This step-by-step guide will walk you through setting up a scheduled file backup job in NovaBACKUP combined with configuring a data retention policy so that you don't run out of space over time.

NovaBACKUP is installed on your Workstation or Server and is able to backup data from the machine it is installed on and store it on your NAS.

NOTE: NovaBACKUP is not designed to backup data located on your NAS. You will want to look into the features included in your NAS Firmware settings for this.

This is an example of a four week retention policy. One Full backup every Saturday with daily Differentials. This guide also details setting up a backup "Device" pointing to your network share/NAS or SAN for your target destination device.

Buffalo Customers: 

• Creating a new Shared Folder on a Buffalo TeraStation
• Creating a Shared Folder on a Buffalo LinkStation
• Obtain NovaBACKUP for Buffalo using your serial number at https://novabackup.com/buffalo 

NOTE for ALL NAS Devices: You Must disable the Recycle Bin for the Network Share you will be using to store your backups.

This guide will cover the following processes: 

• 1. Configure a Network Device
  
  • Change Default Settings (Part 1 Steps 2-3)
• 2. Create and Schedule your Full File Backup job (weekly)
• 3. Create and Schedule your (Diff)erential File Backup (Daily)
• 4. Configure Retention for File Backups
• 5. Create and Schedule the System Image Backup (monthly)
• 6. Review Scheduled Jobs

A brief overview: 

1. Install NovaBACKUP on your Windows-based system that is going to be backed up
2. Add a Network Device (as needed)
3. Adjust your desired default settings
4. Create a Backup Job, configure the settings for the job, 
5. Save and Schedule the Backup Job
6. Repeat steps 3 & 4 as needed
7. Create a Retention Job, configure the settings for the job,
8. Save and Schedule the Retention Job
9. If adjusting Advanced settings, repeat steps 6 & 7 as needed

1. Configure a Network Device

If your storage device will be a locally attached device e.g. internal hard drive/USB drive proceed to 2. Create and Schedule your Full File Backup job (weekly), no need to configure anything here.

1. Setup your Network Device: In NovaBACKUP on the Home tab click on [Add Network Device] or open the Device tab and click on “Add”.
   In the drop down menu select “Network Device”, click "OK".
   
   
   Under “Device Name” give it a simple name, my example is NasBackup. Under “Network Path” type in the UNC path or browse for it. “Domain Name”, “User name”, and “User Password” are all optional depending on how your network device is configured on the network.
   NOTE: These credentials are those utilized to connect to the Network Share, for most devices you will use "admin" or "root" as the username.
   Click on "OK", if any of the above fields are incorrect, an error message will appear. If correct you will be taken to the Home tab, and see your device listed on the device tab.
   
2. Configure your Default Setting to run as an administrator, change the default backup location, and configure default backup notification emails.  Click on the NovaBackup logo on the top left corner and choose "Default Settings".
   
   
   Click on “Default settings”, Click on the “Run as Tab”, put a dot on “Run as specific user”. Fill in your Domain Name, User Name, and User Password. (Most home users will not be in a domain.) Click “Check Credentials” to confirm you have entered all the correct information.
   
3. Change the default backup location to the previously added network device to ensure the network credentials are saved for Retention jobs.
   

E-mail Notifications

OPTIONAL If you would like to receive notifications click on the “Notification” tab.  Put a checkmark next to “E-mail’. Put a dot next to always, if you want to be notified when NovaBACKUP completes any jobs. (You can select any option here depending on your needs for notification) Click on E-mail Settings, Fill out all the necessary settings here (the SMTP settings are optional, depending on your environment) and click “Test E-mail Settings”. A pop-up with will appear on your screen stating,  “Test email sent successfully”.  Click on “Save”, click on “OK”. Now  close NovaBACKUP for the universal settings to take effect.

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2. Create and Schedule your Full File Backup job (weekly)

See also [Guide] Standard Backup Schedule with Retention (provided below)

 Open the Backup Tab by clicking on it.

1. Select your Files you wish to backup.

2. Assign a Backup Name "Full"

3. Click [Backup to...]

   
   
   1. Assign a Media name (output filename) "Full" to match the Backup Name above
   2. Select the Output Storage Device
   3. Click [OK]

4. Adjust Backup Job [Settings]

   
   1. Change the Write Mode to "Append to media"
   2. Click [OK]

5. Schedule the Full backup
   
   Click [Schedule...]
   

