Knowledge Base

How to archive a backup storage on a network drive

Problem:

Using CodeTwo Backup software, you are unable to archive a backup storage on a network drive. You receive the following, or similar, error:

Error: Access to the path ‘\\ENV123-W10\Deployment\StorageArchive\ArchiveOwner.xml’ is denied.

Solution:

This error occurs if CodeTwo Backup doesn’t have the necessary access permissions to the folder located on the network drive. To be able to save files in a shared network folder, you need to grant Write and Modify permissions (on both Sharing and Security tabs in the folder's Properties window) on this folder to specific groups and users, depending on which account is used to run CodeTwo Backup Service. You can check that account by following these steps:

  1. Go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services.
  2. Find CodeTwo Backup Service on the list of all services.
  3. Check the account in the Log On As column (Fig .1.).

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Fig. 1. An account used to run CodeTwo Backup Service.

Once you know which account runs CodeTwo Backup Service, make sure it has appropriate access rights to a given shared folder. Follow the links below to learn more about giving permissions to:

How to access a network shared folder with the Local System or Network Service account

Both the Local System and Network Service accounts use the computer's credentials on the network. This means that the machine on which CodeTwo Backup Service runs must be given the necessary permissions to the shared folder in question.

  1. Right-click your shared network folder and select Properties.
  2. On the Sharing tab, click Advanced Sharing.
  3. Select the Share this folder checkbox and click Permissions.
  4. Click Add and, in the window that opens, click Object Types.
  5. Select the Computers checkbox and click OK (Fig. 2.).

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Fig. 2. Adding the Computers object type.

  1. Type the name of the computer on which the service is installed and click Check Names. The object will be found automatically, or you will be asked to select your computer from the list of objects which share a similar name (Fig. 3.).

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Fig. 3. Locating your computer in the search results list.

  1. Back in the Permissions window, select your computer in the Group or user names box.
  2. In the Permissions for box, select the Change and Read checkboxes in the Allow column (Fig. 4.).

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Fig. 4. Assigning share permissions to the selected computer.

  1. Click OK until you are back on the Sharing tab.
  2. Go to the Security tab and click Edit.
  3. Repeat steps 4-7 to find and add your computer account.
  4. In the Permissions for box, select the Modify checkbox in the Allow column (Fig. 5.). Keep in mind that any other necessary checkboxes will be selected automatically.

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Fig. 5. Assigning security permissions to the selected computer.

  1. Click OK to apply changes and close this window.

How to access a network shared folder with the Local Service account

The Local Service account uses the Anonymous Logon credentials on the network. However, it is not recommended to give the Modify / Write permissions to this account due to security reasons. You should rather consider configuring the CodeTwo Backup Service to log on as a specific user, e.g. an administrator or any other account that can access the shared network folder, and that has appropriate access permissions. See below how to do that for your administrator account.

Important

This admin or user account also needs to be granted the Write and Modify permissions on the %programdata%\CodeTwo Backup folder. 

  1. Close CodeTwo Backup.
  2. Go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services.
  3. Find CodeTwo Backup Service on the list of all services (Fig. 6.).

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Fig. 6. Locating CodeTwo Backup Service.

  1. Right-click it and select Properties.
  2. Go to the Log On tab.
  3. Select This account option, and then click Browse. In the window that opens, type administrator and click Check Names (Fig. 7.).

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Fig. 7. Selecting the administrator account on the Log On tab.

Important

You can also select the Local Systemaccount option and follow these steps if your Local System account cannot access the shared network folder.

  1. Click OK to select this user.
  2. Back on the Log On tab, provide the administrator’s password and click OK to apply the changes.
  3. In the Services window, right-click CodeTwo Backup Service and select Restart.

How to access a network shared folder with any other user or service account

If any other user or service account is used to run CodeTwo Backup Service, simply follow the steps provided in this section. Remember to select Service Accounts in the Object Types window (step 5, if applicable) and search for a specific account instead of a computer (step 6).

 

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