Re-installation

If you have a Backup Manager device configured and need to re-install the backup software but wish to keep the old configuration settings such as the device name, installation key, Encryption Key/Security Code and the previously stored backup data, this can be done on Windows, Linux or macOS devices by:

  1. Navigate to the configuration file, the Config.ini location will differ depending on the operating system
  2. Take a copy of the config.ini file and paste it to the desktop
  3. Uninstall the Backup Manager
  4. Download the newest version of the Backup Manager that is compatible with your device from the Downloads page of the Management Console or Cove Data Protection downloads page on the N-able website
  5. Double click the file to run the installer
  6. Once installed and the installation page will open in the browser, from here you can either:
    1. Enter the credentials for the original device i.e. device name, installation key, Encryption Key/Security Code and complete the wizard via the browser

      2. Or

    2. Stop the processes and service
    3. Delete the new config.ini file which has been created at the Config.ini location
    4. Copy the original file from the desktop
    5. Paste it into this location
    6. Start the processes and service
  7. Refresh the browser page to ensure the Backup Manager loads or close the page and run the Backup Manager app from your device

    8. It may take some time for the Backup Manager to download all data relating to the device from the cloud

Replaced end-user device

When installing the Backup Manager on a new device, the current history will transfer over as long as the old credentials are used (as found on the Settings tab for the original device in the Management Console).

  1. Run the downloaded installer from the Downloads page on the new device
  2. Enter the credentials from the original account i.e. device name, installation key, Encryption Key/Security Code
  3. Select Yes when asked if this is the correct device
  4. Complete installation through the browser

Reinstall old device for recovery only

In the case where you have an old (inactive) backup device which has not been deleted from the Management Console, it is possible to install Backup Manager on a device using these details to recover existing data.

Install on a device where Backup Manager is currently installed

If you cannot remember your Encryption Key/Security Code for the old device, we cannot help you as this is not stored anywhere within the system. If you have lost the Encryption Key/Security Code for the device, you will need to Convert devices to passphrase-based encryption.

  1. Stop the internal backup process
  2. Navigate to the configuration file, the Config.ini location will differ depending on the operating system
  3. Rename the config.ini file to something like "Devicename_config.ini"

    4. This allows you to keep track of which configuration file relates to which device name and allows you to revert the file names back easily

  4. Launch the Backup Manager for the device
  5. Configure the backup using the old (inactive) backup devices details
  6. When configuring the device, you will be prompted on how you want to configure the Backup Manager, select Restore-Only mode
    • If this does not pop up, manually put the device into Restore-Only mode:
      1. Stop the internal backup process
      2. Open the config.ini file in notepad as administrator
      3. Under the [General] section, add ReadOnlyMode=1
      4. Save the file

        5. This is case sensitive so please type carefully or copy from here and paste

      5. Start the internal backup process
  7. Confirm the device is in Restore-Only mode when a banner will be displayed to advise as such

    Do not click Switch to standard mode as this will take the device out of Restore-Only mode and may (depending on configuration) cause a backup to run on the new device

  8. Once configured, you can now run the restore
  9. When your recovery is complete:
    1. Stop the internal backup process
    2. Navigate to the configuration file, the Config.ini location
    3. Rename the config.ini file to "Devicename_config.ini" for the recovered device details
    4. Rename the original configuration file back to config.ini
    5. Start the Backup Service Controller again

Install on a device where Backup Manager is not installed

If you cannot remember your Encryption Key/Security Code, unfortunately we cannot help you as this is not stored anywhere within the system. If you have lost the Encryption Key/Security Code for the device, you will need to Convert devices to passphrase-based encryption.

  1. Download and install the Backup Manager from the downloads page of the Management Console or Cove Data Protection downloads page on the N-able website
  2. Once installed and the installation page appears in the browser, configure the backup using the old (inactive) backup devices details i.e. device name, installation key, Encryption Key/Security Code
  3. When configuring the device, you will be prompted on how you want to configure the Backup Manager, select Restore-Only mode
    • If this does not pop up, manually put the device into Restore-Only mode:
      1. Stop the internal backup process
      2. Open the config.ini file in notepad as administrator
      3. Under the [General] section, add ReadOnlyMode=1
      4. Save the file

        5. This is case sensitive so please type carefully or copy from here and paste

      5. Start the internal backup process
  4. Confirm the device is in Restore-Only mode when a banner will be displayed to advise as such

  5. Once configured, you can now run the restore. When you are done uninstall the Backup Manager or disable restore-only mode to allow the device to backup as per the schedule of the original device