Skip to content
English
Sign in
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

How to Add and Configure Backup Devices in NovaBACKUP

If you're unable to see backup devices when creating a backup job, or receiving errors about "no devices to backup to," this guide will walk you through properly adding and configuring backup devices in NovaBACKUP. This is a common requirement for the device-centric backup approach used in NovaBACKUP version 21 and newer.

What You'll Learn:

  • How to add local backup devices (USB drives, NAS, network shares)
  • How to configure device settings and credentials
  • How to troubleshoot common device configuration issues
  • How to create backup jobs using your configured devices

Prerequisites

  • NovaBACKUP version 21 or newer installed
  • Administrative access to your computer
  • Network credentials (if backing up to NAS or network share)
  • Target storage device connected and accessible

Step 1: Add a Local Backup Device

Open Device Configuration

  1. Launch NovaBACKUP on your computer
  2. Navigate to the Device tab in the main interface
  3. Click the "Add" button to create a new device choosing the Local Backup option.

Step 2: Configure Device Settings

For Network Devices (NAS/Network Share)

Device Path Configuration:

  1. Enter the device path using UNC format:
    • Example: \\NAS-Name\BackupFolder
    • Example: \\192.168.1.100\Backups
    • Example: \\ServerName\SharedFolder\Backups

Network Credentials:

  1. Provide network credentials if required:
    • Username: Enter the username for the network device
    • Password: Enter the corresponding password
    • Domain: Leave blank for local NAS users, or enter domain name if using Active Directory
  2. Test the connection by clicking the "Check Credentials" button
  3. Look for a green checkmark indicating successful connection

For USB/External Drives

  1. Select the drive letter from the dropdown menu
  2. Specify a folder path (optional) - Example: E:\Backups
  3. Verify the device shows correct size and available space

Step 3: Create a Backup Job

Set Up Your Backup Job

  1. Go to the Backup tab
  2. Click "Create New Job"
  3. Choose the files or folders you want to back up
  4. Set the destination to the device you just added
  5. Configure job settings as needed

Configure Retention Rules

Set Backup Retention:

  1. Define retention period - How long backups should be kept
  2. Choose retention method:
    • Number of backup versions to retain
    • Number of days to retain backups
  3. Save the job and optionally schedule it

Best Practices

Security Recommendations

  1. Use dedicated backup credentials rather than administrator accounts when possible
  2. Create specific backup users on NAS devices with limited permissions
  3. Test restore procedures regularly to ensure device accessibility

Performance Tips

  1. Use wired network connections for NAS devices when possible
  2. Ensure adequate bandwidth for network-based backups

Maintenance

  1. Monitor device space regularly
  2. Update device credentials when network passwords change

Related Articles

Still Need Help?

If you're still experiencing issues with device configuration:

  1. Contact Support at support@novabackup.com
  2. Include in your support request:
    • Screenshots of device configuration screens
    • Error messages you're encountering
    • Device type and connection method
    • NovaBACKUP version information

Phone Support: Available for technical assistance with device setup and configuration issues.