Acomdata PUSHBUTTON User Manual
PushButton
Backup
USER'S GUIDE
TM
Includes instructions
for Sync and other
Redemption functions.
Important
Before reading this guide, set up
your PushButton-equipped Drive
according to the instructions in the
Hard Drive User’s Guide.
Please read this guide carefully;
it contains important information
that will help you create the backup
strategy that best suits your needs.
Contents
2 Important
Introduction
7 About PushButton™ Backup
7 PushButton Backup
7 PushButton Backup and Redemption
8 PushButton Drive Usage Options
9 How does PushButton Backup work?
9 PushButton Backup Operations
10 Backup
12 Duplicate
13 Synchronization (Sync)
Using PushButton™ Backup & Redemption
17 Installing Redemption
17 Installing Redemption on Windows
17 System Requirements
17 Installing Redemption
19 Installing Redemption on a Mac
19 System Requirements
19 Installing Redemption
21 Setting Up PushButton Backup
22 What type of operation do you want to launch via the
PushButton?
22 Setting up a Backup Store
27 Setting up a Duplicate Store
30 Setting up a Sync Store
Using Redemption's Other Functions
35 Archive Files
35 About Archive Files
35 How to run an Archive Files operation
38 Preparing for Disaster
38 How to prepare your computer for Disaster Recovery:
40 Restore
40 About the Restore Operations
41 Using Full Restore
43 Using File Restore
45 Using Find Files
50 Tools
50 PushButton Manager
50 Repair Catalog
50 How to repair a Catalog File
52 Manage Stores
52 How to Use Manage Stores
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53 How to create a new Store:
53 Selectors
53 How to create a Selector
55 Frequently Asked Questions
57 Notes
5
Introduction
About PushButton™ Backup
PushButton Backup
PushButton Backup is a faster, easier way to run routine data
backups. Rather than having to launch a backup utility and set
cumbersome parameters every time you want to backup your
files, all you need to do is press the PushButton on your Drive.
Not only does PushButton Backup make backups simpler and
more convenient, but since you’re backing up your data to a
high-performance hard drive—as opposed to say, tape or optical media—backups are also much faster.
PushButton Backup and Redemption
Your PushButton Drive came bundled with the Redemption data
backup and restore application. Redemption is the software that
runs the backups initiated via the PushButton. While PushButton
Backup will most likely suffice for your routine backup needs,
Redemption also offers a host of other powerful tools to help
you manage the data on your PushButton Drive. These features
are explained on the following pages.
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PushButton Drive Usage Options
You can use your PushButton Drive in the following ways:
• As a dedicated backup device:
Combining high-speed data transfers, huge storage capacities, proven reliability, and low cost-per-gigabyte of storage,
PushButton Drives are ideal for the dedicated backup or duplication of your computer's startup disk or other hard drive.
• As a synchronized, working hard drive:
Sync allows you to use your PushButton Drive to keep a synchronized duplicate of files on your computer or other hard
drive. This means you can work on the same files on multiple
computers without the hassle of manually tracking changes to
your files or tediously copying new or modified files between
drives. (More on the Sync function below.)
• As a combination backup device and working hard drive:
Unlike some backup utilities that reserve a hard drive's entire
capacity solely for backups, Redemption uses only as much
space as needed to store the backed-up data. The remaining space can be used for general-purpose, data storage and
retrieval. Keep in mind that the amount of space taken up by
your backups will likely increase with every backup session, leaving less and less capacity for your working files. However, unless
you routinely backup extremely large files, this will probably
not be an issue for quite some time.
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How does PushButton Backup work?
After Redemption is installed, the very first time you press
the PushButton on the Drive, Redemption will launch the
PushButton Backup Wizard. The wizard will guide you through a
few simple steps to set up a customized backup strategy.
Once the setup is complete, any time you want to backup your
data, simply press the PushButton. Redemption will launch,
automatically run the backup, and then close.
PushButton Backup Operations
There are three types of backup operations available with
PushButton Backup:
• Backup;
• Duplicate;
• Synchronization (Sync).
Each operation can be customized to best suit your needs.
When you setup PushButton Backup, you specify which
one of the three backup operations you want to launch via
the PushButton. All other Redemption functions can still be
accessed via the Redemption user interface.
To help you decide which operation to choose, we offer indepth descriptions below.
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Backup
The Backup operation is best suited for those who want to backup their entire startup disk. As well as backing up files, Backup
can also save other types of data, including user settings, applications and their settings, and the operating system and its
settings (including the registry). This information is required if
you need to perform disaster recovery on a computer that has
become unresponsive.
Backup Stores
The Backup process “packages” backed up files into a Backup
Store. The files in a Backup Store are saved in a proprietary for-
mat (complete with encryption, and compression, if specified by
the user). Files in a Backup Store can only be accessed through
the Redemption user interface; however, accessing backed up
files is only necessary if you need to restore files to the source
volume.
Catalog Files
Redemption keeps track of files in a Backup Store using a special
type of index called a Catalog File. Like the Backup Store itself,
the Catalog File is maintained by Redemption; the user does not
generally need to be concerned with the Catalog File, except in
the rare instance that a Catalog File needs to be rebuilt.
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Incremental Backups
Redemption uses an incremental backup method whereby
only new or modified files are saved to the Backup Store at
each backup session. This saves both time and disk space versus
backing up all of the files on the source every time. However,
all previously backed up versions of a file are saved. This way,
Redemption can keep track of a file as it is modified over time.
That's where Snapshots come in.
Snapshots
A Snapshot is a record of all files on the source volume.
Redemption takes a Snapshot of the source volume at each
backup session. While only the most recent Snapshot is saved in
the Catalog File, Redemption saves every Snapshot ever taken to
the destination volume (i.e. your PushButton Drive). In this way
Redemption can keep track of all versions of backed up files in a
very organized and efficient manner.
