Example 3. Replicating backups to the online storage

This example assumes that you have activated an online backup subscription for the machine that you are backing up.

The following scenario assumes that the amount of data you want to back up is relatively small (up to a few gigabytes). For larger backups, see “Replicating large amounts of data to the online storage” later in this section.

Consider the following scenario:

• You want to occasionally back up your machine to a local folder.
• You want to keep a copy of the resulting archive off-site in Acronis Online Backup Storage.
• No matter when you start the backup, you want the replication to take place outside working hours, when demand on the Internet connection is lower.

In this scenario, create a backup plan with the desired backup scheme. When creating the backup plan, specify a local folder in the Path field. Select the Replicate just created backup to another location check box, and then specify the online storage in the 2nd location field.

In Backup options, go to Replication/cleanup inactivity time, and specify the working hours (for example, Monday through Friday from 8:00 until 17:00).

Result:

• After the backup plan starts, the data is backed up to the local folder.
• If the backup finishes outside the working hours, replication starts immediately. Otherwise, replication is postponed until the end of the working hours.

Note: In the online storage, the second and further backups of an archive will always be incremental, no matter what type they are in the original location. This leads to efficient use of storage space for your online backup subscription.

Replicating large amounts of data to the online storage

If you are planning to back up 10 GB of data or more, especially over a slow Internet connection, you may want to send the first backup to the online storage on a physical hard drive. This option is provided by the Initial Seeding service which you can buy in addition to your online backup subscription.

The Initial Seeding service might be unavailable in your region. To find more information, click here: http://kb.acronis.com/content/15118.

During the subsequent backups, only changes to the original data will be sent to the online storage and will not affect network traffic as much.

In this scenario, create a backup plan with the Initial seeding scheme. When creating the backup plan, specify a local folder in the Path field. This can be a folder on the hard drive that you are going to send. For more details, see “How to perform initial seeding?”.

After you have sent the hard drive and the order status becomes The data upload has been completed, edit the backup plan. Change the backup scheme, destination, and replication settings to those previously described in this section.

The updated backup plan will produce backups that will be replicated to the online storage outside working hours.