Cloud Backup - How to Set Up Backblaze B2 for Cloud Backup

1. B2 Cloud Storage Review
2. B2 Cloud Storage
3. Backblaze B2
4. B2 Cloud

Cloud Backup

Backblaze B2 is a business-class cloud storage provider with extremely low costs, at $0.005/GB a month or $5/TB a month. Retrospect 12 and higher for Windows and Retrospect 14 and higher for Mac are certified for Backblaze B2 API, and Retrospect 17.5 for Windows and Mac are certified for Backblaze B2 S3-Compatible API. Follow these step-by-step instructions for setting up a Backblaze B2 account and adding it to Retrospect.

B2.NET is a C# client for the Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage service. While the core of B2.NET is mature you should still consider this library in Beta, so use it in production at your own risk. B2 Documentation. Full implementation of the B2 REST API (except Keys management) Suport for uploading Streams. Company’s scalable object storage is now available to the global business population that built workflows dependent on S3. Object Storage Service Description: Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is purpose-built for ease, instant access to files and data, and infinite scalability. Resilio operates over existing infrastructure and uses P2P file sharing protocols and WAN acceleration to optimize file transfers. Resilio Connect can be configured with B2 Cloud Storage by following the steps below. Step 1: In Resilio Connect, go to Settings in the upper right corner, and then click on Cloud Storage.

Please note that buckets created before May 4, 2020 cannot be used with Backblaze S3 Compatible APIs.

Step-by-step Guide

Video Tutorial - Retrospect Backup for Windows

Video Tutorial - Retrospect Backup for Mac

Account Setup Guide

Setting up a Backblaze B2 account is quick and easy.

1. Visit Backblaze B2. Type in your email address and password and click 'Sign up for B2'.

2. Backblaze B2 requires a valid phone number, so you’ll need to verify yours with a text message. This also allows you to set up two-factor authentication for added security.

3. After verifying your phone number, you’ll see your new Backblaze B2 account page.

4. Backblaze B3 provides two different interfaces that Retrospect supports: B2 API and S3 API. Let’s walk through setup for each.

Information for Retrospect using Backblaze B2 API

Retrospect needs two pieces of information to access Backblaze B2.

B2 Cloud Storage Review

• Account ID – Use the Account ID from above.

• Application Key – Use the Application Key from above.

Note that Retrospect’s B2 API requires the master key and does not support application-specific keys. To retrieve the master key, click the 'Show Account ID and Application Key' link and then the 'Create Application Key' button.

Information for Retrospect using Backblaze S3-Compatible API

Retrospect needs two pieces of information to access Backblaze B2.

• Path – s3.us-west-001.backblazeb2.com/your_bucket_name (using the endpoint URL listed in Backblaze 'Buckets' page)

• Access Key: Use the Application Key ID (KeyID).

• Secret Key: Use the Application Key (applicationKey).

The S3 Compatible API does not support the master key but does support application-specific keys. You’ll need to click 'Add a New Application Key' under 'App Keys' to get the 'Application Key ID' (KeyID) and the 'Application Key' (applicationKey).

The path is listed as 'Endpoint' under the bucket description on your Backblaze 'Buckets' page.

Adding Cloud Storage in Retrospect using Backblaze B2 API

Adding cloud storage as a destination is simple. Retrospect has a new set type called 'Cloud'. Create a new backup set/media set and select 'Cloud' as the type.

Next you’ll need to enter your cloud storage credentials. Retrospect allows customers to set the maximum storage usage, up to 100TB. If you have an existing bucket, type it into 'Bucket'. Otherwise, leave that field blank, and Retrospect will walk through creating a new one.

Adding Cloud Storage in Retrospect using Backblaze S3-Compatible API

Adding cloud storage as a destination is simple. Retrospect has a new set type called 'Cloud'. Create a new backup set/media set and select 'Cloud' as the type.

Next you’ll need to enter your cloud storage credentials. Retrospect allows customers to set the maximum storage usage, up to 100TB. If you have an existing bucket, type it into 'Bucket'. Otherwise, leave that field blank, and Retrospect will walk through creating a new one.

Using Cloud Storage in Retrospect

Using cloud storage is simple. After you have created a cloud set, create a new script or add it to an existing one, and click 'Run'. The backup will begin with the contents of the set being uploaded to your cloud storage location. You can track the progress in the execution/activity.

Throttling Cloud Backups in Retrospect

Throttling for cloud backup and cloud restore is available in Preferences.

Backblaze B2 Fireball

Retrospect Backup supports integration with B2 Fireball. However, when doing this backup, it will be important that you create a Cloud Backup Set and not a Disk Backup set for the Fireball device.

General Tips

Below are a number of tips for using cloud storage in Retrospect:

• Bandwidth Measurement Tool – Measure your upload and download bandwidth with this free tool: Speedtest.net.

• Disable Backup Verification – Verification will download all of the data that you upload. See more details about why you should disable it for cloud backups in Cloud Backup - Best Practices for Data Protection with Cloud Storage.

Troubleshooting

In some cases, Retrospect Backup will receive an error during upload and need to retry. You need to set your bucket’s lifecycle to 'Keep only the last version'. Otherwise, B2 might store retain the prior incomplete copies of your RDB file, and B2 will charge you for this space.

Last Update: September 22, 2020

Oct 14, 2019

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage

Backblaze is a company offering unlimited online backup services. In June 2016, they launched the official version of Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage, a metered object storage service. Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is characterized by price, it is the lowest price compared to other object storage services like Amazon S3 (Cloud Storage Comparison). Just by registering your email address, you can use 10GB free service with no time limit. If you use more than 10GB you will need to register your payment information, but you can continue to use the first 10GB free.

You have two choices to back up your files to Backblaze. The first one is Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage with a backup application like qBackup. The second one is Backblaze Unlimited Backup. Each has its own characteristics, which one is better to choose depends on the situation. Refer to the table below.

(*1) Additional fee may be charged for downloading and transactions.

qBackup is listed on the Backblaze B2 Integrations. This page introduces how to backup to Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage using qBackup.

Sign up for Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage

Go to Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage, enter your email address and password, and click [Sign Up for B2].

Select [App Keys] from the B2 Cloud Storage menu.

Your keyID is displayed on this page. Click [Create New Master Application Key] to create an Application Key.

qBackup uses the keyID and the Application Key to access Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage.

Installing qBackup

Download qBackup installer, and run the installer and complete the installation according to the instruction.

Creating project (backup configuration)

Run qBackup, and click [New] on the toolbar.

Enter project name.

Adding backup sources

Select [Include], and add files and folders to be backed up.

Files to be backed up

Any number of files and folders can be added.
You can add and delete files after backup is executed.
You can specify exclusions on [Exclude].

Storage

Select [Storage] and set storage information.

Options

Select [Options] and set each item as necessary. Backup can be executed even in the initial state. Set encryption password if you need to encrypt backup data.

Uploading speed

If the uploading speed is slow, you may be able to improve by changing the [Max threads] (Storage).

Click [OK] to save the project.

Backing up

Select the project you created. Click [Backup] on the toolbar to start backup.

The processing status is displayed on the window during backup.

When the backup is completed, the processing status becomes [Complete].

B2 Cloud Storage

For the second and subsequent backups, only changes from the previous backup are backed up (incremental backup).

Restoring backed up files

Select the backup you want to restore and click [Storage] on the toolbar.

The files backed up in the storage are displayed.

Select the files/folders you want to restore and click [Restore].

On the window that appears, enter conditions such as the destination and click [OK].

Backblaze B2

The processing status is displayed as in the case of backup.

B2 Cloud

For more information please refer to the documentation of qBackup and Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage.