Backup To Backblaze B2

Posted : admin | On 30-04-2021

Backblaze offers B2 cloud storage which is similar to and compatible with Amazon S3. The advantage of Backblaze B2 is that you can use a variety of 3rd party integrations/software in order to backup your data. That means you have options when it comes to the software. Backblaze B2 client for Mac, Windows and Linux. B2 is Backblaze’s bulk storage service. It is different than their primary backup business in that it is more like Backblaze B2 in that it is an API-driven cloud storage service. It is about 1/4 the cost of Amazon S3, but has a different API making the range of desktop clients much more limited. Why Innovative Companies Choose Backblaze B2 Object and File Storage. Backblaze B2 is enterprise-grade, S3 compatible storage that companies around the world use to store and serve data while improving their cloud OpEx vs. Amazon S3 and others. Developers use it to easily build apps and manage services. IT leaders use it to backup their. The problem with most Server Backup & Archive solutions is that they are expensive, unreliable, or both. The reliable, affordable way is to use Backblaze B2. Create a B2 Account. Select an Integration that Best Suits Your Needs. Start Backing Up.

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.

Backup To Backblaze B2 Download

Step-by-step Guide

Video Tutorial - Retrospect Backup for Windows

Video Tutorial - Retrospect Backup for Mac

Synology Backup To Backblaze B2

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.

Synology Backup To Backblaze B2

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

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.

Using Cloud Storage in Retrospect

Backblaze B2 Price

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

Backblaze Personal Backup is great. When you want to format your machine and get a clean slate, it helps to have a backup of all your information in cloud (only if you have no trust issues with “cloud”).

Anyway, I have had a backup of about 90GB with backblaze for an year. I realized that I can move this to B2 and save a lot of money. I basically needed backblaze for archival purpose.

So, here’s what I did:

Login to Backblaze, request a restore, select all files.
Wait for the restore, takes hours to prepare the zip. You’ll get an email once it’s ready.
Create an account with digitalocean
Spin up a droplet in SF area, (since Backblaze’s datacenter is nearer) with attached value of capacity more than twice the size of your backup.
Login to your backblaze account, go to My Restores, and click on the download link.
Once the download starts, just cancel it, copy the link.
If you are using chrome, install this extension called: cookies.txt.
Click the extension icon in backblaze page and copy the contents.
Now login to your new droplet and create a new text file ‘cookies.txt’ and paste the content and save it.
Now, make sure to cd into your mounted volume and execute curl, wget or aria2c whatever’s your favourite.
Follow the instructions in cookies.txt to download the copied link using cookies.
Once done, unzip the zip file.
Now, first install pip through sudo apt install python-pip and then b2 through pip install b2.
Now, b2 authorize-account, and enter the account id and account secret.
You can get these by visiting the Buckets link under B2 Cloud Storage section, by clicking on ‘Show Account ID and Application Key’.
Now create a bucket, and sync the unzipped contents with the bucket.
Done!

I realize this is tedious and time taking. But, once you do it, you are free to discontinue Personal Backup plan! I wish backblaze provided 1-click archive-my-personal-backup option.

And, don’t forget to destroy the droplet once you are done.