Cloud Backup
title: Cloud Backup - How to Set Up Backblaze B2 (Native API - Legacy) for Cloud Backup created_at: 2017.02.02 updated_at: 2023.01.09 category: Cloud Backup --- :toc: macro :toc-title:
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 (Native API - Legacy). Follow these step-by-step instructions for setting up a Backblaze B2 (Native API - Legacy) account and adding it to Retrospect.
NOTE: Please note that the Native API is the Legacy API for Backblaze and you should use the S3 API if possible. For the S3 API instructions, see How to Set Up Backblaze B2 (S3 API) for Cloud Backup. As an example, Retrospect’s fast cloud backup with multi-part upload is only supported with the S3 API.
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.
Retrospect needs these pieces of information to access Backblaze B2.
Name/Bucket – Use the bucket name.
Account ID – Use the Application Key ID (keyID).
Master Application Key – Use the Application Key (applicationKey).
Note that Retrospect’s B2 API requires the master key and does not support application-specific keys. Click "Create New Master Application Key" to create the key if you don’t already have one.
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.
Windows Interface
Mac Interface
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.
Windows Interface
Mac Interface
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.
Windows Interface
Mac Interface
Throttling for cloud backup and cloud restore is available in Preferences.
Windows Interface
Mac Interface
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.
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.
Disabling Multiple Versions in Lifecycle
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.
See this example of B2 storing multiple verisons:
You can find a bucket’s lifecycle settings here:
Last Update: 09 January, 2023
