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This guide walks you through connecting your Cove (N-able Backup) instance to MSPortal.ai. It is for MSP staff with integration management access and authorized credentials for the intended Cove account.

Prerequisites

  • Active Cove (N-able Backup) account with administrative access
  • MSPortal.ai account with integration management permissions

Part 1: Configure Cove

Before connecting to MSPortal.ai, you need to create an API user in Cove with the appropriate permissions.

Create API User

1

Access User Management

Log into your Cove (N-able Backup) management console and navigate to Users in the main menu.
2

Navigate to API Users

Click on API Users to access the API user management section.
3

Add New API User

Click Add API Users to begin creating your API user.
4

Select Customer

In the customer selection dropdown, select your top-level reseller name (the account at the very top of the Customer hierarchy), not an individual client. This is the account that the API user will be associated with, and it gives the API user visibility into all of your sub-customers.
5

Configure User Details

Configure the following settings:
The Supporter role provides the necessary read permissions for MSPortal to sync your backup data without granting excessive access.
6

Save and Copy Token

Click Save to create the API user. The system will generate an API token.
Copy the API token immediately! You will not be able to retrieve it again after leaving this page. Store it securely for use in MSPortal.ai.

Required Information

Before proceeding to MSPortal, ensure you have the following:

Finding your Partner Name

The Partner Name is your top-level reseller account, found at the top of the Customer dropdown in the Cove management console. It is the parent account that your individual clients are nested under, not one of those clients. In the example below, the Partner Name is MSPortal.ai (the top-level reseller). Acme Corp is a sub-customer nested beneath it and would not be used as the Partner Name.
Cove management console Customer dropdown showing the top-level reseller name above its nested sub-customers
Enter the top-level reseller name, not an individual client name. Using a sub-customer name is the most common cause of a failed connection test.

Part 2: Connect Cove in MSPortal

The Cove Data Protection connection page lists its tasks in the Setup guide: Connect, Import or match companies and Review. See Connect and manage integrations for the tasks every connection shares.

Connect

1

Open the connection page

In MSPortal.ai, go to Settings > Integrations. On the Directory tab, find Cove Data Protection and click Connect. If several Cove connections exist, open the intended one from your active integrations instead.
2

Enter API Credentials

Fill in the following fields:
Blank Cove API Token field and its explanation in MSPortal setup.
The Partner Name is your top-level reseller account, not one of your individual clients. The API User Name is the login name you created, not an email address.
3

Test the connection

Click Test connection to verify your credentials. You’ll see Connection verified when the test passes.If the connection fails:
  • Verify your Partner Name is your top-level reseller name (not an individual client) and matches exactly as shown in Cove
  • Check that your API User Name is correct (the login name, not email)
  • Ensure the API token is copied correctly without extra spaces
  • Verify the API user has the Supporter role
4

Save and continue

Once the connection test passes, click Save and continue to save your credentials and move to Import or match companies.
Test connection does not save anything. If you change a field after testing, test again before you save. Creating the connection does not mean partner or backup data has been imported.

Import or match companies

Match Cove partners (clients/customers) to your MSPortal companies. This determines which backup data syncs to which company.
1

Load partners

If the list is empty, click Sync companies to fetch partners from your Cove account. The first sync may take a few minutes depending on your account size. You can also use Run sync in the connection header and check the result.
2

Review suggestions

Open Suggested to review proposed matches based on name similarity, then click Accept on each correct one. Review N suggested matches opens Accept suggested matches, which lists every suggestion at 70% confidence or more with those at 90% or more already selected. Lower the Auto-select by confidence slider, as far as 70%, to select weaker suggestions too, untick any pair you want to check yourself, then select Apply N Matches.
3

Match the rest

For partners that weren’t matched or need adjustment, choose the correct MSPortal company in the row. Each match saves when you apply it; wait for success before relying on the link.To remove a match, use Remove match. Removing a saved match takes effect immediately.
4

Import missing companies

If the company does not exist yet, click Import company in the partner’s row to create it and match the partner in one go. MSPortal creates the company right away, so check for an existing company first to avoid duplicates.
Only backup data from matched partners syncs to MSPortal. Company matches determine where synchronized backup data appears. They do not create a Cove customer or start a backup job. You can return to add more matches at any time.

Review and finish setup

Open Review and select Finish setup once the required tasks are complete. Each match saves on its own, and background synchronization continues after you finish, so check the sync result separately.

Managing Your Integration

Open the Cove connection from Settings > Integrations to manage it: Cove supports more than one connection, so you can add a second Cove account as its own connection.

Updating Your Credentials

After the connection is created, the Partner Name is locked. You can change the API User Name and API Token on Connect, for example to rotate the token or move the connection to a new API user.
1

Open Connect

In Settings > Integrations, open the Cove connection and select Connect. The stored token appears masked.
2

Enter the new values

Enter the new API User Name, API Token, or both. When you change the API User Name, enter that user’s token as well.
3

Test the connection

Click Test connection and wait for it to pass. Save changes stays unavailable until the test passes.
4

Save

Click Save changes. Partner matches and settings are kept.
To check the stored credentials without changing them, click Test connection on Connect. The verified state shown when you open an existing connection is not a new test.
Save the new API user in MSPortal before you delete the old API user in Cove, so syncs keep running.

When Credentials Are Missing

If the stored credentials for a connection are lost, the connection shows Needs attention and its overview lists Credentials are missing. Nothing syncs until they are entered again. Someone with integration management permission clicks Re-enter, fills in the Partner Name, API User Name and API Token, clicks Test connection, then Save changes. Partner matches and settings are kept.

Synchronization Process

Initial Sync

  • Partner data syncs when you first click Sync companies on Import or match companies, or at the next scheduled partner sync
  • Backup data syncs separately and may take a few minutes
  • Only backup data from matched partners syncs to MSPortal

Ongoing Sync

  • Partner matches persist until you change them
  • New partners appear after the next partner sync, or right away if you click Run sync

Troubleshooting

Frequently asked questions

No. For a new connection, wait for a successful test, then choose Save and continue. For an existing connection, choose Save changes. Synchronization is separate.
No. Suggestions wait for review. Accepting a suggestion saves that match. Import company is also a saved action; check for an existing company first.
No. Removing a saved match persists immediately. Verify the company and Cove partner before removing it.

Important Notes

  • Token Security: Store your API token securely. If compromised, create a new API user in Cove, update your credentials in MSPortal, then delete the old API user
  • Partner Matching: Only backup data from matched partners will sync to MSPortal
  • Role Permissions: The Supporter role provides read-only access, which is sufficient for MSPortal integration
  • Sync Timing: Initial synchronization may take several minutes depending on your account size