A method of operating a peripheral data storage system(PDSS) for use with a host system configured to perform scheduled backup operations to PDSS comprising a user-actuated backup signaling subsystem(UBSS), a user-notifying device comprising first and second notifying states, and a host interface adapted for communication with the host system. The method comprises receiving a first signal from UBSS; communicating first signal to host system via host interface; receiving an acknowledgement signal from host system in response to communicating; and switching user-notifying device between first notifying state and second notifying state in response to received acknowledgement signal. Another method comprises receiving in host system a first request from PDSS for performing a task corresponding to a host-scheduled backup operation for a scheduled backing up of data to PDSS; completing the task by host system based on received first request; and notifying PDSS of completion of the task by host system.