Skip to main content

Introduction to Devices

Devices (also called "Sources") represent the machines where Pluton can back up data from. Understanding how devices work is essential for managing backups across your infrastructure.

Device Limitations in Pluton vs Pluton PRO​

Pluton Core (Single Device)​

In Pluton Core, only the local device where Pluton is installed can be backed up. This is the "main" device and is automatically available when you install Pluton.

Limitations:

  • Cannot add additional devices
  • Only local machine data can be backed up
  • No remote device management

Use Case: Ideal for backing up a single computer or server.

Pluton PRO (Multi-Device)​

Pluton PRO enables backing up multiple remote devices by installing lightweight agents on those machines. This unlocks centralized backup management across your entire infrastructure.

Capabilities:

  • Add unlimited devices (based on your license)
  • Install agents remotely via SSH
  • Monitor all devices from one dashboard
  • Create backup plans for any connected device
  • View device metrics (CPU, memory, disk usage)
  • Browse remote file systems

How It Works:

  1. Add Device: Create a new device entry with name and optional hostname/IP
  2. Install Agent: Pluton generates installation commands for Linux or Windows
  3. Agent Checks for Commands: The agent periodically sends requests to server to check for commands
  4. Create Backups: Set up backup plans targeting the remote device
  5. Agent Executes: The agent performs backups on the remote machine and sends data to configured storage

Agent Installation Methods:

  • Manual: Copy and run the installation command on the remote machine
  • SSH Install (PRO): Pluton installs the agent automatically via SSH credentials

Device Management:

  • View device status (online/offline)
  • Update agent versions remotely
  • Monitor system metrics and performance
  • Browse file systems to select backup sources
  • Update device settings and tags
  • Uninstall agents when no longer needed

How Pluton Communicates with Remote Devices​

Pluton PRO uses a lightweight agent that periodically polls the server for commands over HTTPS. When there is a command for the agent/device, the agent performs the action and reports results back to the server.

Communication Flow:

When you create a backup plan for a remote device, the Pluton server queues commands for the agent. The agent periodically polls the server (GET /api/agent/commands) to check for pending commands. When a command is received, the agent acknowledges it, executes the operation locally, reports progress at regular intervals, and pushes the final result back to the server. This pull-based approach means no inbound ports are required on the server — agents initiate all connections over standard HTTPS.

Security: All communication uses HTTPS for transport security. Agents authenticate with the server using an API key (Authorization: Bearer <APIKEY>) and an agent identifier (X-Agent-ID) on every request.

How File View & Download Works​

When you browse or download files from a remote device's backup snapshots, the Pluton server coordinates with the agent to retrieve the requested files. Unlike the backup/restore flow, the agent does not need to open any inbound ports — the file transfer is pushed from the agent to the server.

File Download Workflow:

  1. You request a file view or download from the Pluton UI
  2. The Pluton server queues a PREPARE_DOWNLOAD command for the agent
  3. The agent polls the server, receives the command, and acknowledges it
  4. The agent retrieves the requested file(s) from the backup storage
  5. The agent encrypts the file and uploads it directly to the Pluton server
  6. The Pluton server stores the file temporarily and serves it to you in the browser
  7. The temporary file is automatically cleaned up after download or after a timeout

This push-based approach means no inbound ports or firewall rules are needed on the agent device — the agent initiates all file transfers over the same outbound HTTPS connection it uses for polling.

Device Limits​

Your Pluton PRO license determines how many devices you can add. By default, Pluton PRO subscription comes with 5 device slots. If you need more, you can purchase additional device slots from your account subscription page.

Check your license page to see:

  • Total device limit
  • Devices currently in use
  • Remaining device slots

When the device limit is reached, you'll need to upgrade your license or remove unused devices before adding new ones.

Next Steps​