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Requirements
- PC running Windows XP
- Broadband Connection
- Space for Buddies Data
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Managing Buddies
Introduction
Your backup buddies are your friends, family and colleagues that you backup your files to. Once you have chosen who you want to be your buddies, and have added them to your backup buddy list, (and once they have accepted you), BuddyBackup will start backing up files to them automatically.
You have complete control over who your backup buddies are and also who can backup to you.
One of the key points of the software is that the system works both ways: if you add someone as your backup buddy then they can (if they wish) also add you as their backup buddy. The whole philosophy is that by giving up space for you, you give up space for them.
The buddies panel
Your backup buddies are shown in the bottom left panel of the BuddyBackup explorer (see the panel marked B in the explorer). They are shown as small icons with their name underneath.
If the icons are coloured green then your buddy is currently online and is able to receive your backups. If they are red then they are offline. If a red cross appears next to the buddy then they are full and cannot accept any more files.
An online buddy An online buddy who is full An offline buddy An offline buddy who is full
Right clicking on a buddy brings up a menu with the following options:
Add buddy - allows you to add a new buddy. Works exactly the same as if you had pressed the add buddy button (see How to add a buddy below).
Delete buddy - this allows you to delete a buddy. See Deleting Buddies for more details.
Properties - shows detailed information on the buddy including how many files you have stored on them, how many files they have stored on you and their e-mail address.
Showing the details of a buddy can take some time to display because BuddyBackup has to gather information about all the files being stored on the buddy.
Choosing who to add
It is worth giving some thought to who you should ask to add as your backup buddies.
Firstly, the person you want to add can refuse the request so you should check with the person before you try to add them.
Secondly, if at all possible you should add people who are often online at the same time as you and have a good broadband internet connection.
Finally, because adding them as a backup buddy means they can do the same to you, you should make sure that you're happy for them to backup to you.
A good number of backup buddies to have is between 2-5. This means that it is likely that someone will be online, but you don't run the risk of having your files too spread out amongst lots of people.
BuddyBackup may look similar to an instant messenger program (such as MSN Messenger or Goggle Talk), but in actual fact it is quite different.
With an instant messaging program it is quite harmless (or even desirable) to have lots of contacts. With BuddyBackup, however, each contact is a potential person you can backup to. This is good to some extent but if, for example, you end up having an important file backed up onto a buddy who only comes online once a month, it may be difficult getting the file back.
It is actually therefore worth being careful about who you add and how many people you add as buddies.
How to add a buddy
To add a buddy either click on the File menu and choose Add new buddy or click on the add buddy button:
The add buddy button
A window will appear asking how to add a buddy. Buddies can be added by either adding entering their username or the e-mail address they specified when they were setting up.
You can also use this system to invite other people to start using BuddyBackup. Simply enter their e-mail and if it is not recognised then BuddyBackup will offer to send an e-mail to them on your behalf.
Once you have added a buddy, they will appear in the bottom left area of the BuddyBackup explorer.
Remember, you can only backup to the person once they have given you their permission, so you may not be able to backup to them immediately.
Allowing others to backup to you
When someone adds you as a buddy, you will get a message asking if you will accept them:
If you choose Yes then this buddy will be allowed to backup their files to you. If you choose no then the buddy will not be allowed.
You can change the settings of who can backup to you by looking at the buddy permissions (see below).
Your choice will be remembered so you won't have to keep answering.
If a person adds you as a backup buddy, and they are already one of your buddies, you will not see this screen. This is because if you have added someone as a buddy, they are automatically allowed to backup to you.
Managing Permissions
You can manually edit the settings of who can and cannot backup to you from the Options screen:
- Open the BuddyBackup explorer
- Click on the Tools option and choose Options
- Click on the Buddy Permissions tab
To block any user:
- Press the Add button below the Blocked users box
- Enter the username of the buddy you want to block
To block a user who you previously permitted:
- Select the user in the Permitted users box you want to block
- Click the <------ button
It is not possible to block someone who is one of your buddies. This is because adding someone as your backup buddy means you given them permission to backup to you.
To block one of your buddies, first delete them, then retry.
To permit any user:
- Press the Add button below the Permitted users box
- Enter the username of the buddy you want to permit
To permit a user who was previously blocked:
- Select the user in the Blocked users box you want to permit
- Click the --->button
