Backup Server Configuration Manager
The Backup Server Configuration Manager is used to add/delete/modify Backup Server users and to set other configuration parameters. It is also used to view and update current licensing information. See Figure 6. For a general overview, see section titled “Configuration Overview”.
The OK Button
This causes a new Backup Server configuration database to be written to disk, reflecting any updates that have been made.
The Cancel Button
This causes the Server Configuration Manager to exit without writing out a new configuration database, discarding any updates that have been made.
The Apply Button
This causes an updated configuration database to be written to disk, but does not exit the program.
NOTES:
If the Backup Server needs to be restarted because of a changed option, you will be notified with a message box. Otherwise, the Backup Server will update the changed information dynamically the next time the configuration information is read from the database. The frequency at which the configuration database is read and updated is determined by the settings on the “General” tab of the NovaNet-WEB Backup Server Configuration Manager.
Configuration Overview
General
After the Backup Server is installed, the installation directory will contain the file BackupServer.mdb. Each time the configuration database is updated, a duplicate copy of the file named
BackupServerOld.mdb is written in the installation directory. This copy is used in the event that the current copy is deleted, corrupted, etc.
The Backup Server Configuration Manager utility should be used to make all updates to the configuration database. Not only is it easy to use, but also, using the utility will ensure that the configuration database records are created and updated properly. By using the configuration utility, the chance of database corruption is greatly reduced.
Comments
The following comments refer to Backup Server configuration parameters:
• All parameters have default values with the exception of the license identification number and user account entries.
• When specifying user account information, at least one computer must be configured per account. The user data directory specified need not already exist.
• Configuration information is read initially when the Backup Server service is started. The license identification number, the maximum log size, the encryption setting and various other settings may be updated while the service is running. In addition, user accounts may be added/deleted or enabled/disabled. Other configuration settings can also be changed dynamically. The service will detect the changes the next time the configuration database is read.
• To modify all other parameters (including the user data directory specification for existing user accounts), the service must be stopped and restarted in order for the changes to take effect.
User Accounts and Directories
Before running the Backup Server, user accounts must be configured correctly through the User Manager to ensure successful user authentication.
The user data directory is where all backup data (encrypted) resides for a particular user. This allows for more secure storage of data, as well as the ability to store data on remote systems connected to the network.
One recommended way to set up user directories is to create a top-level user data directory and then specific subdirectories for individual user accounts. As a feature, when a new user is added, the application will automatically detect the most commonly used user data directory name already
configured for other users. It will set the default user data directory based on this path name and the new user name.
In order to change the user data directory for a particular account, it is recommended that the service be stopped, the contents of the old directory moved to the new directory, and the service be restarted.
The Backup Server Database
The Backup Server database (BackupServer.mdb) is a Microsoft Jet database that is used to maintain all server configuration information, as well as to optionally log all server transactions (i.e.
backup/restore requests). If the additional transaction option is selected, the database will contain a copy of the pertinent information recorded in the user log files. This information is useful for billing, accounting, or reporting applications that may need an efficient way to retrieve information about individual transactions.
NOTES:
• Even though the database holds the Backup Server configuration settings, all configuration information is still configured via the Backup Server Configuration Manager. If the additional option to have the server log transactions is selected, the Backup Server will still continue to generate user log files in the specified User Log directory.
The following tables are maintained in the BackupServer.mdb file:
• Version Table
The Version Table includes information about the current version of the Backup Server software. • Directories Table
The Directories Table includes information directory paths that are used by the Backup Server. • Errors Table
The Errors Table contains a list of error codes and descriptions that relate to error status codes that are recorded in the Requests Table.
• General Settings Table
The General Settings Table includes miscellaneous configuration information for the Backup Server. This table includes the global quota settings and global blocked client options that may be in effect for user accounts.
• Notifications Table
The Notifications Table identifies which types of notifications are configured and which error conditions result in notifications being sent.
• Requests Table (if “transaction logging” is turned on)
The Requests Table includes information about each client request that is processed by the Backup Server. This table includes the type of request, the date of the request, the result status and relevant information pertaining to the particular type of request.
• Users Table
The Users Table includes information about each backup user that is configured. This table includes specific quota settings and blocked client options that may be customized for a particular user. • Quota Settings Table
The Quota Settings Table includes information about global quota settings that may be in effect for backup users.