   1. Save the Full job when prompted, click [Yes]
      
      1. Confirm the Script File name "Full"
      2. Click [Save]

   2. Adjust Schedule Options:

      
   3. Type of Schedule "Daily"
   4. First Run Date
      
      
   5. Time this backup will run
   6. Run only on Friday
   7. Enter your Windows Log On Credentials, (User Name & Password)
   8. Check Credentials to confirm they are valid
   9. Click [OK] to schedule the job

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3. Create and Schedule your (Diff)erential File Backup (Daily)

This backup will contain the files that have changed since the last Full ran.

• Adjust settings from your Full job:

  
  

  1. Change the Backup Name to "Diff"

  2. Change the Output Filename to [Backup to...]

     
     1. Change the Output Filename (Media name) to Diff
     2. Select the Output Storage Device (it can sometimes change back to "C:")
     3. Click [OK]

  3. Change the job [Settings]

     
     1. Change the Backup Mode to "Differential"
     2. Click [OK]

  4. Open the Main Menu to Save As

     
     
     1. Choose "Save Full As..."
        
        1. Confirm the File name matches your Backup Name to save the Script as
        2. Click [Save]

  5. Schedule the Diff File Backup
     
     
     Click [Schedule...]

     
     1. Select Type of Schedule "Daily"
     2. Adjust the First Run Date
     3. Pick the Time you wish the backup to run
     4. Select the days of the week you wish the Diff File Backup to run (Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs)
     5. Enter your Windows Log On Credentials, (User Name & Password)
     6. Check Credentials to confirm they are valid
     7. Click [OK] to schedule the job

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4. Configure Retention for File Backups

NOTE: This guide will set your Retention job to maintain the most recent two weeks of backups, adjust as needed. This means the most recent Image Backup (monthly), Full file backups within the last two weeks, and any partial (Differential) file backups after the first Full file backup, and up to the latest Full file backup will be kept when retention runs.

1. Open the Schedule Tab
2. Select [Backup Retention...]
   
   1. Choose "Age"
   2. To keep the last (2) weeks worth of File backups
   3. Choose "Weeks"
   4. Only allow Normal (File) Backups to be processed
   5. Save...] the Retention Job
      
      
      1. Give the job a script name (the default is fine)
      2. Click [Save]
3. You will be returned to the Schedule Tab
   
   
   1. Click [Add...] to schedule the retention job
      
      
      1. Select the job to schedule (click in the bar or the down arrow)
         
         1. Open the "Utility" folder
            
            
            1. Select the Retention Job you just created "My Backup Retention.nbk"
            2. Click [Open]
   2. Select Type of Schedule "Daily"
   3. Adjust the First Run Date
   4. Pick the Time you wish for the Retention to run (10 min before the Full is good!)
   5. Run only on Friday
   6. Enter your Windows Log On Credentials, (User Name & Password)
   7. Check Credentials to confirm they are valid
   8. Click [OK] to schedule the job

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5. Create and Schedule the System Image Backup (monthly)

1. Open the Home Tab
2. Select Image Backup to Start the Image Backup Wizard
   
   
   1. Select Image Backup Schedule
   2. Click [Next]
      
      
      1. Confirm the Backup Type is "Full", click [Next]
         
         
         1. Select your "C:" Partition (or in this case you could choose "Disk 0")
         2. Click [Next]
            
            1. Specify a Backup Name "System Image"
            2. Click [Backup to...]
               
               
               1. Select the destination storage device
               2. Click [OK]
            3. Click [Next]
               
               
               1. Select Type of Schedule "Daily"
               2. Adjust the First Run Date & Time you wish the backup to run
               3. Repeat every 4 occurrences of the Day (chosen next)
               4. Select the day of the week you wish the Image Backup to run (Fri)
               5. Enter your Windows Log On Credentials, (User Name & Password)
               6. Check Credentials to confirm they are valid
               7. Click [Finish] to schedule the job

6. Review Scheduled Jobs

Your Schedule Tab should now look similar (if not identical) to this: