By default, the Backup Service uses AES-256 server-side encryption for storage devices, preventing unauthorized access outside the server. This document describes how to apply customer-side AES-256 encryption to a protection plan using a password.
In the DCD, go to Menu > Storage and select the required Backup Unit in Backups:
Backup encryption can be enabled only during creation of the new protection plan.
Navigate to MANAGEMENT > Protection plans.
Click on the + Create Plan in the right pan.
Click on the Specify password link in the Encryption section.
Enter a strong encryption password and confirm it to ensure there are no typos. Make sure to store this password securely, as it will be required to restore the backups.
Configure any additional settings for your protection plan.
Assign this protection plan to your devices.
Result: The backups are encrypted with the specified password, ensuring that the data is secure and can only be restored using this password.
Note: Backup agents on your devices encrypt data locally before sending it to the Backup Service. If you lose your encryption password, you won't be able to restore your data. Store this password securely.
A graphical user interface, the Backup Management Console, is available for managing your backups. Therein, you can organize your backups and backup plans, activate backup agents, and generate tokens.
The Backup Management Console only allows you access to Backup Units for which you are authorized. The login is possible at one click (single sign-on) directly from the , or manually using the corresponding URL provided you know the login credentials of the required Backup Unit.
The Backup Management Console is available in 25 languages.
Under its Managed Services offering, IONOS Cloud regularly updates the entire Backup service platform and the corresponding Backup Agent. To avoid compatibility issues, we recommend regularly updating the Agent software on your VMs, workstations, or other backed-up devices. You can either use the Console to update the agents individually or set an automatic update for all machines.
If your Agent is already set to automatically update during the default maintenance window, you have to take no further action. However, if you have disabled the automatic update option, you should arrange for your Agent to be updated either manually or during maintenance. Otherwise, the software might cause compatibility issues in the future.
Prerequisites: Make sure you have the appropriate permissions and that your browser allows popups. Only contract owners, administrators, or users with the Create Backup Units privilege can use the Console. Other user types have read-only access.
Start from the DCD Menu > Storage by selecting the required Backup Unit in Backup Console:
Alternatively, go to Menu > Storage > Backup Unit Management
Finally, you may enter the following URL: https://backup.ionos.com and the credentials set when the Backup Unit was created.
The Backup Management Console is created. You can now manage the backups and backup plans of the selected Backup Unit or add further devices.
The Backup Management Console provides detailed information and instructions on installing backup agents and managing backups.
1 - Acronis Web Help 2 - IONOS Cloud User Guide
After provisioning, you may open the Backup Management Console and check the registration of the VM and the activation of automated backups.
You may run a backup right away:
The backup system sends out a status report e-mail regularly:
You may change the default backup schedule at any time.
It is possible to set up automated backups on an existing server, even on servers that have been provisioned with images other than IONOS. The details of the procedure depend on the operating system used.
1. If no Backup Unit is available, create one.
2. Connect to the required server.
3. Open the Backup Management Console.
4. Download the backup agent for your OS.
5. Install the backup agent and follow the instructions.
6. If this has not been done automatically, register the backup agent in the Backup Management Console using the code generated during installation.
7. Enable backups for the VM.
Automated backups are set up according to the default backup schedule. You may run a backup right away and change the default backup schedule at any time. The backup system sends out a status report e-mail regularly.
1. Create a Backup Unit if none is available.
2. Download the backup agent in the Backup Management Console.
3. Select Add > Add Devices
4. Start the installation process and follow the instructions of the installation wizard.
5. In the Backup Management Console, register the VM with its backup agent.
The VM is registered. Now, you can enable backups for the VM.
Automated backups have been set up for the selected VM.
The Backup Management Console provides detailed information and instructions on installing backup agents and managing backups.
1 - Acronis Web Help 2 - IONOS User Guide
Note: To find the Agent version for a particular machine, under All devices select the machine, and then click on the Details icon. A tab will expand from the right, showing the device’s Agent version.
When an Agent is out of date, the system will provide a small alert under Settings. The circled number shows how many Agents require updating.
In the DCD, go to Storage > Backup Console, and log in to one of the backup consoles in the list.
In the backup console, go to Settings > Agents. The software displays the list of machines. The machines with outdated agent versions are marked with an orange exclamation mark.
Select the machines that you want to update the agents on. The machines must be online.
Click Update Agent for an individual machine or Update all outdated Agents for all machines.
In the Update agent window, click Update.
You will be notified that the process has started. The selected machines will be updated with the current Agent version.
In the Backup Service web console, go to Settings > Agents. The software displays the list of machines. The machines with outdated agent versions are marked with an orange exclamation mark.
Select the machines that you want to update the agents on. The machines must be online.
Activate the Automatically update agents tab. This aligns the update with IONOS Cloud’s regular maintenance.
Activate Maintenance window and set a timeframe below.
Click Apply. The selected machines will be updated regularly with the current Agent version during the chosen timeframe.
