Backups ensure that your data is safely stored outside of your device and stays protected. IBM CloudBackup is an automated agent-based backup system managed through the Cloud Backup Portal browser-based management utility. IBM Cloud Backup provides users with a method to back up data between servers in one or more data centers on the IBM Cloud network. Administrators can set backups to follow a daily, weekly, or custom schedule that targets full systems, specific directories, or even individual files. Extra plug-ins ensure compatibility with software like MS Exchange, MS SQL, Oracle, VMware vSphere, and enable users to complete a Bare Metal Restore, when necessary.

Before you begin

You must have a valid license to use IBM Cloud Backup. We can obtain the service in two ways.

• Purchase backups when you Order a Server.
• Purchase backups as an Upgrade.

For more information about ordering, see Provisioning IBM Cloud Backup. For more information about pricing, see IBM Cloud Backup: Pricing.

Installing the IBM Cloud Backup agent

IBM Cloud Backup Agent is supported on the following Operating Systems.

Windows (Oldest supported version of the backup agent is 8.32.)

• Windows Server 2019

  Windows 2019 does successfully back up with the Windows agent version 8.60. However, the server shows up in the Backup Portal as Windows 2016. Full backup functionality was tested with version 8.60. Do not upgrade to a higher version such as 8.70 because it disables the management of the agent till the Backup Portal is upgraded. The customer can also install Central Control to manage the backup agent. The latest version of Central Control is available to download from here. You must install .NET 3.5 before installing the Central Control application. .Net can be installed by using the Add Roles and Features Wizard from the Server Manager. Multiple.NET can be installed at the same time.

• Windows Server 2016
• Windows Server 2012 R2
• Windows Server 2012
• Windows Server 2008 R2
• Windows Server 2008

Linux (Oldest supported version of the backup agent is 8.50.)

• CentOS 8.x (It requires backup agent version 8.83, BMR backups are not supported.)
• CentOS 7.x
• Debian GNU/Linux 9.x
• Debian GNU/Linux 8.x
• RHEL 8.x (It requires backup agent version 8.83, BMR backups are not supported.)
• RHEL 7.x
• Ubuntu Linux 18.04 (It requires backup agent version 8.62 or newer.)
• Ubuntu Linux 16.04
• Ubuntu Linux 14.04

Follow the instructions appropriate for your OS,

• Installing the backup client in Linux
• Installing the backup client in Windows

Accessing the Cloud Backup Portal

Cloud Backup Portal is used to interact with the IBM Cloud Backup service that is offered by IBM Cloud . The Portal is a browser-based client that runs on the IBM Cloud private network and allows full control of any IBM Cloud Backup service, including configuration and restores.

1. Access the Private Network over VPN.

   Cloud Backup Portal can't be accessed over the public network. A VPN connection must be established first.

2. Log in to the IBM Cloud console. From the Navigational menu, select Classic Infrastructure.
3. Click Storage > Cloud Backup to display the backup services.
4. Select the username of the IBM Cloud account. Click the expansion arrow to reveal the WebCC portal link.
5. Click WebCC to start the portal in your browser.

Configuring the backup agent and the backup schedule

After you ordered our IBM Cloud Backup and the agent is installed on the server, you can start creating backups of your data. Through the IBM Cloud Backup portal, you can manage and monitor your backups. We can choose between manual or automatic backup agent configuration methods.

• The automatic agent configuration creates a backup job of the complete C Drive (Windows OS) or ./ directory (Linux OS) with Monthly and Daily Retention schemes.

  This job can be modified after it was configured.

  1. Create a password.
  2. Confirm the password.
  3. Add a password hint.
  4. Click Configure automatically.

• If you choose to configure the IBM Cloud Backup agent manually, the automatic settings are ignored and you can specify the folders and files to be kept with a retention scheme of your choice. See Configuring simple file-level backup.

  For more information about Retention Schemes, see the FAQ.

  Archiving is not supported. When you create a retention scheme or modify an existing scheme, make sure that the Archiving option is not selected.

Running your first backup job

1. The new job is displayed on the Computers tab. To start the job, click Select Actions, and click Run Job.
2. Verify that the destination and retention scheme appear correctly and click Start Backup. The Progress Detail page shows the job progress. This window can be closed if needed, the backup job keeps running in background.
3. When the backup job is complete, the Process ID Status shows "Finished". We can view the job history and logs of existing backup jobs on the Computer tab. Select the job that you want to view, click Select Action, and choose History/Logs.

Accessing and viewing IBM Cloud Backup storage details in the Console

The storage details of your service can be viewed in the IBM Cloud console at any time. Details that can be viewed include the password, storage address, and usage that is associated with the selected IBM Cloud Backup service.

1. Log in to the IBM Cloud console. From the Navigational menu, select Classic Infrastructure.
2. Click Storage, and select Backup from the list.
3. Click anywhere on the row of the vault you want to view its storage details. From this view, the password isn't visible.
4. Click the Show check box next to the Password field to view the password for the selected IBM Cloud Backup service.

Changes that are made to the IBM Cloud Backup password within the IBM Cloud console are made to the service itself. To reset your password, follow the steps in Changing the password for the backup service.