PRODUCT INSTALLATION AND STARTUP

 Minimum System Requirements

INSTALLATION

For installation from CD just insert disk, run setup and Follow directions.

For installation from download double click on file and follow the InstallShield directions.

THE STARTUP PROCESS

After the Mistral software has been installed, the program will prompt you for information, attempt to connect the server, and register. At this point  you should perform a brief test by selecting a few files to backup. If all goes well, Mistral will report its success. You may then select those directories and files that you feel are are critical. Once you have completed the setup remove Mistral from your desktop and it will drop into background mode to await the scheduler's call to automatically perform daily backups with its default settings.  That is, it will attempt to backup any and all files you have selected at the time designated, usually 12:00 midnight.  

You will notice a small Mistral icon has been added to the taskbar.  Left click this to open the Mistral program. Right click this to bring up a control menu.  To change the scheduled backup time, simply adjust the days or times using the "Schedule tab".  Mistral automatically recognizes your entire C:\ drive, as well as any mapped network drives, but it will backup only what you select. Tailor your backup choices using the "Backup tab".  

During its first backup Mistral will compress, encrypt and save all selected files via your Internet connection to the server. Thereafter, only files that have changed since the last backup are sent.

Mistral includes an extensive Help utility.  There is a great deal of useful information available within the program.

SHOW ME THE SOFTWARE

The links below will take you through some of the many Mistral control panel screens.  Make your selection for the Mistral Automatic Data Backup screen you would like to see.  

Using Mistral is much easier than traditional backup methods!
Backup Screen              Restore Screen              Schedule Screen               Log Screen

BACKUP DURATION AND TIMING

With a minimum backup plan the first full backup may require less than an hour.   If, on the other hand, you choose to backup your entire system (OS, applications, and data) the process may take considerably longer, perhaps more than one night.  This is not a problem for Mistral, since its backup process is cumulative.  Mistral can be stopped and started, even disconnected repeatedly without loosing it's place.  Once the initial "snapshot" of your PC has been uploaded to the server your subsequent  daily backups may take only minutes, depending upon how  much data has been added or changed from the previous day's backup.  When your first backup is complete, you will have at least one backup set of your data stored in a secure, remote facility. After repeated backups you will have thirty unique backup sets stored on servers in Dallas and London plus backup tapes of these for quadruple redundancy.

DATA SECURITY

Mistral is the ONLY automatic online data backup service to use the Mistral IT Servers, among of the world’s largest, most respected enterprise data storage facilities.  Mistral fully compresses and  encrypts the data on your PC before transmitting it to the server.  A number of major corporations, including Microsoft, Block Buster, and Sony use Mistral IT.  Now you can store your data with the same security as the Fortune 500 companies.