How to back up to multiple destinations

Summary
This article explains how to back up to multiple destinations using Backup4all.

On this page:

Backing up to multiple destinations

Details
Backup4all does not allow users to select multiple backup destinations for a single backup job. However, users can create multiple backup jobs into a backup group and each job could have a different backup destination. When a backup group is scheduled to run, all backup jobs inside will run sequentially. It is specifically useful when you want to have the same backup stored on different destinations for increased data protection. For example you can have the same backup stored on a remote FTP location and also on an external hard drive - if one backup destination will become unavailable at least you can recover your data from the other destination.

Backing up to multiple destinations

Backup4all allows one destination for each backup job. So by setting up a backup group that contains several backup jobs, you can have  a backup stored in multiple destinations. The advantage of defining a backup group is that the user does not have to run each backup job independently and he does not have to wait until the previous backup job is finished. The backup jobs in the backup group are automatically executed one after another.
The strategy is this:

1. In the defined backup group, the first backup job in the list (backup jobs in a group are performed in the order they are shown in the backup list) will back up the source files and folders to the first backup destination (called Destination_1 in this example).
2. The second backup job will use as source of the backup the destination of the first backup job (files in the Destination_1 folder). This way, a mirror backup of the Destination_1 folder will be created into the second destination (called Destination_2). You will have the same backup stored in both destinations: Destination_1 and Destination_2.
3. Any subsequent backup jobs will use as source the destination of the first backup job (Destination_1 in this case)

Here is an example on how to create a backup group with 2 backup jobs that back up the same data to 2 different destinations:  

1. Open Backup4all and select File->New Backup Wizard (Ctrl+N). On the General page enter a name for the backup (Backup_1) in the Name field and a name for the backup group (New_Group) in the Group field. Click Next.
2. On the Sources page, add the files and folders to be backed up. Click Next.
3. On the Destination page, select a destination for the backup (Destination_1). Click Next.
4. On the Type page, select the backup type. By default, the Incremental type is selected. Click Next.
5. Click Finish.
6. Create the second backup job from File->New Backup Wizard (Ctrl+N). On the General page enter a name for the backup (Backup_2)and select the backup group you have created in step 1 (New_Group). Click Next.
7. On the Sources page, add the Destination_1 folder to be backed up. Click Next.
8. On the Destination page, select a destination for the backup (Destination_2). Click Next.
9. Select the Mirror backup type. Set (check) the Fast mirror option.
10. Click Finish.
11. You can manually run the backup group (New_Group) or you can add a scheduled task to run it (see this tutorial - How to schedule an existing backup job, backup group or “one touch backup”)

Now in the backup list you'll see the 2 backup jobs listed in the order they were created (first is Backup_1, second should be Backup_2). Order is important as backup jobs are executed in the order they are shown. To set up more backup destinations, the user has to repeat the steps from 6 to 10.

Note: If an user wants to back up to more than 2 destinations, we recommend using the Create Like option in Backup4all. As this option actually clones an existing backup job (only the name of the backup job is changed), there is no need to create a completely new backup job. You only have to open the Backup Properties (Ctrl+P) for the cloned backup job and change the existing Destination to the backup destination you want.

Applies to:
Backup4all 2.x - 3.x