Create your own Online offsite Backup/Archive or Replicate/Archive/Backup files locally

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Backup local files

Free use on one computer

Backup to remote 

Professional version allows backup to remote off site computer

30 day free trial

Archives files

All changes and deletions are tracked, to allow restore to any backup point

Unlimited Backup Size

Size of backup is only limited by the size of your hard disk!

Handles Open Files

On XP/ Windows 2003

Fast and efficient 

remote backup data is heavily compressed and only changes in large files are updated

Uses Encryption 

128 bit when backing up to remote computers

Backup:

  Microsoft SQL *

   Microsoft Outlook

   My favorites

   My Documents

   My Music

   My Pictures

* = requires Professional version

DIY On-Line Backup : Manual

DIY On-Line Backup : Toolbar

A toolbar at the top of the main window allows access to main functions of the backup system:

Run Now - Activate Backup job or all jobs allocated to a particular schedule

Add Job or Folder - Add a Backup Job or a Backup storage folder  

  [Creating Backup jobs] [Creating backup Storage folders]

Restore Wizard - Restore files from backup Job or Backup storage folder.  If Folders and files have been backed up with "Archive" turned on, then folders and files can be restore to a particular backup point.   

[Archive settings]

View Licenses - Allows the status of Licenses to be viewed if using on more than one computer

Online Help - Context sensitive help

DIY On-Line Backup : Main Tab

This first tab allows you create Backup jobs which are either written to a local, folder on your own computer or network, or to a remote computer via the internet (Profession Version only).

Backup Jobs - Shows the defined Backup jobs to either local computer/network or remote computer (Profession Version only).

Storage Folders - Shows any folders defined on this computer to allow remote computer to write backups to.

Get Remote Backup and Storage Folders - This option will get all the remote backup and storage folders within your account and add them to the list.  (Profession Version only)

Thus pressing this button will expand the list to show remote computers:

DIY On-Line Backup : Creating a backup

Step 1:Decide where the backup is to be stored

Step 2:Define the files to send to backup

Theses steps are different depending on weather we wish to store the data locally or remotely (Professional version)

Step1:Define Backup Storage (local)

Simply press [Add backup storage folder] and give the storage folder a descriptive name which will help you identify the folder.  You can also enter a long description.  

Then press [OK], to store.

[Structure of Backup Storage folder]

Step1:Define Backup Storage (Remote Profession Version only)

Simply press [Add backup storage folder] and give the storage folder a descriptive name which will help you identify the folder.  You can also enter a long description.   Under the "Advanced Tab" you can set a password to protect the access of the folder if you wish.  

Security Note: Any data transfer over the internet will use 128 bit encryption, only computers which are part of your account can read or write to your storage folder.

Then press [OK], to store.  

[Structure of Backup Storage folder]

Step2:Define the files to send to backup (Local)

Simply press [Add backup Job] button.   Then enter a descriptive name for the backup and a description which will help you distinguish backup definitions.  Then select the Storage folder you want to store the backup on.  If you are using the Profession version you will be able to select remote "Backup Storage folder" on a remote computer.  Else you will have the option of selecting a folder on your local hard disk or network to replicate the backup to.

Next Simply add the folder or folders you want to backup using the [Add to Backup] button.  

Note : Several predefined Backup sets are available:

• Backup My Favorites
• Backup My Documents
• Backup My Music
• Backup My Pictures
• Backup Outlook
• Backup Job Definition

The "Backup Job Definition" allow you to set-up backup job for all your folders/files, and may be backup to a removable hard drive, and then setup another Backup job to backup to a remote computer or network drive, but use the file and folder definitions the first backup job.

Only the Professional version will allow selection of files, to backup, from a network drive.

Double clicking on each line allows you to define a text description for each folder.  Then press [OK] when finished.

Backup options

Job Name - Name of Job, cannot be altered once set.

Backup Priority - This simply allows you to make sure some backups will run before less important backups.  

• Before Backup

• High

• Medium

• Low

On Hold - Simply allows you to suspend the job

Schedule - Allows you to set the start, end and days the backup should run.  These predefined backups schedules can be edited under the "settings" tab on the main window.   

[Setting Schedules]

Description - Is for you to enter long description to help identify the function of this backup job.

To Folder - The storage folder to store the archive/backup.  Either local or remote computer.  

