Rotating backup scheme using external drives

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http://www.backup4all.com/kb/rotating-backup-scheme-using-external-d...

Rotating backup scheme using external drives

Nov 7, 2014
In this article we will show you how to set Backup4all to backup on two external drives using the backup
destination rotation scheme, in case Windows assigns different drive letters for each external drive, even if
they are not connected at the same time. Backup4all will verify which removable/external drive is connected
at the backup time. If one of the correct drive is connected, the backup will run; otherwise the backup will
abort.

Summary
In this article we will show you how to set Backup4all to backup on two external drives using the backup
destination rotation scheme, in case Windows assigns different drive letters for each external drive, even if
they are not connected at the same time. Backup4all will verify which removable/external drive is connected
at the backup time. If one of the correct drive is connected, the backup will run; otherwise the backup will
abort.
The solution is to mount the external drives to the same local folder and run the backup to that folder. When
running the backup, a script will be executed before the backup, so the connected external drive will be
mounted to that folder. After the mount is made, the backup will run.

On this page:
How to create the script
How to create the backup job

How to create the script

You need to create script and run it before the backup. That will check the existence of the volumeID of the
backup drives and after that it will run (or abort) the backup.
Steps to follow:
1. Create a folder where we want to map the disks. The backup job will back up to this folder.
In this tutorial we will use C:\DiskMount
2. Get the volume GUID for each external disk.
Plugin both disks. Start cmd.exe and type this command:
mountvol c:\DiskMount
Note the volume for the drive letter associated with each external drive letter.
It should look like:

1/19/2015 10:48 AM

Rotating backup scheme using external drives

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http://www.backup4all.com/kb/rotating-backup-scheme-using-external-d...

\\?\Volume{964ee7c8-dbfd-11e3-82cd-74d02b7dfc4e}\
3. Create a small batch script containing these lines:
REM unmount first
mountvol C:\DiskMount /D

REM try mount first drive (it will mount label W); fails if disk is not online
mountvol C:\DiskMount \\?\Volume{301547fa-2c57-11e4-8317-f2b8544bc870}\

REM try mount second drive (it will mount label V); fails if disk is not online
mountvol C:\DiskMount \\?\Volume{aeb73438-7f5c-11e3-8283-74d02b7dfc4e}\

4. Save the script as C:\scripts\mount.bat

How to create the backup job

1. Open Backup4all.
2. Go to File->New backup.
3. On the first page, enter a name for the backup in the Backup Name field.
4. In the Where do you want to save the backup section, select the backup destination.
5. On the What do you want to backup page, add the backup sources. Press Next.
6. On the third page, you can choose the backup type and the encryption. Press Next.
7. Set when to run the backup.
8. Press Advanced mode. Select the Run program or action in the Run action before backup section.
9. Type the path or select the script you just created as action to be executed before the backup.
10. Select the Abort backup if action fails
11. On the same page, make sure you clear (uncheck) the Use local catalogs option
12. Press Save.

Applies to:
Backup4all 5.x

NEW: Backup4All 5.2.663

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