DunneNote · Tutorial
Back up to another computer
Install DunneNote Host on a second computer, pair your laptop with it, and send encrypted backups over your network.
In progress30 min· Advanced· DunneNote 0.9.2
In this tutorial you'll turn a second computer, such as a desktop that stays at home, into a backup host for the notebooks on your laptop. Backups travel over your own network and are encrypted before they leave the laptop.
DunneNote Host is marked In progress because its installer is still going through final acceptance testing, particularly on Windows.
You'll need#
- Two computers on the same network: the host that will keep the backups, and the laptop with DunneNote and a notebook on it.
- The DunneNote Host package for the host's operating system, from the download page, the same version as DunneNote on the laptop.
- Access to your router's settings, to give the host a fixed address.
- About 30 minutes, and a terminal (PowerShell on Windows) on the host.
Prepare the host#
- In your router, create a DHCP reservation for the host computer, so its network address never changes. Note the address.
- Unpack the DunneNote Host package on the host computer.
Install#
- Run the installer. On Windows, double-click
Install.cmd. On macOS or Linux, runsh install.shin a terminal in the unpacked folder. - When asked Which network address?, check that it shows the reserved address and press Enter.
- When asked Where should backups be kept?, press Enter to accept the
DunneNote Backupsfolder in your home folder. - Wait for
OK. The installer checks that the host is actually listening before it says so. - On Windows, if asked whether to allow DunneNote Host on networks, allow it on private networks.
Pair the laptop#
- On the host, turn autostart off so the pairing command can use the port. The commands for your system are in DunneNote Host.
- On the host, run the pairing command for your system from Pair a computer, using the same address and folder you installed with. It prints an address and a pairing code. The code is valid for 5 minutes.
- On the laptop, in DunneNote, open Settings ▸ Backup ▸ Pair another
computer…. Enter a name such as
Home desktop, the Address and the Pairing code, then choose Pair. The host appears under Cloud and peer destinations. - On the host, press Ctrl+C to stop the pairing command, then turn autostart back on.
Encrypt and back up#
- On the laptop, select the new destination and choose Back up now. It is refused: "Nothing was sent. This destination is not encrypted, so your notes would be readable on the other computer…" That's expected.
- Choose Encrypt backups at this destination…, set a passphrase, record the recovery code, and choose Turn on encryption, as in Encrypted backup and restore.
- Choose Back up now. DunneNote confirms with "Backed up and verified — N items…".
- Choose Restore… and restore a copy to a new folder on the laptop, then open it to check it.
Check it survives a restart#
- Restart the host computer and log in.
- On the laptop, choose Back up now again. It succeeds, because the host starts at every login.
What you've learned#
- DunneNote Host turns one of your computers into a backup destination on your own network. It needs a fixed address and the same version as the app.
- Pairing uses a short-lived code, once per computer.
- Backups to another computer must be encrypted, and the laptop encrypts them before sending.
- The host starts at login and is not listening when nobody is logged in.
Next#
- DunneNote Host, including troubleshooting and uninstalling
- Security and privacy
- Known limitations
Something unclear or out of date? Open a support ticket.