Backup - .Me/iDisk

Setting up your iDisk

Under the Apple menu, select System Preferences

System Preferences for .Mac

Click on the icon for .Mac, it should be under the heading Internet & Network.

Account Setup for .Mac Account

The first tab is the log in screen. Enter your password and user name here.

Test Password

If your password matches your user name, you should see the words 'Password valid' appear underneath the password field.

The Sync Setup Tab

If you end up using some of the other features of your .Mac account, such as publishing a calendar of events, this is where you set that up. See the .Mac help area for more details on this.

iDisk Setup Tab

This tab will display how much free space is available on your iDisk. Once the backup routine is established, it should be checked regularly and older backups cleared to allow space for the most recent backups.

Launch Backup Application

If you have not already done so, download and install the Backup application. This is available from the .Mac web page, or may be included with the email attached to this PDF.

Backup Setup

The first screen you see on launching Backup is blank. Click the small plus sign to add a Scheduled Backup.

Choose a Plan Template

There are a variety of options to select for your backup. Remember at this point, you only have 5 GBs to use, so it may need to be used sparingly.

Click on the bottom option called Custom.

Click Custom and Choose Plan

Give your Backup Schedule a Name

Next click the plus sign in the bottom left corner to set a new Scheduled Backup

Select a Destination

Select iDisk

This is the name of the remote location to backup your data.

Next enter the time and frequency. We recommend Every Day and late at night, so the backup can go unattended, without interfering with regular work activity.

Click OK.

Select Folder to Backup

Next click the plus sign below the 'Backup Items' area.

Select the middle tab, for 'Files & Folders'

Navigate to the desired Folders

The PassTracker Backup Folder should be inside your Documents folder. Select the folder, then click the 'include this folder' option at the bottom.

Selected folders should have a small green check mark next to them.

Finally, click Done.

Test Back Up Now

Once your:
Destination
Schedule
Backup Items

are all set, test the Backup by clicking on the Backup Now button.

That is it. You have successfully setup your .Mac account and set up the Backup Application to regularly copy a set of files to the iDisk remote drive.

Review the Backup History to make sure that the backups are going and occassionally test the Restore function to ensure that you know what to do to achieve a full recovery of data.