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Backup windows netwerk share / mapped drives

CrashPlan (for many reasons) runs as a Windows service. One of the key benefits is it's running evenif you're logged out. The problem is, our service can't see the drives you mount for yourself. It's the way Windows works.

Windows service

Unlike other backup software CrashPlan PRO is designed as Windows service. This means that it's running when you're not logged in, backing you up. This is an important security feature. If your laptop was stolen, you'd want to be able to remotely track it even if they couldn't log in, or perhaps restore data, or perhaps (when we add the feature) remotely wipe the machine.

Logoff while the backup keeps running

From a day to day perspective, this means that you can "lock" or "log out" of your Windows machine without giving up backup security. Most products run in "user space" which means they have access to "user space" mounted drives. We run in system space, so we only have access to "system space" drives.

Microsoft designed it so the system could not see user space mounted drives.

We're not giving up though, we have some features in the works that allow us to go directly do device and bypass your "user space" mounted drive. This has other advantages as well.

Hack around "Windows not seeing user space mount points"

Now customers have "hacked around" this limitation of Windows by having a script that runs on boot do a "net use" for "system" to attach the drive. There is a work around for those technically minded, and I've included it below.

Steps to get a network mounted drive to work for CrashPlan PRO on Windows:

1. Create a c:\tmp\mount.bat to mount your drive.

The KEY element of the net use command is the /USER:ip_or_host\username syntax. Without the IP (or hostname name if Windows) it does not work.

The raw command is this (replace the colored bolded elements, remove the angle brackets):

net use S: \\<device_ip_address_or_hostname>\<share_name> /USER:<device_ip_address_or_hostname>\<username> <password> C:\tmp\mount.log 2>&12>&1

Sample mount.bat File Contents:

echo %date% %time% : "%cd%\mount.bat" >> C:\tmp\mount.log 2>&1 2>&1

net use S: \\192.168.1.4\shared /USER:192.168.1.4\peter password >> C:\tmp\mount.log 2>&1 2>&1

Download the example mount.bat or mount-bat.zip file.

2. Create a Task that will run the mount.bat as the system user on Windows XP

Now that you have your mount.bat file, creating the task on XP is easy.

C:\Windows\tasks > Add Scheduled Task

Browse to your mount.bat

Perform task When I log on

user name of 'system'

Finish

When you login with your Owner account you can see that there is a network mapped drive that you do not have permission to read (the Disconnected) drive.. that's the mapping CrashPlan PRO will be using.

In CrashPlan PRO destination / source file broswer:

Of course you can map it with your Owner account as well.. so you can interact with the files. In this case the two mappings are both valid:

Create a Task that will run the .bat as the system user on Windows Vista. For Vista the batch file remains the same, but the steps to create a Scheduled Task are different.

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Task Scheduler

1. Action > Create Task
2. General

a.

Enter a Name and a suitable Description

b.

Change User or Group...

c.

enter SYSTEM as the object to select

d.

After confirmation, the task will run as the SYSTEM user:

1. Triggers Add a New Trigger that will run at Log On of Any User
2. Actions Choose the "Start a Program" action and select your bat file that should be run.

Completed Trigger:

Completed Action:

1. Press OK to create the task. Your task will appear within the Active Tasks list.
2. Log out and in to test the new Task.

Windows: Wie kann ich ein geteiltes Verzeichnis, ein Netzlaufwerk oder NAS-Laufwerk sichern? Windows: Hoe backup ik een gedeelde map, netwerkschijf of NAS?