[Setting up Backup Storage folder]

Archive - Updated and Deleted archived files will be tracked if the archive option is set.  So the backed up files can be restored from any point (recovery point) in the backup archive.  Options are:

• None Just Replicate

• 7 days

• 14 days

• 1 month

• 3 months

• 6 months

• 1 year

• 2 years

• Keep All

Include/Exclude backup files

Include files - "*" include all, other wise enter a list of extensions to include in backup separated by commas

Exclude files - List of file extensions to exclude from archive. e.g. bak,tmp,old

Exclude Folders - Folders can be excluded from backup.  This allows you to add a folder at top level of folder tree, and may be exclude a directory which contains data which is not so important.  Or may exclude a folder in tree and set another backup to back this folder at a higher priority because it contains very important data.

Other Options

Run Before - Run batch file, and wait, before backup takes place.  This can be useful to shut down systems before backup.  Use [Test Run] button to try execution of file.

Run After - Run batch file, and wait, after backup takes place.  Use [Test Run] button to try execution of file.

Send Summary to account holder - e-mail backup report to account holder (Profession Version only)

e-mail address - e-mail backup report to address (Profession Version only)

Backup Job Logs

Every backup jobs are logged, and under this tab you can view the history of backup jobs.  The days the system should keep these logs are defined in system settings.

Double click on line to view the Log

The [View System Logs] button to view the following logs for the selected job:

• Activity - All operations including Errors

• Summary - Summary of Activity

• Errors - Errors List

The most recent entry is at the bottom of these logs.   If the log goes over a certain size then a new log is created called xxxx2.log, and the latest entries are logged to xxxx1.log file.  Or in other words several log files may exists, the most recent entries are in the log xxx1.log

DIY Online Backup : Backing up Microsoft SQL Databases

DIY Online Backup can perform scheduled backup of Microsoft SQL Databases, these have Priority over other packs, so they are always performed before backing up files.  Therefore the backup files can be included in part of another backup operation.

The Microsoft SQL Databases can be backup while running.

To create a Microsoft SQL Databases backup

Simply press [Add Backup Job] button and then select "Microsoft SQL Database".  Then enter a name for the backup job and description which will help you distinguish Microsoft SQL Database backups.  Also select the appropriate schedule for the backup.

Enter Microsoft SQL Server name, Microsoft  SQL Database name, Microsoft  SQL User name and password who has the right to perform a Microsoft  SQL backup.   Multiple Microsoft  SQL databases can be specified, if separated by commas.

Use the [Test Connection] button to test the validity of the SQL settings.

Next select the SQL Backup type, this can be either Full, Log, or Differential depending on the type of Microsoft  SQL database you are running.  You should probably schedule a "Full" backup once a week followed by "Logs" or "Differential " every day.   You must set different backups for the different types, but you can use the [Copy Backup Job] button to create a duplicate and then simply edit the settings.

Finally Select the destination of the backup and set its filename.  Note this is the physical folder to write a backup too, not a DIY Online Backup Storage folder, it must be local (Mapped path or UNC network path) to the SQL server.  You must setup another file backup to transfer the Microsoft  SQL database to storage folder.   

The Microsoft SQL Backup  file created will be called "Backup_DBNAME_DATE_TYPE.bak".  So you can set up two backup jos, one to do full backup once a week, and another to backup logs every night. resulting in Backup_MyDBs_2006060723_FULL.bak, Backup_MyDBs__2006060823_LOG.bak

Backup Main options

Job Name - Name of Job, cannot be altered once set.

On Hold - Simply allows you to suspend the job

Schedule - Allows you to set the start, end and days the backup should run.  These predefined backups schedules can be edited under the "settings" tab on the main window.

Description - Is for you to enter long description to help identify the function of this Microsoft  SQL database backup setting.

Server - Name of Microsoft  SQL database server

Database - Microsoft  SQL database.  Multiple Microsoft  SQL databases can be specified, if separated by commas.

User - Microsoft  SQL database username who has rights to backup

Password - Microsoft  SQL database password for username

Backup type - Full, Log, or Differential depending on the type of Microsoft  SQL database you are running

Backup To - The physical folder to store the Microsoft  SQL database archive/backup.  It must be local (Mapped path or UNC network path) to the Microsoft SQL server.

Backup Name - The filename of Microsoft  SQL backup.  By default it is "BackupDATE", DIY Online Backup will replace "DATE" with the date of backup when run (yyyymmddhh) and "TYPE" with backup type.  So you will end up with files, Backup_2006060723_FULL.bak, Backup_2006060823_LOG.bak, etc.

Microsoft SQL Backup Logs

Each backup job is logged, and under this tab you can view the history of backup jobs.  The days the system should keep these logs are defined in system settings.

