Quick Start Guide

File Backup

A standard file backup is simply an archive of data that may be restored in the event of data loss. This archive is generally made from the files which you select as being important (or an entire file system) and may be encrypted or compressed.

File backup is a primary backup that runs one or more times per day to back up all business-critical data. File backups in NovaBACKUP utilize the forever-incremental method, and the retention is built in to the backup job itself.

Image Backup (Disaster Recovery) 

An image backup is intended to back up the underlying data structures of a computer including the operating system and applications for emergency restoration to, for example, completely different computer, in the event of a system loss.

System configuration changes rarely occur. However, to ensure you can get your entire system back, we always recommend that you perform a full image backup occasionally, which offers the safest and fastest method for recovery of an entire PC or server.

Different Types of Backup Jobs

For File Backups

• Forever-incremental Backup: Forever incremental backup is a process in which all backups after the initial full backup are incremental only. Unlike traditional incremental, which suggests periodic full backups, using forever-incremental means that all backups are always incremental. This file backup method is available for local and cloud backups in NovaBACKUP.

For Image Backups

• Full Backup: a data or image backup of all (selected) data or drives or partitions.
• Differential Backup: a backup with all changes since the last full backup.
• Incremental Backup: A backup that only contains the files that have changed since the most recent backup (either full or incremental).

IMPORTANT: NovaBACKUP needs to be installed on the system that contains the data to be backed up. Each installation is independent and therefore requires its own license.

1. Start Installation
   Start the NovaBACKUP installer. You can find the latest version here.
   
   
2. Activate License
   Follow the setup program's instructions. After a few steps, NovaBACKUP will ask you to enter your license key. If you don't have a license yet, you can run a fully functional 15-day trial version.
   By clicking [Next], NovaBACKUP contacts the license server and activates the license.
   
   
3. Launch the Program  
   After the installation is complete, you will find the NovaBACKUP icon on the desktop. Now double-click the icon to start the NovaBACKUP user interface. 

To simplify the process of backing up to a local storage device, this device only needs to be set up once and can then be used for every backup job. This includes USD drives, RDX-drives, and NAS.

1. Add a Backup Device
   On the [Device] tab, click [Add] and then [Local Backup].
   
   
   
2. Enter a Device Name & Network Path
   Under "Local Backup" specify a device name. It is used to identify the device and is displayed in the device lists throughout the application. 
   If you're setting up a NAS or network storage, specify the network path (UNC) in the "Folder and Network Path" field. You can also use the browse button "..." to search for a particular network path.
   
   
   Note: In the field "Device Name" do not utilize these unsupported Windows file name characters: \ / : * ? “ < > |
   
   
3. For NAS or network storage: Enter Network Credentials
   Click on the "Network Credentials" tab. Specify at least the "Username" and "User password" fields, and if the network share is on a domain, also specify the "Domain name" field.
   
   
   
4. Add Encryption
   This is an optional step. If you'd like to encrypt your backup files, add an encryption key in the tab "Encryption".
   
   
5. Confirm with [OK].
   A connection test will be performed automatically, and after a successful test , the device will be created.
   If you get an error during the test, please confirm the network path and the network credentials. If you still have an issue please reference this guide here. 
   
   
6. Once the device is added successfully, you'll find your newly created device in the [Device] tab.
   
   

Note: The device's network credentials can be edited at any later time. The "Device Name" and "Folder and Network path" field value properties cannot be changed after the device has already been created. To change these two properties, you would need to create a new "Local Backup" device.

NovaBACKUP comes with cloud storage that you can use for your offsite backups. You can also add your own S3 cloud storage as an additional offsite destination.

Note: If your NovaBACKUP license does not include cloud storage yet, contact ols@novabackup.com.

NovaBACKUP Cloud Storage

If it's the first time using the NovaBACKUP Cloud, register your cloud account.

1. Select [Cloud Backup] from the Home tab.
   
   
2. Click [Register].
   
   
3. Fill out the requested information to create an account and click [Confirm].
   - Provide a memorable username. We recommend using your email address here.
   - Enter your email address
   - Provide and confirm a Password.
   - Confirm your License Key is correct.
   - Add an encryption key that will be used to encrypt your backup data in transit and in the NovaBACKUP Cloud. Please remember it well, as we don't store this information on our end.
   
