Backing up a large volume of new data can take time if a user's Internet connection is slow. For such cases, Datashield users have the seed loading option. It works both for initial and non-initial backups on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Get seeding path
Firstly, you should connect a flash drive (or any other removable storage device) to the computer that has data for seeding (or that has access to a network resource with such data). The flash drive should operate on a standard file system. A non-standard file system such as HFS can make seeding data unreadable (you'll get a warning if this is the case).
Recommended file systems for USB drives:
Windows: exFAT, NTFS
Mac: exFAT
Linux: exFAT, NTFS
Secondly, it is necessary to copy the full path to the root of the flash drive or a directory on it. This will be the seeding path in the Online backup client.
Windows users should copy the path from Windows Explorer. Examples: F:\ or F:\Febr-2014.
Run seeding
As soon as the seeding path is copied, the user can start the Online Backup client and run seeding.
1. Click Preferences > Seeding. Paste the seeding path to the Seeding path field, and then enable seeding.
2. Click Backup > Run seeding.
3. When the seeding session is completed, click Run seeding again to back up more data (if necessary).
4. When all necessary data has been backed up, click Complete seeding on the yellow notification bar.
You will find a new folder on the flash drive (located in the directory specified in Preferences > Seeding). This is the seeding folder. It has the same name as the Online backup client on which seeding has been done (for example "dg224hs-0091-73hjs-13lnre87").
Note: it is possible to perform a seed loading backup to a network share instead of the flash drive.
Transfer seeding folder to storage
Finally, you should transfer the offline files created by seeding to storage. A good thing is that while the data is on its way, the Online backup client stays functional. You can continue backing up data to the cloud or a local directory. Data recovery options are temporarily limited, though.
Connect the flash drive to a Windows computer with a high-speed Internet connection.
Download and unpack a server utility package for your system: Server Tool for Windows 32-bit or Server Tool for Windows 64-bit.
Start Command Prompt and run the following command:
ServerTool.exe seeds.upload -path <path_to_seed_load_folder> -threadscount <number_of_threads>
for exmaple:
ServerTool.exe seeds.upload -path F:\Febr-2014\dg224hs-0091-73hjs-13lnre87 -threadscount 3
After the upload is completed and the data is processed on the server, the Online Backup Client will exit the seeding mode. The data transferred to the storage using the seed loading feature will soon become available for recovery.
Instructions for Windows users performing seed loading backups to network drives
*it is openly available without authorization
*One of its user accounts coincides with an account on your computer (the same username and password).
The Online backup client normally uses the Local System account. This account may not give it network access. That is why it is necessary to switch to another account. It is done through the Services Console.
1. Open the Start menu. In the search box, enter services.msc. Double-click the program that Windows finds (the Services Console).
2. Right-click the Datashield backup Controller service. Choose Properties > Log On.
3. Select This account check box. Enter access credentials for the account that has access to the network resource. This can be an account from the Administrators group or an account that exists both on your computer and on the target network resource.
4. Right-click Datashield backup Controller service, and choose Restart from the context menu.
Note: Online Backup (Datashield) is a legacy product only available to older Atera accounts. For newer backup solutions, check this page.
