The Retrospect backup system
BCS & CVS operate two Retrospect backup servers to perform regular backups of computers in the departments. One server handles computers located within Meliora Hall, the other handles computers outside of Meliora Hall.
Laptops and select desktops are backed up Monday-Friday during the day. Desktops are backed up overnight and all day Saturday and Sunday. All data transmission and storage is encrypted, and NOBODY has access to the backed up data besides myself.
Backup data is retained for approximately 9 months before the storage media are erased and reused. Data from any of the backups made of your computer during those 9 months can be restored back to your computer.
What gets backed up?
Computers within Meliora Hall and laptops located outside of Meliora Hall are backed up in their entirety (with the exception of any "nobackup" folders the server finds...see below). However, desktops outside of Meliora Hall (ie: URMC systems) only have certain directories backed up. These directories are:
/Users
/Documents and Settings
/Documents
/My Documents
/Yesbackup
The first four directories are used by Windows and Mac OSX for storing your user account information. "Yesbackup" is an extra folder name you can use to have data residing in other locations backed up. Simply create as many "Yesbackup" folders as you need, put your data in them, and they will get backed up too.
Similarly, if a folder with the name "nobackup" is found on a computer, that folder will be ignored by the backup server irregardless of where it may be. If you have files you don't want backed up (or shouldn't be backed up), create "nobackup" folders as-needed and place the files in them. The server will also automatically ignore iTunes music folders and Dropbox-related folders.
Installing the Retrospect Client
To have your computer(s) backed up by the system, you need to install the Retrospect Client software on your computer(s).
Mac OS X
1) Download the client installation software here (only accessible from on-campus):
2) Double-click the disk image to expand it. Then, run the "Install OSX Client" installer.
3) When the install ends, you should be shown the 'Retrospect Client' application. Click the 'On' button to turn on backups. When asked for a password, enter something simple (like 'chris').
4) During the install, OSX may ask if you want to allow the Retrospect software through OS X's network firewall. You want to allow this.
5) Once you've finished the install, let me know what the password is and I'll take care of things on my end (the password gets changed when I add the computer to the backup server).
Windows
1) Download the client installation software (only accessible from on-campus):
2) Double-click the download and run the installer.
3) During the install, Windows may ask if you want to allow the Retrospect software through Windows' network firewall. You want to allow this.
4) You'll also be asked to enter a password. Just enter something simple, like 'chris'. Once you've finished the install, let me know what the password is and I'll take care of things on my end (the password gets changed when I add the computer to the backup server).
Troubleshooting
If you find your computer running slowly after you install the Retrospect software, it may be due to a process the client runs that maintains a database of what needs to be backed up. It's usually only a problem on older computers (those running Core2Duo processors and older). This process, called Instant Scan, can be disabled in the client to restore system performance.
On a Mac, go into System Preferences, and click on the Retrospect Client preference pane while holding down the Command key. This will display an extra tab in the preference pane called 'Advanced'. In this tab, you can disable Instant Scan.
On a Windows PC, open the Retrospect Client control panel. Once open, press CONTROL-A to force the 'Advanced' tab to appear. In this tab, you can disable Instant Scan.