Datto Endpoint Backup for PCs: Agent Overview

Topic

This article explains how to monitor and manage the Datto Endpoint Backup for PCs Agent on a production machine.

Environment

  • Datto Endpoint Backup for PCs Agent

Description

  • Increased volume capacity
    • As of mid-December 2022, The total size limit of all volumes is increased from 1TB to 1.5TB, allowing for protection of larger volumes and more data.
  • Multi volume backup capability
    • As of April 2022, new agent installs will attempt to backup all volumes on a protected machine. Pre-existing agent installs will still only backup the OS volume. The 1.5 TB total size limit will apply to the total of all backed up volumes.

This article assumes that you have already installed the Datto Endpoint Backup Agent on your production machine. If you have not already done so, see Datto's Getting Started article before proceeding.

Interface

When the Datto Endpoint Backup backup agent is running, you will see its icon in the Windows system tray area next to the clock, as shown in Figure 1.

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Figure 1: Datto Endpoint Backup backup agent running in the system tray

You can check the Datto Endpoint Backup Agent's status at a glance by observing the color of its tray icon. Each color has a different meaning:

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Figure 2: System tray legend

Positioning your cursor over the Datto Endpoint Backup icon in the notification area will provide additional detail about the status of the agent.


Figure 3: Datto Endpoint Backup agent starting a backup

After you register the agent, right-clicking the Datto Endpoint Backup icon will display the following options. If you have not registered the agent, you will only see a prompt to open the Datto Endpoint Backup registration page.


Figure 4: Datto Endpoint Backup contextual menu


Figure 5: Expanded Datto Endpoint Backup contextual menu

NOTE  You will need to hold down the SHIFT key while right clicking the agent icon for item 3 to appear.

  • Agent version: This field displays the software version of the currently-installed backup agent.
  • Agent shortcode: This is the unique identifier associated with the protected machine of the agent. When you click the shortcode, it gets copied to your computer's clipboard. Have this code available when contacting Datto Technical Support about your Datto Endpoint Backup installation.

NOTE  Holding down SHIFT while right-clicking the Datto Endpoint Backup tray icon will show the protected system's UUID instead of its shortcode in this field.

  • Check for update: Updates for your agent are automatically pushed from Datto, so there is normally no need to force an update, however, you can still use this option to force the Datto Endpoint Backup agent to check for available updates to its software. Updates to the agent do not require a reboot unless the Datto Endpoint Backup driver has received an update. Datto recommends only forcing an update during a scheduled maintenance window.

System Processes

When the Datto Endpoint Backup agent is running on your protected machine, the following processes will appear in the Windows Task Manager:

  • Datto Cloud Continuity
  • Datto Cloud Continuity Application
  • Datto Cloud Continuity Service

The above processes must run as an administrator to function correctly. You should also create exceptions for them in your anti-virus software.

Services

When the Datto Endpoint Backup agent is running on your production machine, the following processes will appear in the Windows Services console:

  • Datto Cloud Continuity Service

The above service must run as an administrator to function correctly. You should also create exceptions for it in your anti-virus software.

Additional Resources