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Category: Desktop & Mobile Computing / Backing up data
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Question

How do I use and install CrashPlan?




Overview

CrashPlan, (sometimes referred to as Code 42) is computer backup software that backs up personal files. UC Davis is providing a managed version of Crashplan, with unlimited backup storage in the cloud, for use by faculty, staff, and researchers to backup their systems. These instructions cover installing and connecting CrashPlan, on your computer, to backup to the UCD Managed CrashPlan service.

Note: Each user requires a license to begin using the service.  A license entitles a user to backup up to four computers.  Each license costs $100 and can be acquired by contacting IT Express. The responsibility for ensuring proper backups, and performing restoration of files, within this system, rests with you.  All files are encrypted, compressed, and de-duplicated on your computer before they are sent to the cloud.

Answer

Getting Started

You need a license before you can begin using the service.  Some departments have purchased bulk purchased licenses.  Please check with your local IT staff to determine if your department already has licenses assigned.  

If your department is participating in CrashPlan, your local IT staff can assist you.  If not, you may acquire a license by contacting IT Express (ithelp@ucdavis.edu or 530-754-4357) Each user license is $100 and entitles the user to backup up to 4 computers.

Once your purchase has been processed by the CrashPlan administrators, you will receive an email with links to download the custom UC Davis software installers.  Custom installers are provided for Windows, Mac, and Linux.  

Download and Installation

Follow the links in the email for your operating system to download the correct version of the CrashPlan application.  You may download the appropriate, operating system-specific version for each of your computers to be backed up. Minimum system requirements can be found at https://support.crashplan.com/hc/en-us/articles/8999516640909-CrashPlan-hardware-and-software-requirements or https://www.google.com/search?q=crashplan+minimum+system+requirements

After successfully downloading the software appropriate for your operating system, you will need to install the application.  After the client is installed, it should automatically launch (if it doesn’t you may need to launch the program manually). 

Sign in with the client

After installation, the CrashPlan desktop application should start. If it doesn’t, find where your OS stores installed programs and start it.  In Windows and MacOS, CrashPlan installs in the usual locations (Start Menu and Application Launcher).  In Linux, you may need to launch from a terminal window with “CrashPlanDesktop”.

When the CrashPlan application starts it will ask you to sign in. Once you have provided your UC Davis email and clicked on "Continue" the application will open a browser window for you to complete the login process. Your username and password are your UCD Email Address and Kerberos password.  

The Server Address is: crashplan.ucdavis.edu

Example:


Note:

Crashplan accounts using an @ucdavis.edu email address will automatically use DUO for multifactor authentication.  OU\ accounts that have an @ou.ad3.ucdavis.edu email address will not.

Upon signing in, the CrashPlan application should immediately begin to initiate a backup. You may make changes as this backup happens, including changes to what is being backed up.

Using CrashPlan

If you want CrashPlan to only backup your standard desktop, documents and home directory, then there is little else you need to do. If you wish to change what CrashPlan is backing up, please see the Changing what is backed up section below.

From this point on CrashPlan’s backup engine will be running on your computer and will be backing up your system even if you close the desktop application window.

From time to time you will receive email from CrashPlan that describes the current state of your backups and alerts you to any issues.

Securing the Client

To prevent unauthorized access to the CrashPlan application and potential recovery of confidential information on a shared computer, it is best to require a password login each time the it is opened.  This option can be found under “Options” of the “Tools” menu bar section of the client.

Tools menu, Options button, Security tab,

On MacOS, the setting can be found under the "Settings" menu on the right:

Then select the "Security" option/tab and click on the slider on the right:

Network Throttling

It is possible to limit the sending rate in CrashPlan. Start the CrashPlan application, then click "Tools" > "Options", and use the Network tab. We advise you leave the default settings on this page, however, you are welcome to change the “Limit sending rate” for away or present (this may be based on your screen saver or if you are logged in or not). More about network settings can be found at https://support.crashplan.com/hc/en-us/articles/9225813136397-Organizations-Device-Backup-Defaults-Network-settings-reference-CrashPlan-

Quota

The license includes unlimited storage in the CrashPlan Cloud and includes unlimited file versions and retention.  Backups will be maintained for as long as you have a valid license for the service. Licenses need to be renewed yearly.

Changing what is Backed Up

In the “ Details>Manage Files” section next to your listed device, one can individually select what files are backed up.
 
Manage Files button highlighted

Note that each subdirectory is indicated and each file. If the file or directory is checked, it will be backed up. Hidden files can be revealed by checking “Show Hidden Files” at the top right three-dot menu. Click Save when done. The Backup tab in the CrashPlan window should now show how many files and how much space you have chosen to back up.

Filename exclusions

Under the Settings "gear" icon to the right of your listed device, there is an option to set filename exclusions. Instructions from https://support.crashplan.com/hc/en-us/articles/9198633554061-Exclude-or-filter-files-using-file-type-and-regular-expressions-regex-in-CrashPlan are summarized below.

This provides a display window in which you can enter file extensions (for example: .mp3, .jpeg, .jpg, .mov, etc.) to be excluded from backup. Enter one extension at a time by clicking the "add" button after each extension. Click Ok, then click Save to save your changes.

Troubleshooting and Help

Backup is taking a long time to complete or will not complete

  1. Review the volume of data being backed up for first time backups or the volume of the update for incremental backups.
  2. Test the internet upload speed for the device that is being backed up.
  3. Determine an estimated completion time for uploading that volume of data and compare to actual time. https://www.omnicalculator.com/other/data-transfer is a useful site for calculating this.

Reformatted or replaced hard drive or new computer

Replacing A Computer - If you:

Then you should “Replace a Computer” following the directions at https://support.crashplan.com/hc/en-us/articles/9199442505101--Replace-your-device-Enterprise- or https://support.crashplan.com/hc/en-us/articles/9217200969613--Replace-a-device-with-a-different-operating-system-or-file-system-using-CrashPlan.

Restoring Files

Restoring Files From The Desktop - Restoring files from the desktop is the primary way to restore. If you are restoring a large number of files, it is safe to close the application window while the files restore in the background. See this document to learn how to restore your files from the application: https://support.crashplan.com/hc/en-us/articles/8766242390157-Download-files-from-the-CrashPlan-app-Enterprise-

Restoring Files From the Web Console – You have access to restore files at anytime from the web console.  Login to https://crashplan-console.ucdavis.edu with your UCD email address and password to review your account.  From here you can restore individual files or entire folders. See this document to learn how to restore your files from the web: https://support.crashplan.com/hc/en-us/articles/8766906552845--Download-files-from-the-web-using-CrashPlan

Uninstall CrashPlan

If you need to uninstall CrashPlan, use the instructions at: https://support.crashplan.com/hc/en-us/articles/9025086987661-Uninstall-the-CrashPlan-app-for-CrashPlan

Further Help

Contact IT Express at ithelp@ucdavis.edu

Further Reading and Reference

CrashPlan Reference:

https://support.crashplan.com/hc/en-us/categories/8553387472013-CrashPlan-Cloud-for-Enterprise

 

Authored by IET
Last modified 2022-11-09 11:59:14 AM