![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Synthetic-Full-Backup-with-MSP360.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhat Is Synthetic Full Backup?<\/h2>\n
Synthetic full backup is an enhanced type of full backup that has all the pluses of a full one but lacks its minuses. The main feature of a synthetic full backup is synthesizing the data in subsequent backups; blocks of data that don\u2019t contain any changes are replicated within the storage, and then the changed blocks are added from the user\u2019s computer.<\/p>\n
Thus, everything goes faster, because there\u2019s no need to upload unnecessary information and hence tie up the line. It is very useful when you have large datasets, especially with infrequent modifications. For example, if you back up your whole system from time to time, it is worth using synthetic full backup, since most of the data remains unchanged.<\/p>\n
The Mechanics of Synthetic Full Backup<\/h2>\n
The first backup is always a full one; all the data is copied into storage and saved there. After some time, when you decide to back up your data once again, here is what happens:<\/p>\n
- \n
- First, MSP360 Backup compares the blocks of data in storage and on your machine.<\/li>\n
- All the blocks that were not changed are copied inside the storage, so it doesn\u2019t depend on your bandwidth; everything is done on the storage side.<\/li>\n
- Then, the new data blocks or any pre-made modifications are defined.<\/li>\n
- Lastly, these blocks are combined with the data that is already in the storage, and the new version is ready.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Further reading<\/span> Synthetic Full Backup Explained<\/a><\/p>\n
\nHow to Set Up Synthetic Full Backup in Managed Backup Service<\/h2>\n
Before you start, please note: the synthetic full backup feature is currently supported for Amazon S3 and Wasabi Cloud Storage solutions only.
\nEnter the Web control panel, select the RMM<\/strong> tab, and click Remote Management<\/strong>.<\/p>\n![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/RMM-tab-1.png\")
<\/p>\nYou\u2019ll see a list of all your endpoints. Find the required computer and click the gear icon on the right. Then, select Show Plans<\/strong> from the drop-down menu.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Show-plans-2.png\")
<\/p>\nTo add a new plan, click + on the side panel and select Image Based<\/strong> in the Backup<\/strong> section. You\u2019ll be able to add a Synthetic Full Backup<\/strong> option later.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Create-plan-3.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Image-based-4.png\")
<\/p>\nOnce the wizard is launched, set up a plan name for the backup with the required details.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/a>![\"CTA\"](\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/5442029\/aa07fdb8-7776-46a5-9fa0-ec6e93f0f0a6.png\")
<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/backup-plan-name-5.png\")
<\/p>\nThen, select the preferred storage type and account.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/select-storage-6.png\")
<\/p>\nIn this step, choose what to save in the storage: system-required partitions only, all of them, or select the partitions manually. After you are done, press \u201cNext\u201d.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/backup-partitions-7.png\")
<\/p>\nSpecify the compression and encryption options on this tab. Compression allows your data to take less space in the storage, and encryption makes it more secure. Enter a strong password to protect your data and note that you won\u2019t be able to access it if you forget the password. Click Use server side encryption<\/strong> for your backup to be protected from the storage side.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/compression-and-encryption-8.png\")
<\/p>\nNext, customize the retention policy for your backup plan. Either select the default one, or specify when the versions should be purged, and how many versions you need to store. Pay particular attention to this policy if you fall under compliance.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/retention-policy-9.png\")
<\/p>\nFurther reading<\/span> Backup Retention Policies and Versioning<\/a>
\nFurther reading<\/span> Backup Retention and Scheduling Best Practices<\/a><\/p>\nThe Advanced options<\/strong> section is where you switch on the Synthetic Full Backup<\/strong> option.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/synthetic-full-10.png\")
<\/p>\nIn this example, we use Amazon S3 storage, so there are preferences available for AWS clients: acceleration and storage class. You can also exclude files or folders to lower the size of your backup. Change VSS options if needed; switch off the usage of the Shadow Copy technology to make a backup not from a snapshot but from the file system directly, and employ system VSS provider if you want to. The pre-fetcher option is also useful: with it, files are opened in read-only mode and placed into the cache before they are actually processed.
\nThe higher the prefetch block count value is, the faster backup goes, but this requires your hard drive resources.<\/p>\nDetermine the schedule of your plan. Select the No schedule<\/strong> option to run it manually, or choose a specific date and time to set up a convenient schedule. Select the Recurring<\/strong> option to specify the exact time settings for your backup plan. There are two schedule options: simple and advanced recurring.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/schedule-options-11.png\")
<\/p>\nThe simple recurring method is a set of templates. You can set the frequency of full and block-level<\/a> backups here.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/simple-recurring-12.png\")
<\/p>\nThe advanced recurring option allows you to customize the schedule more precisely. Set up your preferences for the full and block-level incremental backup<\/a> schedules.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/advanced-schedule-13.png\")
<\/p>\nIn the Schedule Options tab, you can set some more options: choose the Stop the plan if it runs for<\/strong> option to interrupt a backup plan that takes too long. Check the Run missed scheduled backup immediately when computer starts up<\/strong> box to run the missing backup plan once the machine is launched. Enable the Alert plan as overdue after<\/strong> option to receive notifications if the backup plan fails after the specified time span. Once done, move to the next step.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/stop-the-plan-if-14.png\")
<\/p>\nIn the Pre \/ Post actions<\/strong> section, customize actions before and\/or after the backup plan is completed by using scripts, and whether your local repository should be synchronized with storage.<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pre-post-actions-15.png\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Synthetic](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/backup-summary-16.png\")
<\/p>\n