Managing Default Client Settings

Default Client Settings affect the following CrashPlan PRO features and behaviors.

• File selection - files to include and exclude, including hidden system files to include or exclude when backing up
• General preferences - control CPU usage, when CrashPlan PRO runs and the default language
• Outbound backup - settings can affect the size of the backup archive, including how often versions are added and for how long versions are kept in your archive, as well as when deleted files should be removed
• Inbound backup - control whether to accept to backups from other computers, how often archives are run, and address on which to listen for backup connections
• Backup status and alerts - control when to receive alerts and status reports
• Security - control password access to the PRO Client Desktop
• Network - control network connection speeds
• Advanced backup settings - additional settings that affect data de-duplication, compression, encryption, real-time backup, back up open files and WAN/LAN buffers size

Here are some ways you can manage default client settings:

• Modify the default client settings to enforce policies that require strict compliance (such as what gets backed up) or manage your archive size by changing retention policies.
• Modify client or computer settings when you want to override default settings.
• Use the read-only option for specific settings that you do not want users to change.
• Allow users the flexibility change the settings that you decide are safe for them to change (such as whether or not users receive alerts and reports).

There are a number of ways you can affect these client settings. You can change the settings for:

• servers
• organizations
• computers belonging to specific users

For organizations and servers you can specify default settings. For computers you can override existing settings specified at the previous level.

When you change default client settings, only new users (in the selected organization or backing up to the selected server) will assume the new defaults.

1. Click the Custom Config check box.
2. Click the Enable Custom Config.
   The Settings > Default Client Settings window opens.

• When you choose Disable Custom Config, the Publish window appears because you are electing to simply push down current settings to new and existing users.

If you want to change client settings for existing users as well as new ones, you need to publish the settings. Publishing the settings involves clicking the Save and Publish button in the Default Client Settings screen and then selecting the Publish check box for the settings that you want to publish. Publishing settings is also known as “pushing down” settings.

If you want to “push down” changes to existing users, click the Save and Publish button after you've made your changes. This button displays the Publish window in which you can indicate which settings you want pushed down. If you want changes to apply only to new users, click Save.

Click here to learn more about the Publish window.

• In the Publish window, the Merge check box (enabled by default) ensures that the backup file selection settings are added to existing settings the user may have set in PRO Client. Clear the Merge check box if you want the default settings to replace existing client settings.
  IMPORTANT: If the new backup file selection no longer includes previously selected files, those files are considered “deselected” and will be removed from the archive. Read this article for more information about the effects of deselecting files from the backup file selection.

* Read-only settings are identified with a Lock icon in the Publish window.

CrashPlan PRO allows you to configure client settings for organizations.

1. Click the Organizations tab.
2. Click the link for the organization whose default client settings you want to change.
3. From the navigation menu, click Default Client Settings.
4. Edit the settings.
   • (optional) Click the Read-only check box to prevent users from making changes to these settings in PRO Client.
5. To change settings for new users only, click Save.
   Or
   To change settings for new and existing users only, click Save and Publish.
   • In the Publish window:
     • (optional) Clear the Merge check box (file exclusions) only if you want to replace any already-specified file exclusion settings in PRO Client with your changed setting.
     • Click the Publish check box for each of the settings that you want to push down to existing users.

CrashPlan PRO allows you to configure client settings for organizations.

1. Click the Settings tab.
2. Click the link for the server whose default client settings you want to change.
3. From the navigation menu, click Edit Client Settings.
4. Edit the settings.
   • (optional) Click the Read-only check box to prevent users from making changes to these settings in PRO Client.
5. To change settings for new users only, click Save.
   Or
   To change settings for new and existing users only, click Save and Publish.
   • In the Publish window:
     • (optional) Clear the Merge check box (file exclusions) only if you want to replace any already-specified file exclusion settings in PRO Client with your changed setting.
     • Click the Publish check box for each of the settings that you want to push down to existing users.

You can also adjust settings for individual computers.

1. Search for the user whose default client settings you want to change.
   • TIP: Search for the computer by GUID.
2. Click the computer.
3. From the navigation menu, click Client Settings.
4. Edit the settings.
   • (optional) Click the Read-only check box to prevent this user from making changes to these settings in PRO Client.
5. Click Save.

While you can lock file selection settings made at the individual level, you cannot merge them.

• Default Client Settings
• Publish Settings
• Remote Client Administration