• Introduction
• Installation 
• Routine use

Introduction

Backup is performed with the means of FreeFileSync software that is operated from within the batch file. Batch file contains all parameters needed for the backup operation.  It can backup to a network or local location. Current procedure accomplishes incremental backup with a retention period indicated in configuration file.

Setup generates reports that being sent over email as attachments in case of backup operation completed with errors. Otherwise, if no errors registered, "OK" email is sent. In addition there is CSV file in public location 192.168.28.2/srv/th_share/_backup_global_report/backup_global_report.csv that can help to get overview of backup situation (this is experimental feature yet)

Installation

We suppose that destination backup folder (Samba share) is created and credentials are known.

The following files are required for setup:

• backup.bat - This is batch job that contains all backup parameters and backup procedures. The header part of the file should be edited manually for each host. The file is attached to this page. Also can be found in Appendix 1
• SwithMail.exe - Toll for sending emails. Used for sending reports. The file is attached to this page. Also can be downloaded from https://www.tbare.com/software/swithmail/
• BatchRun.ffs_batch - FreeFileSync general profile. Normally doesn't change from host to host. The file is attached to this page. Also it can be found in Appendix 1
• backup-on-idle.xml - This file can be imported to the Windows Task Scheduler (instead of scheduling backup job manually)
• FreeFileSync installation file - Latest version can be downloaded from https://freefilesync.org/download.php

On host machine:

      0. In case of installation on Windows 10 machine that will communicate to Linux Samba share: check if you can login to the destination backup folder with Samba credentials using File Explorer. In some cases Windows OS cannot see Samba share if it is running outdated protocol and in some other cases that not yet explored enough (displayed error: "Windows cannot access \\IP_ADDRESS. Check the spelling of the name... etc.)". Solution: Run command prompt with administrator rights and execute two following commands. Then reboot and try again.

sc.exe config lanmanworkstation depend= bowser/mrxsmb10/nsi 
sc.exe config mrxsmb20 start= disabled

1. Install FreeFileSync to default folder C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync
2. Create new folder C:\backup_config
3. Copy to this folder following files:
   1. backup.bat
   2. SwithMail.exe
   3. BatchRun.ffs_batch
4. Open in a text editor backup.bat file and edit parameters in top part of the file:
   • Destination folder (ex. \\192.168.28.2\FAMC-GREEN)
   • Network username
   • Network password
   • Name of FreeFileSync profile (keep default one BatchRun.ffs_batch)
   • Retention period, days
   • Global report file location (keep default one "\\192.168.28.2\TH Share\_backup_global_report\backup_global_report.csv")
   • Indicate one or multiple folders to be backed up (ex. C:\Users\FAMC\Desktop)
   • Gmail user that will send reports
   • Gmail password
   • Send email to address
5. Open Task Scheduler (press Win+К combination and run taskschd.msc)
6. Import the file backup-on-idle.xml to create new task
7. Test setup by running the task on demand (right click and run). Check  folders C:\backup_config\batch_logs and C:\backup_config\ffs_logs and read reports.
   • Note that first run might be reported with errors because destination folders are not existed. However destination folders will be created automatically after the first run.

Execution of backup