How do you back-up whole Unity engine on external drive?

[Batka]

Hi,

This is my first post ever, as I just installed Unity.
Glad to be here.

So, because I live in a country, where we still have 600kbps internet speed, I really want to have Unity saved on external drive.

Is a simple CTRL C + CTRL V of the directory enough? Or are there other files around the Computer drives?

Thanks,

[Marble]

The directory should be enough unless you have a Pro license, which is not stored with the application.

[Kiwasi]

Why back up the engine? It makes zero sense to back up software. You can always get a fresh copy from the Internet.

If connectivity is a problem, back up the installer. That way you can simply reinstall and get all of the system configuration happening right.

[landon912_1]

@Kiwasi

Why back up the engine? It makes zero sense to back up software. You can always get a fresh copy from the Internet.

If connectivity is a problem, back up the installer. That way you can simply reinstall and get all of the system configuration happening right.

Be careful, the Unity installer that comes with the default download does not have the needed files to install. You can get full installers from the archive.

[Marble]

One good use of backing up the whole engine is for portability. My edu institution, for example, has Unity on its machines, but it is very slow at keeping up to date. One can just plop an up-to-date copy of the engine on an external drive and launch it from there, but one can’t download an install the new version individually because of system security.

[Batka]

@Kiwasi

Why back up the engine? It makes zero sense to back up software. You can always get a fresh copy from the Internet.

If connectivity is a problem, back up the installer. That way you can simply reinstall and get all of the system configuration happening right.

Well the installer is like <500mb, and then it downloads the other lots of GB (can’t remember the exact number).

So in my case, backing up the installer makes zero sense.

[Tautvydas-Zilys]

@Batka

Well the installer is like <500mb, and then it downloads the other lots of GB (can’t remember the exact number).

So in my case, backing up the installer makes zero sense.

No, you’re talking about the download assistant. It downloads the installers and installs Unity, and can optionally be told to keep the installers in your specified path.

[Kiwasi]

@Marble

One good use of backing up the whole engine is for portability. My edu institution, for example, has Unity on its machines, but it is very slow at keeping up to date. One can just plop an up-to-date copy of the engine on an external drive and launch it from there, but one can’t download an install the new version individually because of system security.

Subtle difference. You are suggesting installing Unity of a portable drive. Which is actually a valid option.

Does Unity play nice with such an installation? Some of my software does and some doesn’t.

@Batka

Well the installer is like <500mb, and then it downloads the other lots of GB (can’t remember the exact number).

So in my case, backing up the installer makes zero sense.

I do wonder how far you’ll get making games if you can’t distinguish between an installer and a download assistant. If you need offline installation you can download these seperately from the additional downloads link.

[dogzerx2]

Backing up the offline Unity installer is the very 1st measure to take before the zombie apocalypse.

[Ryiah]

@Batka

Well the installer is like <500mb, and then it downloads the other lots of GB (can’t remember the exact number).

There was an option in the installer to save the files it downloaded to install Unity again at a later date.

[Marble]

@Kiwasi

Does Unity play nice with such an installation? Some of my software does and some doesn’t.

Amazingly, it does.