Before you use Cloud Backup to back up file directories on servers or virtual machines in a data center, you must install a backup client on a local server. The client is available for Windows and Linux. Select the version that matches the operating system of your server.
(Recommended) Use the AccessKey of a RAM user
Resource Access Management (RAM) is an identity management and access control service provided by Alibaba Cloud. RAM lets you create and manage multiple identities under a single Alibaba Cloud account. You can assign different permissions to a single identity or a group of identities to control which users can access which resources.
An AccessKey is required to activate the backup client. Because a leaked AccessKey of an Alibaba Cloud account threatens the security of all your resources, we recommend that you use the AccessKey of a RAM user. To create a RAM user and an AccessKey for the RAM user, see Create a RAM user and Create an AccessKey.
Notes
For the best backup speed, run the backup client on a machine that has a dual-core or higher 64-bit CPU and more than 8 GB of available memory.
The volume of data that you can back up depends on memory resources. With 4 GB of available system memory, you can back up a maximum of 1 million files, with a total data volume of 8 TB. If a directory contains tens of millions of files or more, use a machine with 16 GB of available memory.
The installation package of the 64-bit Cloud Backup client does not support the ARM64 architecture.
Before you install, uninstall, or delete the client, check the client installation directory and its subdirectories for mounted NAS directories or other important files to prevent accidental deletion.
If a NAS directory is mounted to the installation path, run the `umount` command to unmount the NAS directory. This prevents accidental deletion of NAS files.
If other important directories and files exist in the installation path, move them to another directory to prevent accidental deletion.
Before you use Cloud Backup, review its limits, backup and recovery speeds, features, and supported regions. For more information, see Limits, Backup and recovery speeds, Features, and Features by region.
Download and activate the Windows client
At the top of the File Backup page, select a region.
In the File Backup Guide section at the top of the page, click Add Local File Data Source. Alternatively, on the Local File Data Source tab, click Add Data Source.
NoteIf the guide section is not displayed at the top of the page, click Show Guide to expand it.
If you use the Legacy Console (Try New Version is displayed at the top of the page), click Add Client on the Client List tab.
In the Add Data Source panel, click the Windows tab, and then click Windows (64bit) to download the client installation package.
NoteThe panel displays an activation code and its validity period. Record the activation code for use during installation. If the activation code expires, click Refresh Activation Code to obtain a new one.
Install and activate the Windows client.
Double-click the client installation package and select a language for the installation.
Select an installation location and click Next.
Select the Local File Backup Client component and click Next.
To use a proxy server, enter the proxy server address. Click Next. For more information, see Use an Apache HTTP service to build a proxy server.
Enter the activation code that is displayed in the console panel and click Next.
Click Install.
After the client is installed, it automatically appears in the Local File Data Source list. Its Client Status is displayed as Activated.
On the local server, you can view the installation path, logs, and running status of the backup client. For more information, see How to view the default installation path and logs of a Cloud Backup client.
Download and activate the Linux client
At the top of the File Backup page, select a region.
In the File Backup Guide section at the top of the page, click Add Local File Data Source. Alternatively, on the Local File Data Source tab, click Add Data Source.
NoteIf the guide section is not displayed at the top of the page, click Show Guide to expand it.
If you are using the Legacy Console (Try New Version is displayed at the top of the page), click Add Client on the Client List tab.
In the Add Data Source panel, click the Linux tab. Select the activation command that corresponds to your network environment and run it on your local server.
Connect to Alibaba Cloud over the public network: Select this option if the local server accesses Alibaba Cloud over the public network.
Connect to Alibaba Cloud over a VPN or leased line: Select this option if you have connected to an Alibaba Cloud VPC using a VPN gateway or an Express Connect circuit.
NoteIf automatic activation fails, click If Automatic Activation Fails, Click Here To Try Manual Activation in the panel, download the Linux client installation package, and then manually execute the activation command.
The activation command in the panel contains an activation code that is valid for a limited period. If the activation code expires, click Refresh Activation Code to obtain a new one.
After the client is installed, it automatically appears in the Local File Data Source list. Its Client Status is displayed as Activated.
On the local server, you can view the installation path, logs, and running status of the backup client. For more information, see How to view the default installation path and logs of a Cloud Backup client.