FAQs
- What is an Online Backup Service?
- I have a slow Internet connection, does it make sense for me to use Online Backup?
- What Operating Systems are supported?
- Can you backup other platforms with the Backup Defender Client software?
- How does the licensing work?
- Where is the data stored?
- What files should I select?
- How do I delete files from the Backup server?
- Can I backup more than one computer to my account?
- Should I also have a local backup in addition to my online backup?
- What is the Personal Recovery CD?
- What is a FastBIT backup?
An Online Backup Service is an Internet-based service that allows computer users to routinely backup and recover their important data using a secure and trusted server on the Internet.
If you use your computer to create and save valuable data for business or personal reasons, you should make some type of backup of your important data to prevent a total loss in the event of any kind of system failure or human error.
Online Backup software is designed to routinely copy your important files to a private, secure location by securely transmitting your data over your existing Internet connection.
If you have a working Internet connection on your computer, you can use Backup Defender to keep your important files safe from disaster on a daily basis.
2. I have a slow Internet connection, does it make sense for me to use Online Backup?Depending on the speed of your connection and the size of your backup, your initial backup over the Internet may take several hours or even days. Many people with large backup sizes and slower Internet connections will often run their first backup over the weekend. Once the first backup is completed, each subsequent backup is usually a small amount of data that can be backed up in just minutes over a slower dialup connection.
Backup Defender can also resume a canceled backup, so you can start the backup during your slow times and cancel it during your busy times. The next time you start the backup, it will pick up from where it was canceled until the entire backup is complete.
3. What Operating Systems are supported?The Backup Defender client runs on Windows 98SE/Me/NT/2000/2003/XP platforms
4. Can you backup other platforms with the Backup Defender Client software?Backup Defender Client software will only run natively on Windows 98SE, Me, NT 4.0, 2000, 2003 (.NET) and XP. If you want to backup computers with other operating systems, it is possible. Here's how... Since the Backup Defender Client supports mapped network drives and the Network Neighborhood, it can backup data from any computer that is accessible via the network. A single Backup Defender Client can backup the local computer and any number of local or remote network computers using Backup Defender’s powerful user interface.
5. How does the licensing work?The client and server software are NOT sold separately. Since a NovaNet-WEB Client must communicate with a NovaNet-WEB Server, all of the licensing is controlled on the server. Licensing is managed on a "per computer" basis. This means a 10-user NovaNet-WEB license will allow 10 computers to backup to the NovaNet-WEB Server. These 10 licenses can be used in any combination, such as 10 users each backing up only their local system or 2 users backing up 5 computers each, etc.
6. Where is the data stored?Data is stored on Fault Tolerant Data Servers located in a Secure, Auckland based Data Centre. Access to the Servers is restricted and all data is completely encrypted and inaccessible to anyone.
7. What files should I select?Since your entire hard drive is likely to be much larger than the amount of storage you have purchased on the backup server, you should be selective in the files that you choose for backup. In general, you can avoid backing up any programs that you can reinstall from a purchased CD, such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.). Why pay for storage for "stuff" you can easily re-install? Try to focus your selection on things like your "My Documents" folder and data files of your important programs like accounting, income tax, contact management, graphics etc. The Backup Defender software comes with predefined filters, which allow you to automatically select categories of files without knowing where all the files are located. Check the online help for Filters to learn how they can be used.
8. How do I delete files from the Backup server?In order to control how much data is stored on the Backup Defender server, your online backup software allows you to view all of the data stored on the server and selectively remove files from the server. To view the data stored under your account, run your Backup Defender client software and click on the folder tab labeled "Restore". In the left windowpane, Right-Click on the Desktop icon and select "Get Volume List from Server". This will show you each computer that has been backed up to your account. Now you can navigate the folders to see what data is stored on the server. To delete files, click on the button with the Red "X" to enable the Delete Files mode. Mark any files you wish to delete by clicking your mouse in the empty box next to the file(s) you wish to delete. Click the "Delete Files Now" to issue the command to delete the selected files from the server. WARNING: Once a file is deleted from the server, it can no longer be restored.
9. Can I backup more than one computer to my account?Yes. We allow you to backup any number of computers to your account. You only pay for the storage space that you use. Your account should already be setup to allow you to backup several computers. If you have any problems backing up more computers to your account, simply call or E-mail (support@backupdefender.co.nz) technical support to request additional computers on your account.
10. Should I also have a local backup in addition to my online backup?It's up to you. Users that want an added level of protection may perform local backups in addition to their online backup. Local backups can allow you to backup ALL of your files, while the online backup is a great way to automatically store your critical files off-site. When it comes to your important data, you can never be too safe. Since everyone has different needs, you'll find a wide variety of backup software and services available to help you find the one that best fits your needs.
11. What is the Personal Recovery CD?The Personal Recovery CD is a service that we offer which copies all of your data from our servers onto CD(s). This allows you to restore the archive of your data from a CD without requiring an Internet connection. This is great for keeping long-term archives of your data or restoring large amounts of data without connecting over a slow Internet connection. When the Personal Recovery CD is ordered, it includes all of your account data. Each CD holds approximately 650 MB, so accounts with more that 650 MB of storage will require multiple CDs.
12. What is a FastBIT backup?The FastBIT patching process is the core technology behind our speedy backup service. The patching process involves the comparison of two different versions of the same file and extracting the differences between the files. When the differences are extracted from the two files, they are saved into a new file and compressed into what is known as a Patch. The patch file is often 85% to 99.9% smaller than the file which the patch was extracted from originally.
In order to perform a FastBIT backup, the software has to backup the files 3 times: the first backup is a full, the next backup will perform an incremental, and the third performs the first FastBIT backup.