If you need to restore backed up files to the source volume
(e.g. your computer’s startup disk), you specify from which
point in time to restore the files by selecting the corresponding
Snapshot. For example, if you want to restore the last backed
up version of a document, you would select the most recent
Snapshot. But if you need to restore an earlier version of the
same document, you can select and earlier Snapshot.
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Multiple Stores
Redemption allows you to setup and maintain multiple Backup
Stores. For example, if more than one person uses your computer, you can set up a separate Backup Store for each user.
This means you can have several PushButton Drives connected
to your computer. Or, you can maintain multiple Backup Stores
on a single PushButton Drive; however, the PushButton function will only work with one Backup Store. Backing up to other
Backup Stores would have to be done via the Redemption user
interface.
Duplicate
The Duplicate operation is well-suited for users who want
Desktop access to their backed up files, and who do not need to
backup their operating system or application files.
The Duplicate operation employs what is essentially a 'smart'
copying process. Files and folders from the source volume are
copied to the destination volume in their native format, just as
they appear on the source volume (hence the term "duplicate").
Since the destination is a duplicate of the source, files and folders on the destination can be viewed and utilized just like the
original source files.
The Duplicate process saves space by overwriting earlier versions
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of duplicated files with the latest versions from the source volume. Unlike the Backup process, the Duplicate process does not
maintain the earlier versions. However, you do have the option
to run incremental duplicates, where only new or modified files
are copied to the destination at each Duplicate session.
Because duplicated files are copied in their native formats, you
cannot apply compression or encryption. However, this also
means you can restore duplicated files simply by dragging and
dropping them from the destination back to the source.
Synchronization (Sync)
The Sync function enables you to use your PushButton Drive to
synchronize files on multiple computers or hard drives without
the hassle of manually tracking changes or tediously copying
files between computers/drives.
Let's consider a couple of scenarios:
Sync Scenario 1: Maintaining a working backup of a computer
Let's say you routinely work at the office and at home. You need
a way to both backup your working files and work on them at
home. Using the Sync function, first, you synchronize the working files on your office PC to your PushButton Drive. Now you
have a portable duplicate you can work from at home. (At the
same time, you also have a backup that you can use to restore lost
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or corrupted files on your office PC.) The next time you go to the
office, you again sync your office PC and your PushButton Drive.
Any new or modified files on your PushButton Drive will get
copied to your office PC.
What if before you run the Sync you do some work on your
office PC so that now the PC's hard drive also contains new/
modified files? When you run the Sync, the software will identify
new/modified files on both drives and copy them over to each
drive as needed in order to keep them synchronized.
Sync Scenario 2: Synchronizing multiple computers
Let's say that as well as working from home, you also frequently
travel for business. When you travel you take your laptop, but
you still need access to the same files you keep on your office
PC. One option is to sync your office PC with your PushButton
Drive and then take the Drive with you. But there is another way.
First, you sync your office PC and your PushButton Drive. Then,
you sync your PushButton Drive and your laptop. With your laptop and office PC in sync, you're ready to depart.
When you return from your trip, your laptop may contain many
new or modified files that you need to copy to your office PC.
You sync your laptop and your PushButton Drive. Then you sync
your PushButton Drive and your office PC. Your laptop and your
office PC are again in sync, and you have an up-to-date backup
of both computers.
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A few more things you should know about Sync:
• You require a separate Sync Store for each computer you sync
with your PushButton Drive. Each Sync Store is maintained in
its own folder on the Drive.
• The Sync operation can be launched via the PushButton or via
the Redemption user interface. However, the PushButton can
only be linked to one Store. Additional Stores must be accessed
via the user interface.
• The Sync function uses incremental duplication. Only files that
are new or have been modified since the last Sync session are
duplicated. Unmodified files are left untouched. This saves
time and increases reliability.
• When you set up a Sync Store, the Sync wizard in Redemption
gives you two options for handling deleted files:
- If you enable the Salvage deleted files option, files that get
deleted from one synched volume will be moved to a folder
called "Redemption Salvaged Data."
- If you do not check the salvage option, files that are deleted
from one synched volume will also be deleted from the
other synched volume at the next Sync session.
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Using PushButton™ Backup & Redemption
Installing Redemption
Installing Redemption on Windows
If your Drive is equipped with the Nomad Mobile Desktop, do not follow the
installation instructions below. The Redemption application is automatically
installed on your PushButton Drive when you ac tivate Nomad. See your Hard
Drive User's Guide for complete instructions.
System Requirements
• Windows XP (Home, Pro, x64, Media Center), 2000, Me, 98SE
• Redemption must be run under a user account that has full
access privileges to any volume you wish to backup.
Installing Redemption
1. Save any open files and quit any running applications.
2. Make sure your PushButton Drive is connected to your computer,
and if necessary, login with your password to mount the HD partition. (The CD partition mounts automatically).
3. Go to My Computer and double-click the CD PART icon.
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4. Inside the CD PART window, open the folder "Redemption" and
then double-click "Setup.exe" to launch the Installer.
5. Follow the instructions in the Redemption Setup program.
Note: When running through the Setup program, you should leave
all options at their default settings. If you change any settings,
PushButton Backup may not work properly.
After the setup is complete, Redemption will launch and the
main Redemption window will appear on screen. You will now
also see a Redemption Shortcut on the Desktop. If Redemption
does not launch automatically you will need to re-start your
computer.
From now on, anytime you startup your computer, the
Redemption splash screen will appear briefly and then disappear. This tells you that Redemption is ready and running in the
background. Redemption must be running in the background
for PushButton Backup to work.
Proceed to "Setting up PushButton Backup on Windows."
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