IT Services

IT Services offer an automated backup service for University owned laptops (or desktop computers with no networked home directory) using CrashPlan Pro.

CrashPlan Pro can be installed on a laptop or other computer that is only intermittently connected to the campus network and so only has a local (not network) account. It is usually set to automatically copy data files to the main university back-up file store whenever the computer is connected to the internet.

CrashPlan Pro can also be used to restore files that have been deleted by mistake or due to a problem with the computer.

The service is available for Linux, Mac and Windows computers.

• installation
• configuration
• customisation

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Installation

If not already present on your computer, you can download and install CrashPlan Pro yourself. Please note that the installation and configuration process and interface is very similar for all platforms with only minor cosmetic OS-related differences. You can install CrashPlan Pro on more than one device and therefore back both devices up to one account.

Once you have logged in to the download page (see link at top right) you should save the appropriate preconfigured installer to your computer. Once it has downloaded, you should double click it to start installation.

• The CrashPlan Setup Wizard will open. Click the Next> button to set it in motion.
• Accept the terms of the Licence Agreement box then click Next>
• Follow the instructions onscreen – these will vary depending upon your OS.

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Configuration

If you have just installed CrashPlan Pro, the program will start automatically; if not start the program in the usual way for your OS.

• If you see the message “Unable to connect to the backup engine, retry?” click Yes.
• You will then be presented with a screen entitled “Create a CrashPlan PROe account”

• Tick the New account option and fill in your details. Username and password MUST be your Sussex IT username and password.
• Click Create Account.

You will be presented with the main CrashPlan Pro screen.

The program will begin scanning your computer and creating the first backup. Please note that the first backup is the largest and will therefore take quite some time to complete. Backups take considerably longer over a wireless connection, so where possible please ensure that your computer is connected to the network via an ethernet (wired) connection for this initial backup.

The default settings in the preconfigured installers should be fine, but if you want to change them - for example to exclude certain folders and files from backup - see below.

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Customisation

By default, CrashPlan Pro will back up the user folder (i.e. data only) of the account that installed the program. If this is not you, you will have to change the configuration . If it was you then you may still want to change the configuration - say to exclude any unusually large or unimportant files.

Configure the folders backed up using the following procedure.

• Click on the Change... button beneath your name in the Files section:

• In the list of files and folders revealed, tick the files you want backed up and untick those you do not:

• Click Save to apply these changes. NB: any files removed from the selection will be removed from the backup archive as well.