• Quota Messages Table
The Quota Messages Table includes information about specific quota message text that will be used in the event of quota conditions being met.
• Account Usage Table
The Account Usage Table includes information about current disk space usage on the server for each backup user that is configured, as well as the total “file selection” size on the computer that originated the backup via the Backup Client program.
The Accounts Tab
This window displays all of the configured users of Backup Server, including summary information about each user. See Figure 7.
Summary Information
• Account Name
This is the user account name that should match the user account name on the server system (configured through the User Manager).
• Computers
This is the number of computers that will be backing up data to this user account. Clients backing up to this account must not exceed this limit or Backup Server will report an error back to the client. In this case, the number of computers would need to be increased before a successful upload for more computers could occur. • Window
This field indicates the “Previous restore window” for the particular user account.
This is the time interval (in weeks, days or months) where old versions of files will be saved on the server and will be available to restore on the client at a future point in time.
• Disk Usage
This field indicates the current server disk usage for the particular user account. This
information may also be viewed in relation to a possible quota limit established for the account.
The Add Button
The Add Button is used to add new Backup User accounts. Adding user accounts to the Backup Server allows a client to connect to a particular account to perform backup/restore operations. The “Add Account” window is used to add a new user account to the Backup Server configuration. For more information on individual account settings, see the section titled “The User Account Properties Window”. As a reminder, before running the Backup Server, user accounts must be configured correctly through the User Manager to ensure successful user authentication.
One recommended way to set up user directories is to create a top-level user data directory, and then specific subdirectories for individual user accounts. As a feature, when adding a new user, the application will automatically detect the most commonly -used directory name already configured for other users. As a new user name is entered, the default directory will be set based on this path name and the new user name.
The Remove Button
The Remove Button is used to remove current Backup User accounts. Once a user is deleted, clients will no longer be able to connect to that account on the Backup Server. As an added option, the associated directories for that user can also be deleted.
The Properties Button
The Properties Button is used to display or update configuration parameters for a particular user account. This information includes the user name, number of computers, enable status, secure FTP home directory, user data directory and archive directory.
The “Properties” window is used to display or update configuration parameters for a particular user account. This information includes the user name, number of computers, enable status, secure file transfer root directory, user data directory and archive directory. For more information on individual account settings, see the section titled “The User Account Properties Window”.
The “Data Restore Wizard…” Button
This Data Restore Wizard Button is used to run the “Data Restore Wizard”, which will prepare the data for a particular user account so that it can be easily restored by the user from local media (e.g. CD-ROM).
The “Global account settings” Button
The Global Account Settings Button is used to set certain options, such as client-blocking options and quota options that will be used globally for all Backup User accounts. In addition, these global options can be overridden or disabled completely for individual accounts.
The User Account Properties Window
This window is used to add, modify, or view Backup User account information.
The General Tab
The following settings are included in the General Tab: • Account Name
• Enabled Status • Account Type • Master Key Access • Number of Computers
• Single/Multiple Computer Backup Option • Restorable Window
• Account Data Directory • “Restore Wizard…” Button
For more details on individual settings, see the section titled “The Account Properties General Tab”.
The Block Tab
The following list includes categories of client options that can be blocked: • Functionality
• Backup Sets and Schedules • Filters
• Tool and Toolbars • General
• Backup Options • Restore Options • User Delete Capability
The Quota Tab
The following settings are included in the Quota Tab: • Account Quota Setting (Global/Custom/None) • Account Quota Size
• Near Quota Percentage • Near Quota Action • At Quota Action • Over Quota Percentage • Over Quota Action
The Account Properties General Tab
This window is used to add, modify, or view the blocking options for a Backup User account. See Figure 8.
• Account Name
This is the user account name that should match the user account name on the server system (configured through the User Manager). • Enabled Status
This checkbox indicates whether a particular user account is enabled or not. If the account is disabled, no backups or restores may be performed by a client connecting to the Backup Server until the account is enabled.
• Account Type
This checkbox indicates whether a particular user account is an evaluation account or not. If this option is checked, it means that the account is being used on an evaluation basis. In this case, the client will only be able to access the account for a limited evaluation period before it times out.
If this checkbox was previously checked and then unchecked, indicating that the account has changed from an “evaluation account” to a “normal account”, the server will notify the client and the client will be automatically upgraded so that it doesn’t time out.
