Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science ———
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Archival Backup Service Retirement Project

Project Overview

TiBS is being retired, but don’t worry—your backups are only going to get more reliable.

SCS Computing Facilities is retiring the Archival Backup Service (TiBS), which has been in containment since November 13, 2025. If your computer is currently enrolled in TiBS, we'll help you transition to a supported service that provides enhanced data protection, reliability, and support while minimizing disruption to your work.

Why is TiBS being retired?

We recognize this is a change, but it’s a necessary one.

The vendor behind TiBS has ended operations and no longer supports this technology. As a result, the service cannot be maintained as a backup solution. There are substantial risks to your data if it remains on TiBS:

  • Backups are failing routinely.
  • Tapes will wear out over time, leaving data unreadable.
  • The vendor has gone out of business which means there are no updates or technical support if something breaks.
  • It skips databases leaving crucial application data unprotected.

Your Options Moving Forward

Not sure which option is right for your system? Compare features, support levels, and estimated costs for each available service.

Compare Service Options

Quick Links

Need Help?

  • Best for: Individual laptops and single-user desktops.
  • How it works: Automatically backs up personal work files to the cloud whenever you are logged in. Provided at no cost. CrashPlan isn't new here — it's already the Data Protection Service running across campus today, visible on the same Backup Status Dashboard you'd use to check TiBS.
  • Best for: Physical servers, HPC clusters, or virtual machines hosted outside of Campus Cloud.
  • How it works: Agent-based backup running directly on your host operating system to protect server files and databases. The self-hosted option keeps your server under your own control, with SCS Computing Facilities backing it up nightly on university infrastructure — the same team that already supports you.
  • Best for: Individuals who want a lean, flexible, managed virtual server with software support provided by an SCS dedicated team.
  • How it works: Your applications must be installed on a newly built virtual server using the latest supported Ubuntu operating system. Data can be transferred from your existing server to the new server. Backup protection is included.
  • Best for: Individuals running production or enterprise applications that require a virtual server environment with dedicated management by Computing Services.
  • How it works: Your application must be installed on a newly built virtual server using the latest supported version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Data can be transferred from your existing server to the new server. Computing Services manages the server and operating system. Backup protection is included.

Get Started

If you’re ready to transition your system or confirm the best option, our team is here to help. We’ll review your device, provide a recommendation, and guide you through next steps.

  1. Complete the Service Transition Form
    Use the webform link provided in your email to select your preferred replacement option or to request a consultation with us.

    Note: If we do not receive your response, the Archival Backup Service for your computer will be discontinued.

  2. We'll review your submission and provide tailored guidance
    A team member will contact you with a recommended transition path and outline next steps.

  3. Contact us anytime
    If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the SCS Help Center at help@cs.cmu.edu.

At the end of it all you’ll be working with a setup you actually chose, rather than one that happened to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand the sections below to find answers to common questions about backup options moving forward.

General

  • CrashPlan: Individual users can restore their own files or folders anytime directly through the CrashPlan desktop application or user web portal.
  • Commvault Server Backup: Designated departmental IT administrators using privileged -admin accounts (with 2FA over the SCS Admin VPN) can perform granular file-level restores via the Commvault Command Center web console.
  • SCS-Supported Campus Cloud: Self-service or ticket-based. System owners can restore files or full VM snapshots directly through vCenter/VMware snapshot controls.
  • Campus Cloud Plus: Restores are managed through the Computing Services Help Center.
  • CrashPlan Data Protection Service ("You Bring Your Own Device")
    • Best for: Individual laptops and single-user desktops.
    • Cost: Free of charge for all eligible users.
  • Commvault Server Backup ("You Bring Your Own Server")
    • Best for: Physical servers, HPC clusters, or virtual machines hosted outside Campus Cloud.
    • Cost: Cost-recovery rate of $575.85 / host / year plus $0.077 / GB / year for protected data at ingestion.
  • SCS-Supported Campus Cloud ("We Provide the Server")
    • Best for: Virtual servers hosted on CMU's private cloud infrastructure.
    • Backup protection is built directly into standard resource rates:
      • vCPU: $17.88 / vCPU / year
      • RAM: $5.03 / GB / year
      • Tier 1 Storage (Solid-State): $0.445 / GB / year
      • Tier 2 Storage (Reduced Performance): $0.138 / GB / year
      • Per Server Base Fee: $60.41 / server / year
  • Campus Cloud Plus (PaaS): Standard Basic resource rates above, plus:
    • System Management Fee: $216.41 / year (automated) or $720.10 / year (quarterly manual).
    • One-Time Setup Fee: $154.98 / machine.
Our team will calculate a clear, upfront annual estimate based on your system's data usage before any charges occur.

If no response or billing string is received by the deadline, backup service for that computer will end on the retirement date.

Note: Removing backup service does not retire or decommission the physical computer hardware itself.

Systems migrating to Enterprise Server Solutions will start with a fresh full backup in the new environment. Historical TiBS backup data will not be transferred or imported into the new service and will remain on the legacy TiBS infrastructure for a limited transition period following migration. A final retention deadline for TiBS restores has not yet been set and will be communicated once finalized.

Note: Because TiBS is an aging legacy platform, long-term availability of historical backups cannot be guaranteed.
Because standard backup retention is 30 days, operational backups cannot be used for long-term record preservation. In these cases, we recommend an archival solution such as Kilt Hub.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the SCS Help Center and help@cs.cmu.edu.

Enterprise Server Solutions

No. Both Commvault Server Backups and Campus Cloud protect active systems for operational recovery. Long-term archival storage is not currently part of the service.

No. Both Commvault Server Backups and Campus Cloud focus on operational recovery (restoring lost files or system states), not instant site failover.

  • Campus Cloud Backup: Automatically replicates nightly hypervisor snapshots to a secondary data center for off-site protection. However, rapid site failover (such as Bridged Network Image Restore or database high-availability clusters) requires optional service add-ons and separate planning.
  • Commvault Server Backup: Protects server data against local failure or file loss. In a major disaster, data is recovered from off-site storage to a new or repaired machine.
If your department has strict disaster recovery or multi-site failover requirements, additional planning and consultation are required.

No. Commvault Server Backups are designed specifically for server infrastructure.

For laptops and single-user fixed desktops, use the CrashPlan Data Protection Service. CrashPlan is provided free of charge, but it requires an active user login session to perform backups and cannot be used for unattended servers, shared drives, or system state.

To begin a migration to the Computing Services backup service, your department will need the following:

Administrative Requirement

  • Privileged -admin accounts with Duo/2FA are used for web console access.

Billing Requirements

  • A valid Oracle string for recharge billing. Note: this is for annual cost-recovery recharge billing ($575.85/host/year plus $0.077/GB/year).

Technical Requirements

  • A supported OS where the local backup agent (iDA) can be installed.


When a server is unenrolled, its retained backup data expires after the standard 30-day retention window.

Computing Services will work with the system owner to determine the appropriate option. Depending on the system, this may include upgrading the system, using another data protection approach, removing the system from backup, or retiring the system.

Because legacy TiBS hardware and tape drives are aging, long-term availability of historical tape backups cannot be guaranteed.