How To Configure and Access Backblaze B2 Storage via InterConneX
Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage (B2) is a pay-for-what-you-use cloud service for storing files in the cloud. Files are available for download at any time, either through the API or through a browser-compatible URL.
Connecting and accessing your Backblaze B2 storage provider is quick and easy. This guide will provide all the steps necessary to get you set up with a Backblaze B2 storage account and show how to access and manipulate your data.
SIGN UP FOR A BACKBLAZE B2 STORAGE ACCOUNT
If you already have a Backblaze account, you can begin with the next step, CREATE A BUCKET. Otherwise, follow these steps to sign up for a Backblaze B2 storage account:
- Go to the Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage website and click on ‘Sign up today.’ At the time of this writing, you are given 10GB of free storage, unlimited free uploads and 1GB of downloads each day.
- Fill out the ‘Email’ and ‘Password’ fields.
- Click on ‘Sign Up for B2.’
- A handful of quick start guides are presented to you. It’s your choice whether or not to view them. For this example, ‘Skip Quick Start – Take Me To My Account’ is chosen.
- You are asked to sign back into your account. Provide your email.
- Click ‘Next.’
- Provide your password.
- Click ‘Sign In.’
- You will be required to add a phone number to your account before proceeding. Go to ‘My Settings’ to do this and then verify your phone number.
- Determine if you would like to use two-factor verification.
CREATE A BUCKET
If you already have buckets defined that you wish to backup to, you can skip to the next section, RETRIEVE KEY ID & APPLICATION KEY.
A ‘Bucket’ is a container for objects stored in Backblaze B2. You can create as many buckets as you’d like. In InterConneX, once connected to the B2 service, you’ll select one of your buckets to view its files.
To create a bucket:
- Click on ‘Buckets’ in the left side menu.
- Click on the ‘Create a Bucket’ link.
- Provide a unique name for your bucket and determine whether you want it private or public.
- Click on ‘Create a Bucket.’
- If your bucket name is accepted, you’ll see your bucket information listed.
Backblaze recommends that all bucket names comply with DNS naming conventions and need to be unique. It is not recommended to use periods in the name. We recommend using hyphens, e.g. “smith-fred-pics-graduation”. What you need to know about B2 Bucket names.
RETRIEVE KEY ID & APPLICATION KEY
To make a connection to Backblaze B2 , InterConneX needs your access key credentials in order to access the buckets under your account. InterConneX requires two keys: the ‘Key ID’ and the ‘Application Key’. Follow these instructions to enable your access keys:
- Click on the ‘App Keys’ link in the sidebar.
Here, you can choose to create a key that works for all Backblaze B2 supported applications by selecting ‘Generate New Master Application Key’ or choose ‘Add a New Application Key’ to generate an application-specific Application Key. We recommend that you create an InterConneX-specific Application Key.
- Click on ‘Add a New Application Key.’
- Under the ‘Add Application Key’ section, complete the desired fields.
- Click on ‘Create Application Key’ and one is generated for you. Make note of this. You’ll need it later in InterConneX.
- Using this method, Backblaze also generates a ‘keyId’ for you. Make note of this, as well. TIP: Save these credentials in a text file. This will come in handy later.
- ‘Close’ the window.
NOTE: If you choose to create a Master Application Key rather than the Application Specific Key, you’ll need to make note of the ‘Account ID’. You’ll need it later in InterConneX.
SET UP SHARESPACE
Now that you have everything set up in Backblaze, you can move over to InterConneX and set things up so you can begin accessing your B2 storage. Follow the steps below to set up a Backblaze B2 sharespace. Once this is done, you can view your Backblaze B2 buckets!
- Open InterConneX.
- Tap on the plus sign to add a new sharespace.
- Choose ‘Backblaze B2 account.’
- Tap on ‘Next.’
- Provide the Key ID and Application Key you received when setting up your Backblaze B2 storage account. TIP: The keys you receive from Backblaze are oftentimes long and cryptic, thus making it difficult to type in. In this case, you can open the saved key text file you created and saved above and view it alongside InterConneX via a Slide Over or Split View. Doing this allows you to select the text and then copy/paste it into the ‘Key’ fields for InterConneX.
- Test the access credentials by tapping on ‘Test Authentication Settings.’
- If all goes well, you’ll get the ‘Success’ message.
- Continue going thru the options, configuring your sharespace as you’d like.
- Eventually you’ll come to a sharespace summary screen. Look it over and make changes, if necessary. Once all is well, tap on ‘Save.’
- Now you’re ready to connect to Backblaze B2 and backup to it!
ACCESS BACKBLAZE B2 STORAGE
To connect to Backblaze B2, tap on your newly created Backblaze B2 sharespace in the left sidebar. If you don’t have the ‘Auto Connect’ setting ON, tap on ‘Connect’ to connect to your sharespace.
Once connected, you’ll see all the publicly available files and folders that you’ve set up in Backblaze. You can now perform various actions and tasks on the files.
That’s it! You have now connected to Backblaze and are able to view files in your Backblaze B2 storage buckets!
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
If any of this is unclear or you have other questions or feedback, feel free to contact our technical support team! We don’t mind — we’re here to help!