Backup up the data on your VortexBox is very important. If you VortexBox fails or you accidentally delete files you need to be able to get them back. Don't rip 500 CDs, loose your hard drive, and have to start all over again!

There are a few different ways to back up your hard drive. You can use a NAS or backup software to pull files from your VortexBox to the NAS or your computer. You will need to set this up in the NAS or backup software. The VortexBox shares out files via SMB (Windows style file shares) with no user or password. It's easy to have your backup software or NAS pull the files on a timed interval.

The best and most reliable option is to backup your file to a USB attached drive. You will need a dedicated USB drive for this. Get one that is the same size as your VortexBox drive or at least as big as your current data set.

Step 1 - Start by attaching your USB driver to your VortexBox and going to the backup icon in the web GUI.

Step 2 - You will be give an option to format your drive. This will erase everything on your drive.

Step 3 - Press the backup button to backup all your files. This can take quite a long time if you have a lot of files. Once it's complete you can disconnect your backup drive from your VortexBox.

In the future you can add more files to your backup. It will only add the new files and will be much faster.

Recent version of Windows (7 and 8) can read an NTFS formatted drive. If you want to check your backup or transfer some files to your PC you can attach the USB backup drive to your PC and it will show up as a driver letter.

Recent version OSX can read can read an NTFS formatted drive. If you want to check your backup or transfer some files to your PC you can attach the USB backup drive to your Mac and it will show up on your desktop. If you want write to the drive for some reason you will need a NTFS driver. Segate now has a good free one.

http://www.seagate.com/support/downloads/item/ntfs-driver-for-mac-os-master-dl/