Current Status Tab

This tab shows the status of any Backup job which is in progress.

Jobs To Do - Shows any jobs waiting to be processed.

Download Thread - Shows the status of current upload job, to backup storage folder, within current Backup job

Upload Thread - Shows the status of current download job, from backup storage folder, within Backup Restore job

Compression Thread - Shows the status of current compression job within Backup/Restore job

[Cancel All] - Cancels all jobs

[Pause] - Pauses current jobs

Defining Backup/Archive Schedule

When installed the system has several schedules predefined.  These settings are altered under the "System Settings" tab of the main window:

• Manually Backup, only activated by user

• Nightly Backup, 19:00 - 08:30, Monday to Friday

• Weekend Backup, 00:30 - 23:30, Saturday to Sunday

• Once a week Backup, 23:30 - 08:30, Sunday

• 3 other schedule settings for extra customization and flexibility

Each Backup/Archive job can be assigned to one of the 6 schedules.  When triggered the system will process each backup job assigned to schedule in priority order. 

Backup jobs or schedules can be activated from the [Run Now] button on the toolbar.

Note : Microsoft  SQL backups are always performed before file backups when scheduled on the same schedule.

Backup/Archive System Settings

Keep logs for - After backup "DIY Online Backup" will delete old logs.  This settings allows the number of logs kept to be altered 

 [Backup job logs]

When run manually, display summary  - Turn ON to display a backup report after the job has finished, but only when run manually.

When run manually, send report via e-mail - Send Backup summary report when run manually

When scheduled run, send report via e-mail - Turns ON/OFF the e-mail report when run by schedule 

[more information on report] 

e-mail address and second e-mail address - After the backup has been completed, the system can send a backup report, which lists all archived files, to two users specified here.  Another e-mail address may be specified on the actual job. 

  [more information on report]  [Advanced backup job tab] 

[Test Firewall] - Checks inbound communication to backup storage folder. 

  [more information about firewalls]

[About] - Version information

Backup Logs

All backup job are logged, and under this tab you can view the history of all backup jobs.  The days the system should keep these logs are defined in system settings.

Double click on line to view the Log

The [View System Logs] button to view the following logs for the selected job:

• Activity - All operations including Errors

• Summary - Summary of Activity

• Errors - Errors List

Backup Summary Report

Every backup/archive process is logged.  This report shows a summary of the backup, which can be viewed either from the main "Logs" tab, or the the "Log" tab on the Job window.  In the professional version the report can be e-mailed to up to 3 e-mail address, two set in system settings and another for each backup job itself.   It allows, at a glace, the recipricant to see if any problems exist.

The summary contains brief summary of Backup, List of Folders Backed up, Any Errors, Files which have been deleted since last backup, Files skipped due to exclude filter, actual files backed, Activity summary and finally job summary.

Example of backup report:

DIY Online Backup

Backup: My test (Priority:Normal Archive:15 days)

from ComputerName to D:\TEST\newtest 

             --> D:\TEST\newtest = D:\TEST\newtest

Status:1687 files (56Mb) with 0 errors in 2 mins 5 Deleted

            For more information click here

D:\CCard
D:\Install\ZipPostCode
D:\VBNET\Projects\Backup

D\CCard\data\Copy of socket10.log
D\CCard\data\Copy of socket10.tra
D\CCard\data\Copy of socket8.tra
D\CCard\data\Copy of socket9.log
D\CCard\data\Copy of socket9.tra

D:\VBNET\Projects\Backup\Server\obj\Debug\build.force    0b)
D:\VBNET\Projects\Backup\Server\SeverStuff\JobDetailsClass.vb    0b)
D:\VBNET\Projects\Backup\Example code\BOOK\Chapter09\FileSwapper\COM_ClientServerCommands.vb    10Kb

12:30:51 Scanning Backup Folder State:D:\TEST\newtest\ComputerName_My test
12:30:51 Finished Scanning Backup Folder State:D:\TEST\newtest\ComputerName_My test
12:31:16 Backup files in:D:\CCard,D:\Install\ZipPostCode,D:\VBNET\Projects\Backup, 56Mb
12:33:03 1687 files (56Mb) with 0 errors in 2 mins 5 Deleted

Backup: 'My test' Priority:Normal

Schedule:Nightly
Previous Backup:2006 Jun 24 12:29 69 files (27Mb) with 0 errors in 6 secs
To:D:\TEST\newtest
Backup Dir:D:\CCard
Backup Dir:D:\Install\ZipPostCode
Backup Dir:D:\VBNET\Projects\Backup
Include Files:*
Exclude Files:bak,bac,old,tmp,
Run Before:
Run After:


