LANBak  2.0
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Flux2Fusion LANBak Client 2.0 

Using LANBak Client

LANBak Client is tightly intergrated into the Windows Shell.  This means that users can view, preview, restore and delete files in the backup system just by right-clicking on a file or folder on the Windows desktop or from within Windows Explorer.  Note: The user does not have to be a Backup Operator or Network Administrator to preview or restore backed-up files (see the 'Security' section below).

To view backed-up file versions perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on a folder or file within Windows Explorer (you can also right click on folder icons on the desktop such as 'My Documents').
  2. Select 'Network Backup versions...' from the context menu.
  3. A window will open containing either a list of files and subfolders (if you clicked on a folder) or a list of previous file versions of a single file (if you clicked on a file). 
  4. To preview a file, double-click it.  To open a sub-folder, double-click the folder name.  To go up a folder click the '<< up' link.
  5. To restore, delete or view an item's properties, right-click the item and select an option from the popup menu.

Viewing backed-up files:

Security

Any user on the network can preview, restore or delete files within the backup system without Administrator intervention.  LANBak uses original NT file permissions to check access security for a user requesting preview, restore or delete operations on each backed-up file.  Users can only preview, restore or delete files to which they had access originally (before the file was backed-up).  This includes restoring files on remote shared folders.  Users are 'impersonated' on remote computers thus ensuring security is maintained.  On remote computers, a user must have a valid local NT user account to restore shared files.

The system also contains comprehensive data security.  Files are compressed and encrypted before they are sent across the network to the appropriate LANBak Server.

Restoring Files

When you select 'Restore' for particular files or folders, those items are restored into their original folder.  You cannot specify a location to restore files to.  This is for security reasons (parent folder permissions etc). 

Also, restored files are given a unique name - existing files are never over-written.  For example, if you choose to restore the file 'sometext.txt' and an existing version of 'sometext.txt' is already present in the folder then the restored version will be given the name 'Restored sometext.txt'.  If you restore the file again, this new copy will be given the name 'Restored (2) sometext.txt'.  This is similar to when copying files using the Copy & Paste function of Windows File Explorer.

Deleting Files

Users can delete files within the backup system (depending on the normal permissions checking detailed in the 'Security' section above).  Selecting 'Delete' from an items context menu will show the following dialog:

To delete all versions of a particular file, click the 'Delete all previous file versions' checkbox.

On-demand Backup

You can choose to backup any file or folder on a computers local hard drive by using the Windows Explorer 'Send to...' menu option.  To backup a file 'on-demand':

  1. Right-click the file or folder in Windows Explorer.
  2. Select 'Send to...LANBak Network Backup'.
  3. The file or folder will now be backed up.

You can backup any file or folder on any local hard drive using the 'Send to' option.  These files and folders do not have to be defined within the automated daily backup schedule.

Scheduled Backup

Depending on how LANBak Client has been configured (using the 'Client Manager' application), an automated, daily or weekly backup is performed by the system.  Only files that the system deems have changed will be backed-up during each scan period (including files that have previously been deleted from the backup system, but that still remain on the Client computer).  This process ensures that all Client data has an equivalent backup 'image' and that files are only transmitted to the LANBak Server if necessary. 

Backup Log Files:

Each 'Client' computer creates a log file detailing scheduled backup operations.  This file is called LANBakScheduler.log and is created in the client computer's Windows directory (normally either 'C:\Windows' or 'C:\Winnt'.  Following completion of each schduled backup phase, the log file is also backed up.  Therefore, each machine's log file can be viewed using LANBak Explorer from an Administrators computer.

Next: Using LANBak Explorer (Administrators / Backup Operators only)...