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How does Kingston Communications Backup Service work?

The Kingston Communications Backup Suite consists of 3 main modules:

  • The client software – Kingston Communications Backup Client
  • The server software located at Kingston Communications – Kingston Communications Backup Server
  • The replication server – Replication Server

Kingston Communications Backup Client is an application that runs on the machine to be backed up with a user-interface for easy backup configuration. It allows users to upload selected files to the Kingston Communications Backup server and runs scheduled backup jobs. It also allows users to create different backup sets for different backup purpose. Besides file backup, the Client can backup a list of applications such as MS Exchange, MS SQL, Oracle, MySQL, Lotus Domino, and much more. Kingston Communications Backup Client supports Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Linux, Mac OS X, etc.

Kingston Communications Backup Server is a server application which stores backup data from multiple Kingston Communications Backup Client backup accounts (primary backup). It is run and managed by Kingston Communications staff at their secure data centre in Docklands. Users can also logon to the Management Console to manage their own backup account or restore their own backup data.

Replication Server is another server application running on a separate machine at a separate Kingston Communications data centre (secondary backup). It provides close to real-time backup for multiple Kingston Communications Backup Servers. So, even if one of the Kingston Communications Backup Servers failed, the Replication Server still has a copy of the backup data.

What is the recommended bandwidth?

It really depends on what kind of data to be backed up, e.g. for personal file backups, the daily data transfer should be limited, while MS Exchange backup could be significant. As a rough guide it should be possible to back up the following amounts of data:-

Connection Storage
ADSL 2Mb 30GB
ADSL 8Mb (max 448Kb upload) 50GB
ADSL 8Mb (max 832Kb upload) 75GB
SDSL 2Mb 250GB
10Mb Leased Line 1TB
100Mb Leased Line 8TB
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How does the Server Backup detect changes in files?

Kingston Communications Backup Client compares timestamps of files on the server with the corresponding copies on client machine. The Archive bit is not used as it does not detect relocated files. Therefore tape backup would not affect Kingston Communications Backup Client.

Does Server Backup copy the same set of files regularly?

After the initial upload, subsequent backup jobs will only transfer the modified or new data to the Backup server. It depends on the nature of the data, but normally, less than 5% of all data is modified.

How can I backup a huge data set over the Internet?

If you have a lot of data (e.g. 300GB) to backup to the backup server, it would take a considerable amount of time to perform the first full backup over the Internet. Kingston Communications provides a Seed Loading Facility to achieve the initial backup:-

  • 1. Use the Seed Loading Utility to backup your backup set to a portable drive provided by Kingston Communications (instead of directly transfer to the backup server)
  • 2. Send the backup data, now stored on the portable drive, back to Kingston Communications.
  • 3. A Kingston Communications administrator will then load all your backup files from the portable drive into your backup account. This could save you days (even weeks) of performing your first full backup.

In addition, subsequent backups are incremental (only new or updated files will be uploaded to the server), the amount of data transfer should be relatively small.

Please refer to the User’s Guide for further details on the “Seed Loading Utility”. To request the seed loading facility please logon to your account, select the Kingston Communications Backup service and choose “Hire Drive” from the menu on the right hand side.

What is the average compression ratio?

All backup files are compressed and encrypted before uploading to the Backup Server, the average compression ratio for text-based file is around 4:1. However, no further compression can be made on files that are already in compressed format (e.g. JPG, ZIP). In general, you can assume a 2:1 compression ratio when you are backing up a file set with a variety of types.

Can I change my encryption key?

The encryption key cannot be changed once you setup your Backup Set. This is necessary for the integrity of the Backup Set, making sure that backup data is only encrypted by one key. Otherwise, you will have problems remembering two encryption keys when you want to restore your files in the future.

You need to recreate your Backup Set if you really want to change your encryption key.

What kind of encryption used?

There are two encryptions being performed by Kingston Communications Backup Client:

  • 1. Encryption of backup data - This is being done by 128-bit symmetric key encryption (AES, TripleDES, TwoFish). 256-bit is not available because it requires too much CPU and it is not really required. (128-bit is currently being used by most banks)
  • 2. Encryption of backup traffic - This is being done by 1024 bit RSA public key encryption. The strength of the encryption depends on the key size you use when you generate your CSR before submitting to your CA. 1024 bit is what is being used by most CAs.

Can I backup an entire Operating System?

Currently, it is not possible to take a hard disk image backup with Kingston Communications Backup Client. However, you can still backup/restore the operating system by doing the following:

To backup all files including the operating system, please do this:

  • 1. Add all files to your backup source
  • 2. Add a SystemState backup type to your backup account (Windows only)

To restore all files including the operating system, please do this:

  • 1. Re-install the operating system
  • 2. Restore the SystemState backup to your machine (Windows only)
  • 3. Restore all files to your machine

Is it possible to do incremental or differential backups with MySQL?

MySQL backup is done with SQL Dump file, and it generates a single file which is then uploaded. These backup files usually very large size and it takes time to backup to the server. At this moment, it is not possible to do incremental dump with mysqldump. But our In-File Delta feature shall ensure that, instead of the entire backup file, only the changed data blocks within the dump file are uploaded to the Backup Server.

Does Server Backup have to stop the application when doing online backups?

Kingston Communications Backup Client can backup application data while the application is still running. Particularly, we have special agents for MS Exchange Server, MS SQL Server, Oracle, Lotus Notes and MySQL, which allows these applications to be backed up while they are online. With the Volume Shadow Copy feature started from OBM v5.0, we are able to backup other types of applications while they are online.

What are Off-line backup, Logout backup reminder and Local backup features?

Off-line Backup is basically designed for notebook users who are off-line most of the time, and cannot rely on backup schedule to backup regularly. The backup interval allows notebook users to specify the interval that they would like their data to backup. If this interval has elapsed, backup will run automatically once this machine is online.

Logout Backup Reminder asks user if they would like to backup if they logout of the computer or shutdown their computer.

Local Backup allows an extra copy of backup file to be kept on local hard disk when backup is running.

Is the 128-bit SSL secure enough to communication between Kingston Communications Backup Client and the Kingston Communications Backup Server?

Under most situations, 128-bit is already more than enough for commercial use. Also, encryption strength doesn't rely solely on the number of bits used in the encryption. The choice of a random source and random salt are just as important. In addition, the backup data is being encrypted and compressed before sending over from Kingston Communications Backup Client to Kingston Communications Backup Server, which enhances the security.

How is the data privacy being maintained on Kingston Communications Backup Server?

All data is encrypted with user's defined encryption key before being sent to the online backup server. The encryption key is not stored on the Kingston Communications Backup Server. Without the encryption key, the backup files are useless to anyone. The backup user is the only person who can decrypt the backup files to reveal the original content.

What is the purpose of the Retention area?

Kingston Communications has a Replication Server located at a separate site 40 miles away from the primary server. This offers a close-to-real-time secondary backup of your data.

Deleted and modified files in the current backup are moved to the Retention area on the Kingston Communications Backup Server. They will stay there as defined by the retention policy of the backup set. You can restore those files that are still in the Retention area. The main purpose of the Retention area is to facilitate retrieval of historical snapshots of a backup set.

Note that the data in the Retention area still counts towards your quota and it stays there as defined by your retention policy.

Is the Kingston Communications Backup Server backed up?

Kingston Communications has a Replication Server located at a separate site 40 miles away from the primary server. This offers a close-to-real-time secondary backup of your data.

KC Server Backup ensures your business data is securely stored and protected with instant data retrieval.

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