Last 50 jobs:
=====================================================================
2006 Jun 24 12:29 69 files (27Mb) with 0 errors in 6 secs
2006 Jun 23 12:26 69 files (27Mb) with 0 errors in 6 secs
2006 Jun 22 12:25 69 files (27Mb) with 0 errors in 7 secs
2006 Jun 21 12:24 69 files (27Mb) with 0 errors in 6 secs

Microsoft SQL Backup Summary Report

DIY Online Backup

SQL SERVER: 'AllDb' Priority:1 Before Backup
Schedule:Nightly
Last Backup:2006 Jun 27 05:25 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
Server:samdesktop2\sqlexpress DB:master,model
Backup Type:FULL


Last 50 jobs:
=====================================================================
2006 Jun 27 05:25 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 04:47 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 04:45 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 04:43 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 04:42 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 04:08 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 04:06 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 04:05 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 04:01 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 03:57 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 03:56 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 03:38 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 03:38 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 03:19 Backed up 2 MS SQL Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 02:33 Backed up 2 Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 02:32 Backed up 2 Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 02:30 Backed up 2 Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 02:28 Backed up 2 Databases OK
2006 Jun 27 02:27 Backed up 2 with 1 ERRORS
2006 Jun 27 02:26 Backed up 2 with 1 ERRORS
2006 Jun 27 02:23 Backed up 2 with 1 ERRORS
2006 Jun 27 02:21 Backed up 2 with 1 ERRORS
=====================================================================

05:25:53 Connecting to samdesktop2\sqlexpress
05:25:53 Connecting to DB master
05:25:53 Backup to D:\TEST
05:25:53 Backup type FULL
05:25:53 10 percent processed.
05:25:53 21 percent processed.
05:25:53 30 percent processed.
05:25:53 41 percent processed.
05:25:53 51 percent processed.
05:25:53 60 percent processed.
05:25:53 71 percent processed.
05:25:53 80 percent processed.
05:25:53 90 percent processed.
05:25:53 100 percent processed.
05:25:53 BACKUP DATABASE successfully processed 370 pages in 0.337 seconds (8.982 MB/sec).
05:25:53 MS SQL Backup Job Finished OK
05:25:53 Connecting to samdesktop2\sqlexpress
05:25:53 Connecting to DB model
05:25:53 Backup to D:\TEST
05:25:53 Backup type FULL
05:25:54 13 percent processed.
05:25:54 22 percent processed.
05:25:54 31 percent processed.
05:25:54 40 percent processed.
05:25:54 54 percent processed.
05:25:54 63 percent processed.
05:25:54 72 percent processed.
05:25:54 81 percent processed.
05:25:54 90 percent processed.
05:25:54 100 percent processed.
05:25:54 BACKUP DATABASE successfully processed 178 pages in 0.242 seconds (6.008 MB/sec).
05:25:54 MS SQL Backup Job Finished OK

Structure of Backup/Archive Storage

Each backup is written to a folder, either on the local machine/network or remote computer.  These defined folders are called "Backup Storage Folders".  The storage folder contains a complete up to date copy of the archived data files and folders.  This allows a complete restore by simply copying the folder or sub folders of the backup folder.  

If "Archive" feature is on (to allow data to be restored to a particular date), then updated or deleted backup files are moved to the "__ARCHIVE__\DateOfBackup" folder.  After the backup has finished these directories are zipped up to save space.

Initializing large backups manually

[Structure of backup storage folder]

To do this simply:

Step 1 - Setup backup storage folder if not already defined

Step 2 - Create backup job, and start the backup job, then cancel when started

Step 3 - Copy all the data to a DVD or portable disk

Step 4 - At remote computer copy the data to backup folder as shown above.

Manual restore large backups

To restore large data sets manually (instead of over internet), simply copy the entire backup folder as show above, to DVD or portable storage device. Then copy back to original location on computer.

  [Structure of backup storage folder]

Restoring from Backup/Archive  

Simply press the [Restore] button on the toolbar and select the date you wish to restore your file state too.  Then select the Files or Folders to restore, these can either be restored to their original location or an alternate folder.

Select Backup to restore from

First select the backup you want to restore from.  If you want to restore from a remote computer then press [Get Remote Backups].

Select Recovery Point

Next select the recovery point you want to restore to.

Select Folders/Files

Now select

Finish