Backblaze B2 Storage
Granted, it isn’t the best solution for cloud storage (see pCloud for that instead). Still, with 600 Petabytes data stored and over 30 billion files recovered thus far, it really is the best choice for simple and convenient backing up of your computer files. 6 Things We Love About Backblaze. What makes Backblaze a worthwhile backup cloud storage provider is how it is engineered. 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.
The Backblaze B2 cloud storage is a popular choice by Duplicacy users, likely because of the lowest storage cost (at 0.5 cent per GB per month, although additional charges for API calls and outgoing traffic do apply).
Configure B2 Storage in the GUI Version
After you select the local directory to be backed up (which is called the repository in our terminology), click on the button next to the storage input textfield. A storage selection dialog will be displayed:
Choose the Backblaze B2 radio button, the following configuration dialog will be displayed:
Enter the name (not id) of the bucket you want to save backups to, and the credentials provided by Backblaze, you will then be presented with the encryption dialog:
If the bucket has not been used as a Duplicacy backend before, the dialog will allow you to optionally choose a storage password twice that will be used to encrypt backups to be uploaded.
If you leave the password empty, the storage will not be encrypted, and anyone else who can access the bucket can access your backups too.
If the bucket has already been configured before, you are required to enter the previously chosen password if the bucket is encrypted; otherwise the encryption dialog will not be shown.
This completes the configuration of the Backblaze B2 storage backend, and now you should be able to perform backup operations. Please refer to the complete User Guide for more information.
Configure B2 Storage in the Command Line Version
To use the Backblaze B2 storage with the command line version of Duplicacy, enter a storage url in the format of b2://bucket, where bucket is the name of the bucket to be used.
You will then be prompted for entering the account id and application key. On Windows and macOS, these credentials will be saved in an encrypted password vault provided by the OS and retrieved later when needed. On Linux, if such a password vault is not available, you can store them in two environment variables, DUPLICACY_B2_ID and DUPLICACY_B2_KEY, in order to avoid typing in them ever time.
Cloud Backup - How to Set Up Backblaze B2 for Cloud Backup
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.
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.
Visit Backblaze B2. Type in your email address and password and click 'Sign up for B2'.
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.
After verifying your phone number, you’ll see your new Backblaze B2 account page.
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.
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
Backblaze B2 Client
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.
Veeam Backblaze B2
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