---
name: Backup-configure-simple-file-backup
title: Configuring file-level backups with IBM Cloud Backup for Classic
description: Configure file-level backups with IBM Cloud® Backup for Classic by setting up your agent, defining retention schedules, and creating your first backup job to protect your data.
last-updated: 2026-08-20
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/Backup?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# Configuring file-level backups with IBM Cloud Backup for Classic
{: #configureFileBackup}

Configure file-level backups with IBM Cloud® Backup for Classic by setting up your agent, defining retention schedules, and creating your first backup job to protect your data.
{: shortdesc}

Before you begin, make sure that the IBM Cloud® Backup for Classic agent is installed and running on your server. For more information, see [Installing the backup agent](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/Backup?group=agent-install&format=markdown).

## Starting Cloud Backup Portal
{: #startPortalconfigLin}
{: help}
{: support}

You need to be connected to the IBM Cloud® private network to be able to start the Portal.
{: requirement}

1. Log in to the [IBM Cloud console](https://cloud.ibm.com/login){: external}. From the menu ![Menu icon](../icons/icon_hamburger.svg "Menu"), select **Infrastructure**  ![VPC icon](../icons/vpc.svg) > **Classic Infrastructure**.
2. Click **Storage** > **Cloud Backup** to display the backup services.
3. Click the instance name of the IBM Cloud service to display the instance details, including your portal username and password.
4. Click **Backup portal login** to start the portal in your browser, then enter your username and password when prompted.

   If the Portal doesn't start, you might have a problem with your [VPN connection](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/iaas-vpn?topic=iaas-vpn-getting-started&format=markdown){: external}. You might also see a message that says that the form you're sending isn't secure. It is expected - proceed by sending the form.
   {: tip}

## Configuring a backup job
{: #configureBackupjob}
{: help}
{: support}

Through the IBM Cloud Backup for Classic portal, you can manage and monitor your backups. You can choose between manual or automatic backup agent configuration methods.

- The automatic agent configuration creates a backup job of the complete C Drive (Windows OS) or `./<root>` directory (Linux&reg; OS) with Monthly and Daily Retention schemes.

    This job can be modified after it was configured.
    {: note}

    1. Create a password.
    2. Confirm the password.
    3. Add a password hint.
    4. Click **Configure automatically**.

- If you choose to configure the IBM Cloud Backup for Classic agent manually, the automatic settings are ignored. Then, you can specify the folders and files to be retained with a retention scheme of your choice.

    1. In the navigation, click **Computers**, then the expansion arrow to display the information of the selected server.
    2. Click **Configure Manually**. The vault settings page loads.
    3. Click **Add Vault**.
    4. Expand the Vault Profile menu, and select the vault. All values auto-populate.
    5. Click **Save**.
    6. Click the **Jobs** tab.
    7. From the Select Job Task menu, select **Create New Local System Job**.
    8. In the new window, enter a Job Name and a Job Description.
    9. Select the files and folders that you want to include and exclude in the backup. To exclude files, you must add an exclusion record. Select the directory that contains the file that you want to exclude and click **Exclude**. This action adds the file to the Backup Set with a red minus sign. From here, you can filter out a directory or specific file name from that directory that you want skipped during backup.
    10. Enter the encryption password into the Password and Confirm Password fields. You can also add a Password Hint.

        You need this password to restore files from the backup. Without the password, you can't restore an encrypted backup. The lost password cannot be recovered.
        {: important}

    11. Click **Apply now** to confirm the backup set.
    12. You can keep the Advanced Backup Options with their default settings. If you want detailed log files for the backup job, you can enable them by expanding the *Log Detail Level* menu and selecting **File**.
    13. Click **Create Job**.
    14. You can choose from three job retention schemes: Daily, Weekly, Monthly. In the new schedule window, select the appropriate retention period and click **Save**.

    Multiple retention schedules can be set up for same job but it’s important that they are NOT run at the same time. For more information about Retention Schemes, see the [FAQ](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/Backup?topic=Backup-faqs&format=markdown#faqs).
    {: important}

## Running a backup job
{: #runBackupjob}
{: help}
{: support}

1. On the Computers tab, locate the new job. To start it, click **Select Actions** > **Run Job**.
2. Verify that the destination and retention scheme, and click **Start Backup**. The Progress Detail page shows the job progress. You can close this window if needed, and the backup job keeps running in the background.
3. When the backup job is complete, the Process ID Status shows "Finished". You can view the job history and logs of existing backup jobs on the Computer tab. Select the job that you want to view, click **Select Action**, and choose **History/Logs**.