Which Files Are Backed Up

The particular set of files that is backed up when the Cloud Backup service runs is controlled by a combination of selection mechanisms:

Backup Files – Files directly selected for backup. You can select entire folders or specific files. For details, see Selecting Files to Back Up

Backup Sets and Exclude Sets – Filters that you can define to determine which files to include or exclude in the backup, based on criteria of your choice, such as file type, location, modification date, and so on. For details, see Backup and Exclude Sets.

These options can be used in combination. When all options are used, CTERA Agent determines the final set of files to include in a backup operation by performing the following checks for each file:

• If the file is contained in an Exclude Set , the file is skipped.
  
  
• If the file is contained in a Backup Set , the file is backed up.
  
  
• If the file is contained in a folder that was selected for backup in the folder selection page, the file is backed up.

When you have a lot of information to back up, the initial backup to the cloud can take a long time. If enabled, you can prepare a disk that contains the files you want to include in your backup. You deliver this disk to your service provider to use to set up your initial backup over a LAN. For details, see Preparing a Backup Seeding Hard Drive.