Backup not triggered when no user is logged in (Win 11)

Hi!
Context: Virtual Win 11 Pro with duplicati-2.1.0.3_beta_2025-01-22-win-x64-gui.msi

For security reason, this virtual hosted machine is started up and running with no user logged in with the VNC console, and RDP access to it, is disabled.
As a matter of interest, this machine runs a business client-server PostgreSQL app which works OK when no user is logged in. I guess it’s doable to have Duplicati working like that.

How to have scheduled backups run when no user is logged in?

Possibly running a Windows service then. You could look in Task Manager or Services for that.

WindowsService however default DB location is in SYSTEM profile which a Windows version update may move to C:\Windows.old (and keep 10 days). You should use an alternate folder.

Database location on Windows discusses, and Database location shows ways to set location.

@ts678
Thank you.
I read the documentation. However, I need further help as I’m not a Win specialist.
I currently run duplicati-2.1.0.3_beta_2025-01-22-win-x64-gui.msi
Correct me if I’m wrong, I should follow these steps:

  • Stop Duplicati, I guess by killing the Duplicati.GUI-TrayIcon process
  • Move the C:\Users\ username \AppData\Local\Duplicati folder to, for instance, C:\

Then the documentation talks about: “Change the startup parameters (environment variables, commandline arguments, or preload.json)”. How to do this?

Then, I guess I’d have to run this command: Duplicati.WindowsService.exe INSTALL

Migrating from User to Service install on Windows is a more step-by-step guide, however it’s somewhat old, and doesn’t yet worry about Duplicati Access Password setup. Ideally, you’ve already set up a password which you can use for direct URL, e.g. http://localhost:8200.

Kills aren’t the nice way, but are usually safe when idle.

Nice is right-click and Quit, if you can find TrayIcon, probably in lower right of screen, but probably in the expansion area unless you moved it (so click the up-arrow/caret icon to the left of the clock).

Probably the easiest path (of several) is above that:

It is possible to pick a different location for the database with the commandline option --server-datafolder=<path>

and it means commandline as opposed to GUI, so you would put above option into the step

The registration of the Windows Service is done by executing the WindowsService binary:

Duplicati.WindowsService.exe INSTALL [arguments ...]

The arguments can be any of the arguments supported by the Server and will be passed on to the Server on startup.

so instead of plain install as above, you’d customize it, e.g. with a --server-datafolder option.

How to Start, Stop, and Restart Services in Windows 10 & 11 may come in handy at some point.

If you also need a TrayIcon attached to the Windows service, it’s possible, but more steps to run.

Thank you.

So, I gracefully Quit the application from the Tray.
I then moved the C:\Users[your user name]\AppData\Local\Duplicati folder, into C:\ProgramData\

I then ran an Admin Terminal with the command:

"C:\Program Files\Duplicati 2\Duplicati.WindowsService.exe" INSTALL --server-datafolder=C:\ProgramData\Duplicati

but I got the following error

Try putting an ampersand (&) at the left of the line. That’s the PowerShell Call operator.
Command Prompt (the old simple less fancy way to do command line) didn’t need that.

@ts678
Thank you.
That worked. And I can confirm I have remote access from the Console when no user is logged in on the client machine.

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