WestNet Backup Network Administrator Console

WestNet Backup Network Administrator Console
What is and How to work with WestNet Backup Network Administrator Console?

WestNet Backup Network Administrator Console (ENAC) is a special tool to enable the centralized administration of WestNet Backup Network Clients. You need it to manage and store the configurations of all network clients at one place (the computer with the installed ENAC) and distribute it to clients.

Network Client is a computer that has the WestNet Backup started in the special mode. In this mode, WestNet Backup accepts connections from ENAC and executes its commands. To enable network administration of a workstation, at its startup you should start WestNet Backup with command line arguments, which indicate a network port (usually 5350) and password to access. The command line should be like:
EBShell.exe /START_NETWORK_CLIENT:port:password

To have its work done, ENAC maintains:

A tree of all network clients.
ENAC represents all network clients as a file system structure, where a folder is a logical group of clients and a file is a client. As a file system, ENAC supports unlimited number of clients and subfolders. You always have one predefined group named "Enterprise". Use context-sensetive menu of this group to create new groups and new clients (computers).
A list of databases of Backup Sets.
Usually, all network clients can be separated on a few logical groups with the equal file systems. For example: all accountant's workstations have own file system structure and all sales manager's workstations have own. That's why, to cover all groups, you need a number of databases of Backup Sets. One database for each group, but a client can be in a few groups and use a few databases. Each database may have any number of standard Backup Sets.

Each type of clients usually has an unique filesystem. For example: the directory structure of the "accountant" workstation is not the same as the one of "sales manager" workstations. To allow backup administrators to use a GUI interface, ENAC uses the term "virtual disks". There are 26 virtual disks (A, B, C, D, :, Z) as has any normal Windows workstation, but each of them can be linked to a local or network folder. For example: if you assign virtual disk C:\ to "D:\accountant\c\", when you edit the Backup Sets, the content of disk C:\ in the Backup Set's dialog box will be same as content of D:\accountant\c\.

When a backup administrator wants to update the client's database of Backup Sets or execute any command, s/he sends it to the client. The client uses the access password to protect against an illicit access and performs actions, which depend on the command types and arguments.

When a server sends the database, with all allowed Backup Sets of a client, it replaces the user-specific variables of real names. Now I have to tell you about the user-specific variables. As I wrote before, a group of clients with the same directory structure uses the same database of Backup Sets, but if you need to upload backup archives to FTP Server, each Backup Set must have an unique username and password to access the user's account. Moreover if you use encryption, you may want to specify an unique encryption key for every client, or for a group of clients. As well, you may want to send a backup log to a client that performed the backup. To do that, ENAC automatically replaces some user-specific variables on values from user's properties.

     You can use the following variables:

$(user)
ENAC replaces that variable on Username: from the client's properties. Usually we use that variable to specify FTP logon username.

$(password)
ENAC replaces that variable on Password: from the client's properties. Usually we use that variable to specify FTP password.

$(email)      As a backup administrator you may want:

to send all backup logs on one email address.

TO DO: Put a target email address in the Logs configuration page in order use its direct value.

send backup protocol on a client's email address

TO DO: Put $(email) variable in the Logs configuration page and enter the target email addresses in the properties of all clients. You can also use the same address for a few clients. For example: you can enter one email address for all accountant clients and all their logs will be sent to that address.

$(keyname)
     To use the encryption option, the client has to have an encryption key. The concept of centralized administration, means that a backup administrator must have a centralized database of keys on the server and distribute the necessary keys for the clients. ENAC has one centralized database of keys and allows you to specify the name of a key in the client's properties. This means that each client can have a separate key, or a group of clients can have the same key. To use that feature, select $(keyname) values as an encryption key at the Backup Set Wizard.

That's all with the theory part of the manual. Now it's time for the practical part, where you will see the real use of all these theoretical terms.

Configure ENAC
Select File -> Console properties. A dialog box will appear:
- Logs page
  
  If you want to send all backup logs on one email account, enter it into the From/To: field.
  
  If you want to send backup logs to a client's email account, enter the $(email) variable in the field. That variable will be replaced on the email address from the client's properties. As well, a few clients can have the same email address.
- Connections page
  
  Is there a proxy server between the clients and FTP Server?
  YES:
  - Enter a network address and port of the proxy server.
  - If the proxy server needs a Username and Password, you can use $(user) and $(password) variables. Another option is to use a standard (fixed or predefined) Username and Password only for backup purposes.
  Do your clients use a Dial-up connection to connect to a LAN or InterNet?
  YES:
  - Select the name of the predefined dial-up connection. All your clients must have a connection with the same name.
  - You can use $(user) and $(password) variables. Another option is to use a standard (fixed or predefined) Username and Password only for backup purposes.
Press OK to save the configuration, that will be used as the default for all Backup Sets. ENAC will ask you to send the new configuration to all clients.
Create a list of network clients
1. Activate Commands page.
2. Click the right button of the mouse on Enterprise item on the tree control, and add a group (For example: "accountants").
3. Click the right button of the mouse on the accountants group and add the computer. Enter the client's properties, and press the Finish button.
4. Repeat step three again for new clients, and step two, for new groups. Note that you can add one client to several groups. When you add a client to the second group, its properties do not matter. They will be copied from the first copy of the client.
Create and configure databases for Backup Sets
1. Use Create a database of Backup Sets command from the File menu; enter the name of a new database, and press the Finish button
2. Use the Edit database of Backup Sets command from the File menu to edit and distribute the database to allowed clients.
  - Associate virtual disks with real disk folders page.
    
    HINT: Double-click on a disk, select a folder, and press OK to fix the changes. To remove the association, double-click on the disk name and press the Cancel button.
  - Edit a list of Backup Sets page.
    
    HINT: Click the right mouse button on the Backup Sets item. Add or Import a new Backup Set. Create as many Backup Sets as you need. Note that paths to external programs must be relevant to the client filesystem (not server).
  - Select the clients who will have access to the database
    
    Do distribute this database to clients, check the necessary clients. A status dialog box will appear, and ENAC will distribute the new database to the clients. Wait until all processes have finished, then press the Close button.
3. Create as many databases as you need.
How to delete a database of Backup Sets:
1. Select a database in the combobox on top of the ENAC.
2. Use the Delete database of Backup Sets command from the File menu.
How to remotely add a scheduled backup task?
1. Activate Commands page
2. Select Add scheduler task command and .
3. Select clients.
4. Press Execute command button
5. Select date and time to backup; press Add button
How to distribute encryption keys to clients?
1. Activate Commands page
2. Select Distribute encryption key command
3. Select clients, to which you want to distribute keys
4. Press Execute command button

$(user)	ENAC replaces that variable on Username: from the client's properties. Usually we use that variable to specify FTP logon username.
$(password)	ENAC replaces that variable on Password: from the client's properties. Usually we use that variable to specify FTP password.
$(email)	As a backup administrator you may want: to send all backup logs on one email address. TO DO: Put a target email address in the Logs configuration page in order use its direct value. send backup protocol on a client's email address TO DO: Put $(email) variable in the Logs configuration page and enter the target email addresses in the properties of all clients. You can also use the same address for a few clients. For example: you can enter one email address for all accountant clients and all their logs will be sent to that address.
$(keyname)	To use the encryption option, the client has to have an encryption key. The concept of centralized administration, means that a backup administrator must have a centralized database of keys on the server and distribute the necessary keys for the clients. ENAC has one centralized database of keys and allows you to specify the name of a key in the client's properties. This means that each client can have a separate key, or a group of clients can have the same key. To use that feature, select $(keyname) values as an encryption key at the Backup Set Wizard.