management software off the shelf.

It might be easier to simply set up two separate Backup Sets for month-end and year-end backups. These can then be managed separately from regular backups, which will make them fairly easy to archive, and maybe small enough to simply keep in online storage. The automatic file management features of the client software, described in the first paragraph, can be set not only client-by-client, but also Backup Set by Backup Set. So, each Backup Set can have its own separate rules for retiring files.

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Q .: problem installing client on windows server 2003

Problem:
Data Execution Prevention (DEP) feature in Windows 2003 prevents proper installation of remote backup agent. This issue occures only if DEP settings are turned on for "All programs and services except those I select:"

Cause:
Windows is trying to protect your computer against unauthorized programs. You need to authorize this installation.

Solution:
Uninstall or Remove the Remote Backup client from Add/Remove programs if it already exists. Delete the folder \Program Files\Remote Backup (or Application Folder).
Reboot the server.

As a work around - you need to first add the setup executable file (setup.exe from the client installer) to the DEP Exception list before attempting to install.

To get to these settings:

1. Right-click on "My Computer" and select the Properties page.
2. On the Properties page, select the "Advanced" tab, and click on the "Settings" button in the "Performance" section.
3. On the Performance Options page, select the "Data Execution Prevention" tab.
4. Use the "Add" button on this page to add the affected services to the opt out list.
5. Click "OK" on each of the pages when finished and reboot the system. Add the setup executable file and run the install.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
After installing the client, you should add rbackup.exe and rbClient.exe to the exception list for the agent to work properly.

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Q .: where do I go to update my account information or change my password or user ID?

use this form to change your account ID, password or other information

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Q .: how do I update my remote backup operations or make changes just to certain aspects of it?

make changes or customize how your backup account works from here

Please use this specifications updating form to make changes to the following:

1) encryption type
2) backup sets type
3) frequency of backups
4) auto-selection filter setting
5) purge and retention settings
6) number of sets to keep
7) compression level
8) file selection criteria
9) completion of operation action

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Q .: what is this "Local Mirror" in the Options menu?

ISecureDat's Client Agent has a built in feature that can automatically maintain a mirror of everything it stores on the ISecureDat server. Typically, this mirror is written to a hard drive in the local network environment, to a shared network drive, USB drive or a NAS device.

This feature is useful for backup redundancy and also dramatically speeds up restores. During a restore process, the software will check the local mirror first to see if the files to be restored are there. If they are, the agent gets them from the local mirror at local network speed.

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