Backup EnginebackupEngine
Docs/Getting Started/Your First Backup

Your First Backup

Select folders and run your first backup job.

Create a Backup Set

A backup set is a named configuration that defines which folders to back up, what to exclude, and when to run. Backup-set creation is GUI-only today — the CLI's sets group is read-mostly (list and email-policy switch). Use the desktop wizard to create the set, then drive runs from either the GUI or the CLI.

  • Open the desktop agent and go to the Backup tab
  • Click New Backup Set
  • Enter a name (e.g., Documents, Projects)
  • Click Add Folder and select directories to include
  • Set exclude patterns (e.g., node_modules, .git, *.tmp)
  • Choose a schedule: Manual, Daily, Weekly, or Continuous (CDP)

ℹ Note

To inspect existing sets from the command line, run backupengine sets list.

Run Your First Backup

Once the set is saved, kick off a backup. The agent will scan files, chunk them with FastCDC, compress, encrypt, and upload.

  • Open the desktop agent and go to the Backup tab
  • Find your backup set in the list
  • Click Run Now next to the set name
  • Watch the progress bar — chunked, compressed, encrypted, and uploaded chunks all stream in real time

💡 Tip

Your first backup uploads all data. Subsequent backups only upload changed chunks — typically 90%+ faster.