How to install and configure Carbonite Server Backup

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A quick step-by-step overview of installing and configuring Carbonite Server Backup.
1. Log in to your account at https://account.carbonite.com.
Carbonite login
2. Click the Install Carbonite Server button to install Carbonite Server Backup on your computer.
 Download Link
3. Click the Download the installer button to start the download and run the installation file.
Download ClientIf you have saved the Carbonite Server Backup Setup file and are unable to locate it, please try the following within your   browser:
  • On Internet Explorer 7 or 8 - open Windows Explorer and navigate to where you saved the file. Double-click the Carbonite file to run the installer.
  • On Internet Explorer 9, Google Chrome and Firefox 3 and above - press CTRL + J on your keyboard to open your Downloads window. Double-click the Carbonite file to run the installer.

4. Once the installer is ready to install Carbonite Server Backup on your computer, click Install to confirm. CSB will create a desktop icon and a start menu icon by default, but you can always deselect either of those options to prevent these shortcuts from being created.
Confirm InstallationYou will see a Congratulations! message once Carbonite Server Backup has been successfully installed on your computer. Click Finish to exit the Installation Wizard. 
Successful Installation
5.  After creating an account and installing Carbonite Server Backup, the cloud certificate will be available for download. To start backup operations to the cloud, download the certificate from your account and import it from the CSB user interface.
Note: The cloud certificate will also have to be imported to perform other restore operations from the cloud. 
 
If you are not automatically prompted to download the certificate click the Servers tab, and click the Download backup certificate button.Download Certificate

6. Download Carbonite Server Backup certificate pop-up window will appear with a download link and information about the certificate. Click Download backup certificate to proceed. The certificate file is called cloud.carbonite.
Downloading Certificate
7. After downloading the cloud certificate, launch Carbonite Server Backup. Within the user interface, select Cloud from the menu option and click Import Cloud Certificate.
Import CertificateCloud Certificate window will appear, allowing you to browse to the location of your cloud certificate. Click the Browsebutton to select and upload your downloaded certificate.
Certificate Window
Once your cloud certificate has been successfully uploaded, you will receive a notification message.
Cloud Connection Test
8. When you launch Carbonite Server Backup (CSB) for the first time, you will be given the opportunity to create a new backup set. Launch Carbonite Server Backup and click Add New Backup Set.
Add a new backup set 
A window will appear requiring you to select what you would like to backup, such as a File System, a System State, an SQL Server, etc.
Backup set optionsAfter making your selection, you will be required to name your backup set. The name must meet the following requirements:
  • It cannot include special characters.
  • It cannot be more than 32 characters.
  • It cannot have more than one space in between words.
  • It cannot have the same name as another backup set.

9. Select your backup location. You can specify the following backup options:
  • Backup to - You can backup to disk only, to the cloud only or to both disk and cloud.
  • Disk Storage - CSB supports backing up to a local disk, an external hard disk or a network mapped drive.
  • Cloud Location - Carbonite stores your data in secured datacenters located across the world. You can choose from the United States and Europe. It is possible to have different cloud storage locations for different backup sets. However, please note that once configured, you can’t change the cloud storage location for a backup set. If data for a single backup set were uploaded to multiple locations, it will be difficult for CSB to perform restores.
The Backup page
10. Select your backup schedule
       Edit Backup ScheduleCarbonite Server Backup recommends a monthly full backup and a daily incremental backup. The following predefined templates can be selected when configuring a backup schedule:
  • Weekly Full + Daily Incremental - It indicates a weekly full backup and a daily incremental backup to both the local disk and to the cloud.
  • Monthly Full + Daily Incremental (Recommended) - It indicates a monthly full backup and a daily incremental backup to both the local disk and to the cloud.
  • Monthly Full + Weekly Differential + Daily Incremental - It indicates a monthly full backup, a weekly differential backup, and a daily incremental backup to both the local disk and to the cloud. 
 
Carbonite allows you to stack different backup types and schedule them according to your preferences. For instance, you can set a full backup to run once a month, a differential backup once per week, and an incremental backup once per day.
To stack backup schedules, select the Add Custom Schedule option from the Schedule Templates drop down menu. 
To stack backup schedules, select the Add Custom Schedule option from the Schedule Templates drop down menu.

Add Custom Schedule
11. Set your retention settings.  There are two types of retention available after clicking the Edit button within the Retention settings: section:
  • Number of Cycles: This option allows users to keep a chosen number of backup cycles. A backup cycle is a full backup plus all associated incremental and differential backups. When a new full backup is completed, excess backup cycles are purged. Please refer to our Knowledge Base article on Number of Successful Full Backups to Retain for more detailed information.
  • Time Retained: This option allows users to keep backups for a specific period of time. 

12. Set your Email Notification Preferences:  Advanced users will be able to configure email notifications when an operation completes by clicking the Edit button to the right of the Email notification preferences panel. Once configured, email notifications are enabled for all backup sets. By default, emails are sent only when an operation has failed. Emails can also be sent after a success or a warning. Email notifications will not be sent upon success or failure of any restore of the Bare Metal Image backup type. Emails can be sent for all other operations in the Bare Metal Image backup type.


13. Name your backup set and save it.
Save backup set 
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