CrashPlan

Secure Offsite Client Backup for Science Faculty and Staff
Welcome! CrashPlan is a backup service available on both MacOS & Windows to all Science Center faculty and staff. CrashPlan allows you to automatically backup up to 4 computers and recover/access your files from any of those devices.

Important Key Features:

  • CrashPlan is self-service, easy to use and takes only a few minutes to download, install and start backing up
  • CrashPlan automatically backs up your important files, ensuring your data is securely protected in the event of accidental file deletion, hardware loss, theft, or local drive failure.
  • Your files are safe, encrypted and stored securely on CrashPlan Servers
  • Encryption keys are securely stored by CATS on campus
  • You can restore files easily, at any time with the CrashPlan software on your computer or to your mobile device

For more information about CrashPlan you can visit CrashPlan.com

There are three main steps involved in order to use the CrashPlan backup service:
1) Get access to the CrashPlan server by sending an email to: cats-s@smith.edu
2) Download and install the CrashPlan Client
3) Configure the CrashPlan Client

See detailed instructions below.

Please follow these links to get to the section you’re looking for.

Installing CrashPlan Client
Configuing CrashPlan Client
macOS users — enable Full Disk Access
How long will it take?
Accessing the CrashPlan Dashboard
Choose which files/folders/drives to be backed up
Personally Owned Computers
Restoring Files
Moving to a new computer

 

INSTALLING CrashPlan Client

To get started:
1) Email cats-s@smith.edu to request access to CrashPlan.
2) Once you’ve heard back from CATS go to this URL: https://console.us2.crashplan.com
3) Sign in to CrashPlan with your Smith email address and password. Approve Duo. 

  
You will see the following :

4) Select ADMINISTATION and then Downloads.
5) Choose your OS to start downloading the CrashPlan client. (Smith Windows computers run Windows x64)
6) Once the CrashPlan installer is downloaded locate it in your Downloads area.
     A) On OS X open the Disk Image (.dmg) file and double-click to run the contained PROe installer. [CLICK on “install for ALL users”]
     B) On Windows double-click on the Installer (.msi) file and follow default options (you may be prompted to open up the firewall, do this)
7) Once installed you will be presented with this window (you may need to open the CrashPlan app if it doesn’t automatically open):

 


 
 

CONFIGURING CrashPlan Client

1) Enter your full email address
2) For the Server Address enter: clients.us2.crashplan.com
3) Once you select “Continue” you’ll be sent to the Smith login page.
4) Enter your username/password here and accept the DUO login.
You’ll then be shown the following screen


 

macOS users — enable Full Disk Access
macOS privacy controls can block CrashPlan from backing up your data until permission is granted.

  • Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access
  • Ensure CrashPlan is turned ON
  • Quit and reopen CrashPlan (or restart your Mac)

 

And then you’re all set! If you’re adding a new machine. You can click on “Manage Files” and to add/remove files to be backed up. By default your user folder on both Mac and Windows are backed up which means your documents and desktop are backed up automatically. 

If you’re replacing or updating your existing computer go to here. 

 


 
 

How long will it take? The first complete backup could take up to a couple days to a week or more depending on how many files you have. To help the process complete faster try to leave your device connected to the internet and awake overnight (keep lid open)


 

Accessing the CrashPlan Dashboard
You can view the backup status of all your registered machines by logging in to the CrashPlan dashboard here: https://console.us2.crashplan.com/login/#/login 

Now sit back and relax.
You can close the CrashPlan window; the backup will continue running. If/when the time comes, you can restore your files from any of your computers running the CrashPlan client or through the CrashPlan web portal. 


 

Choose files/folders/drives to be backed up
By default CrashPlan chooses to back up your entire Users folder which is great, but if you have files in other locations (e.g., an external HD) you’ll want to click on the “Manage Files” button in the CrashPlan app near your backup.  Then select the check-box on the files/folders you want backed up.  Conversely you can exclude files/folders that you do not want backed up.

Lather-Rinse-Repeat
Once you have successfully backed up your Smith College computer you may add up to THREE more workstations. Where applicable this could include Smith owned student workstations and/or computers attached to analytical devices in your research spaces, for example. See next section.


 

Personally Owned Computers
If you have not used up your FOUR allocated back up seats you may add a personal home computer(s) to CrashPlan under the following conditions:
1) You are backing up at least ONE Smith owned computer
2) You will back up your personal home computer through your home internet service provider (i.e., you will not use Smith bandwidth)


 

Restoring Files
To restore files you either deleted or need older version of, follow these instructions:

Windows:
Go to Start > Programs >  CrashPlan > CrashPlan

Macintosh:
Go to Macintosh HD > Applications > CrashPlan (double click the app)
You will then see a window similar to this:


Select Get Files
Browse to the directory/file you’d like to restore
Select the file you’d like to restore and choose the options for restoring

 

Select the file/folder you’d like to restore.
Once you choose the file you’ll see a small clock show up to the right of the file name.  Choosing this will allow you to choose a different version of the file.
Once you’ve chosen the version of the file you want click “Get Files”
You’ll then be able to choose where to save the file(s), what to do if a file with the same name already exists and also set permissions on the file(s).  Once that is set hit “Go” and your files will be restored.

Moving to a new computer

When you get a new device, Crashplans replace device wizard can help you transfer files, move your backup, and update settings from a previous device. This is recommended if you are:

  • Moving a backup to a new device
  • Replacing an old device
  • Replacing your device’s main hard drive
  • Recovering after an operating system reinstall

Instructions can be found here:
Crashplan – Replace Your Device