   
4. Once registered, you will see your NovaBACKUP Cloud storage in the [Device] tab as "Cloud Storage".

If you've already used your license key to create a NovaBACKUP Cloud account, you'll see an "Attach to NovaBACKUP Cloud" button instead of a "Register" button. Follow the instructions.

Once you're done registering your cloud account, go back to NovaBACKUP and set up your cloud backup job.

3rd-Party Cloud Storage

To connect any S3 cloud storage to NovaBACKUP, go to the [Device] tab, click on [Add], select [Cloud Backup], and fill in the required credentials.

To create a backup job for your business-critical data such as files, folders, and Hyper-V VMs or MS SQL databases, click on the [Backup] tab in the top menu or click the [Start] button.

Start by:

1. Defining a "Backup Name".
2. Selecting the files and folders you want to back up, or - for NovaBACKUP Server Agent only - select the complete Hyper-V object and/or MS SQL Server object, or only individual VMs or databases if required.
3. For a backup going only to a local device or going only to cloud storage, click on [Backup to] in the lower left corner.
   • Then select the appropriate local or cloud backup storage in the "Select Device" dialog (Note: to back up to the NovaBACKUP Cloud, select "Cloud Storage").
   • Confirm with [OK].
   
   
   
4. If you want to set up a hybrid backup (a backup that goes to a local device first and then to cloud), start by selecting the appropriate local backup storage in the [Backup to] dialog.
   • Confirm with [OK].
   • Click on “Settings”
   • Select the checkbox “Enable Hybrid Backup” in the tab “Backup”.
   • Select your cloud storage device (Note: to back up to the NovaBACKUP Cloud, select "Cloud Storage").
   • Set the retention for your local backup job under “Device Retention” - “Maximum Backup Age”. And the retention for the backup sent to the cloud storage under “Enable Hybrid Backup” – “Maximum Cloud Backup Age”.
   

Save your backup job by clicking the save icon in the top left corner.

Backup Job Settings

Continue by clicking [Settings] for more optional settings for your backup job.

1. [Backup] Tab - Device Retention
   For local-only, cloud-only, or the local part of hybrid backups, you can set the retention value (how long you want to keep your backups). The default value for each backup schedule is 30 days.
2. [Backup] Tab - Enable Hybrid Backup
   By enabling the hybrid backup function, a cloud backup is added to any local backup. NovaBACKUP will then back up the selected files to the selected local storage first and from that local storage to the selected cloud storage afterwards.
3. [Backup] Tab - After backup action
   What should NovaBACKUP do after the backup is completed?
4. [Notification] Tab
   Set up e-mail notifications here.
5. [Filters] Tab
   Backup jobs can include filters that allow you to select specific include and exclude filters based on file masks, such as exclude certain file types (*.bak *.tmp), include files with specific dates and file sizes, exclude files with specific attributes (read-only, hidden, or system), etc.
6. [Custom Commands] Tab
   Store a pre-/post-script (batch), which is executed before or after the backup here. 
   
   
   

Backup Schedule

If you only want to run a one-time backup, you can click on [Backup] to start your backup.

If you'd like to schedule a reoccurring backup, for example, once daily, instead continue by clicking [Schedule] and define the following:

1. Your current backup job is selected under Job Name. If it's not selected, pick the job you want to schedule from the drop-down menu (see yellow highlighting below).
2. Under "Scheduling Information", specify when and at what intervals the backup job should run. 
3. Enter the user who has access to the selected data to ensure that the backup works without errors even if you're logged out. Then click [Check Credentials].
4. Click [OK] to confirm. You will find the backup job under "Schedule" at the top of the main navigation. The backup job can be adjusted at any time.
   

Your scheduled backup job is now set up and will start at the time you selected. If necessary, you can set up multiple backup jobs for different files, Hyper-V VMs, or SQL databases. Simply follow the steps above until you have set up all the backup jobs you need.