If this checkbox was previously unchecked and then checked, indicating that the account has changed from a “normal account” to an “evaluation account”, the server will notify the client and the client will be automatically downgraded so that it times out after a limited time period.
• Master Key Access
This checkbox indicates whether master key decryption is enabled or not. If master key decryption is enabled, then the data for this account may be recovered using the master key. To recover data, enter the master decryption key as the password in the Backup Client and connect to the particular user account. From the Restore Tab, the “Get Volume List from Server” and “Get File List from Server” options will display the volumes and files that are available for restoring.
• Number of Computers
This is the number of computers that will be backing up data to this user account. Clients backing up to this account must not exceed this limit or the Backup Server will report an error back to the client. In this case, the number of computers would need to be increased before a successful upload for more computers could occur. At least one computer must be configured for each user.
• Single/Multiple Computer Backup Option
The checkbox labeled “Separate computers will be backing up to this account” indicates that more than one physical computer will be backing up to the same account. This will prevent a backup on one computer from deleting volumes that were backed up by other computers. Typically, in the case of a single computer backup, the Backup Server would detect added and deleted volumes when a client backs up and make the necessary adjustments on the server. An example of this option would be backing up a desktop system and a laptop system to the same account.
• Restorable Window
This is the time interval where previous versions of files that were backed up can still be recovered. The default is 1 month. If the capability for previous version restores is not desired for a particular account, this field can be set to 1 day.
• Account Data Directory
This is the directory where all data for this user will be stored in an encrypted manner. This allows for more secure storage of data, as well as the ability to store data on remote systems connected to the network.
• “Restore Wizard…” Button
This button will launch the “Data Restore Wizard”, which will prepare the data for the
particular account so that it can be easily restored by the user from local media (e.g. CD-ROM).
NOTE:
When a new user is added, the Server Configuration Manager will automatically detect the most commonly configured path name already used for other accounts’ data directories. It will set the default account data directory name as the new account name appended to the detected path name.
The Account Properties Block Tab
This window is used to add, modify, or view the blocking options for a Backup User account. See Figure 9.
• Account Blocking Setting
There are three blocking options that can be set for a Backup User account. The account can use the global blocking settings, use custom blocking settings, or have no blocking options applied to it at all. If the custom blocking option is chosen, the following options can also be set.
• Options Available for Blocking
Many options in the Backup Client software can be disabled for an individual user account by setting options on the server to block them. The options range from the ability to block basic backup/restore functionality to being able to block individual settings on the client. The following list includes the categories of options and individual settings (checkboxes) that can be blocked:
Functionality
Block the user from backing up Block the user from restoring
Block changing to a different backup set Block file selections
Block the user from deleting files on the server
Backup Sets and Schedules
Block the configuration of backup sets Block the configuration of schedules
Filters
Block the configuration of filters Block the application of filters on folders
Tools and Toolbars
Block the configuration of tools Block the configuration of toolbars
General Options
Block any or all tabs
Backup Options
Block any or all tabs
Restore Options
The Account Properties Quota Tab
This window is used to add, modify, or view the quota options for a Backup User account. See Figure 10.
• Account Quota Setting
There are three quota options that can be set for a Backup User account. The account can use the global quota settings, use custom quota settings, or have no quota restrictions applied to it at all. If the custom quota option is chosen, the following options can also be set. • Account Quota Size
The account quota size is the quota limit (in megabytes) for the account.
• “Near quota” Options
The “Near quota” options include the percentage of the quota limit at which a “near quota” condition will be detected and also the corresponding action to be taken by the Backup Client software. The default percentage is 90% and the default action is “Report warning”. This action will cause a warning to be generated in the client log. • “At Quota” Options
The “At quota” options only include the corresponding action to be taken by the Backup Client software when an “at quota” condition is detected. The “at quota” percentage is always automatically set to 100% and the default action is “Warning with window”. This action will cause a separate warning window to be displayed in the client.
• “Over Quota” Options
The “Over quota” options include the percentage of the quota limit at which a “near quota” condition will be detected and also the corresponding action to be taken by the Backup Client software. The default percentage is 110% and the default action is “Disable backup”. This action will cause future backups to be disabled until the quota condition is alleviated.
The Global Account Settings Window
This window is used to add, modify, or view global settings for Backup User accounts information. The Global Account Settings Window is displayed by pressing the “Global Account Settings Button” on the Accounts Tab. It is used to set certain options, such as client-blocking options and