Setting up automated backups requires the creation of Backup Units in which the backups of a group of servers are contained.
You will need to assign a unique Name and a Password for each Backup Unit. The Backup Unit is generated in the following format: <Contract number>-Name, for example: 31898953-Backup001.
Backup Units can be shared with other Users and Groups like other resources.
1. Open the Backup Unit Manager: Menu > Storage > Backup Unit Management.
2. Click + Create to create a new Backup Unit.
3. In the dialog, enter a unique Name, a Password, and an E-mail address to which the backup systems may send status reports.
4. Confirm your entries by clicking Create Unit.
The Backup Unit is now created and added to the list on the right inside of the Backup Unit Manager.
If you no longer need a backup unit and its backups, you can delete them to save costs and space. Deleting a Backup Unit also deletes all backups it contains.
1. Open the Backup Unit Manager: Menu > Storage > Backup Unit Management.
2. Select the required Backup Unit. Click Delete.
3. In the dialog that appears, confirm your action by entering your Password and clicking OK.
The selected item is deleted and cannot be restored. The Backup Unit and the backups it contains are deleted.
The automatic setup of backups can only be applied to new servers prior to their first provisioning with an image provided and supported by IONOS. The default backup schedule may be changed any time after installation.
1. Create a new Server in the DCD.
2. Add a boot drive to the Server.
3. Select an IONOS image: Inspector > Images > IONOS Images.
4. In the Backup Unit field, select a backup unit to which you wish to assign the server.
Alternatively, When no Backup Unit is available, you may create one.
5. Inspector > Backup Unit > + Create Backup Unit and assign it to the server.
6. When a Backup Unit is chosen, the Initialize Backup window opens. Click OK to finalize.
Once the Backup Unit is chosen for your Server, you can continue by adding Internet access or further modifying the DCD.
7. When ready, Provision Changes.
The server is provisioned, the backup agent is installed and the default backup plan activated.
Acronis Backup Agent facilitates the backup and recovery of data on Linux systems. It allows users to protect and restore their data efficiently. The Acronis Agent is installed on individual machines and servers to enable seamless integration with the Acronis Backup infrastructure, providing features such as scheduled backups, recovery options, and data protection in various environments.
Ensure that you have the following:
Appropriate permissions for installation.
Your browser allows pop-ups.
A backup unit to download the installer.
Internet connectivity for the Virtual Machine (VM) and all its ports are open:
Only contract administrators, owners, and users with the Create Backup Units privilege can use the Backup Console.
For Ubuntu and Debian, update the package list using:
sudo apt-get update
For CentOS, Rocky, and Alma, update the package list using:
In the DCD, go to Menu > Storage > Backup Console.
Select a backup unit from the drop-down menu for which you want to download the backup agent installer.
A Backup window will open up with the . Go to DEVICES > +Add.
Result: The Backup Agent Installer is now downloaded.
To make the downloaded binary file executable, use:
chmod u+x name_of_your_agent.bin
Run the installer file by executing the following command:
./name_of_your_agent.bin
The Acronis Agent setup will now be initiated. Select the components that you want to install from the Component Selection list. You can choose Agent for Linux
Result: The Backup Agent is now installed and registered in the console devices.
The installation of Acronis Backup Agent, for which you do not need to select options or provide input for each step, you can use either of the following methods:
For unattended installation, you need to generate a token first:
In the Backup window, go to DEVICES and click +Add.
Scroll down to REGISTRATION TOKEN > GENERATE.
Run the following command:
./name_of_agent.bin -a --rain="https://backup.xyz.com" --token=XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
Result: The installation will be completed using token and without being prompted for additional information.
Run the following command:
./name_of_agent.bin -a --rain="https://backup.xyz.com" --login=contractnumber- backupunitname --password=xxxxx
Result: The installation will be completed using backup unit credentials and without being prompted for additional information.
sudo yum makecacheMake sure to install wget using either of these:
sudo yum install wget
sudo apt install wget
In Add Devices window, scroll down to SERVERS and then select Linux.
To allow downloads on the Backup URL, confirm your action by selecting Allow.
To install the required packages automatically, select Continue; otherwise, select Skip.
The installation of the required packages will begin.
Once the installation is completed, a prompt to register the machine will be displayed. To get the registration information, select Show registration info and hit Enter.
You will see a Registration link and a Registration code. Use the Registration Code to register a machine in the Backup Console.
To register a machine in the console devices, go to console DEVICES > + Add > REGISTRATION VIA CODE. Click REGISTER.
Management servers
85.215.127.12
85.215.127.13
85.215.127.14
85.215.127.15
TCP ports 443 and 8443 are used to access the service console, register the backup agents, download the certificates, obtain user authorization, and download files from the cloud storage. The backup agents use the whole range from 7770-7800 to communicate with the management server.
Storage servers
85.214.7.152
85.214.7.153
TCP port 44445 is used by backup agents for data transfer during backup and recovery.
