The system Backup module of the LRS

 
The system module of the LRS allows to backup and restore whole partitions of a PC's hard disk regardless of its operating system. That's what we call 'imaging' of the hard disk.
 
The system module of the LRS uses a system that boots on the network and does not require any specific software installation on the station that needs to be backed up and restored. It is thus adapted to any structure that needs to back up PCs, without having to install backup softwares on the whole computer park. Backups can also be managed remotely.
 
It is also possible to rollout an identical image of the system on a large number of PCs. This solution totally automates the rollout on PCs thus saving time on human intervention. It allows to rollout an operating system towards a workstation without having to install manually any floppy disk or CD-Rom.
 

1. Principle of the module system

The backed up PC needs to have a network interface card of PXE type or etherboot compatible. When booted the network interface card takes control of the client PC which will in turn execute a software stored on the server.
This enables client PCs to boot even with an erased or corrupt hard disk.
 
When the PC is started, this software offers to users a choice of actions previously defined by the administrator. The choice of actions is :

• Hard disk backup : users back up partitions of a PC's hard disk on the server when PCs are being started.
• Boot on local hard disk : users boot on the hard disk.
• Boot on the floppy disk drive : users boot on the floppy disk drive.
• Boot on the CD-Rom drive : users boot on the CD-Rom drive.
• Recovery of previously backed up images (operating system, application...) : the partitions of the hard disk are recreated. Partition by partition the images are repatriated from the server towards the client. Users thus recover their working environment such as last saved (screan saver, printer device driver...).

 
Disk backup and recovery is done when machines are started because that's the moment when programs and operating systems are not writing anything on the hard disk. Hard disks are thus being stable and clean and the file system coherent.
 
A web administration interface enables to visualize and administrate available images as well as the starting of the network's PCs.
 
As an indication we have noted the required recovery time that corresponds to installations we made on 100 Mbits/s networks :
 

Operating system	Size of datas	Recovery times
Windows 9X	200 Mo	1 to 3 minutes
Windows Me	500 Mo	2 to 6 minutes
Windows NT et 2000	500 Mo	2 to 6 minutes
Windows XP	1,4 Go	10 minutes
Linux (ext 2, ext3, ReiserFS)	Variable	Variable

 
The images of the hard disk are saved in a compressed manner on the server.
 

2. Functions

• boot on the client's PC network,
• web management interface that allows the system to : ( more information here >> ) :
• management of saved images,
• automatic or manual addition of machines,
• maanagement of user's menus,  
• creation of hard disk images,
• automatic backup functions via Wake-on-LAN, etc,
• possibility to generate bootable CDs or DVDs based on the server's images so as to install isolated client PCs ( more information here >> ).

 

3. Supported file systems

The following file systems are supported :

• fat16 (dos)
• fat32 (Windows 3.x to Windows Me)
• NTFS (Windows NT to Windows Server 2003, base partitions, mirror excluding raid software)
• linux ext2 and ext3
• linux reiserfs
• linux swap.

It is always possible to backup other type of partitions. In that case, all sectors are systematically backed up with a compression. That is the method used to backup :

• the hidden partitions of Compaq System Partition for SmartStart,
• xfs, jfs.

We can study at request the adding of new types of partitions.
 

4. Network interface card

The following PXE network interface card are supported :

• Intel Ether Express Pro, 3COM905 C, 3COM905TX, motherboard Intel 8255x with controler, network interface card with chipset 8139 and eprom PXE, DLINK530TX and TX+ wwwith eprom PXE, SMC 1211TX.

The following network interface card are supported via a boot on the floppy disk :

• Lance PCI (vmware for ex.), motherboards with chipset SIS900, 3COM900, 3COM905B, 3c905b-tpo100,3COM900b-combo, 3COM905c, cnetwork interface card with chipset Realtek 8029 and 8139, dlink-530tx-old, via-rhine, smc1211, Dlink DFE 538, Intel 82559er, eepro100, 82562em.

 

5. SCSI cards

In the case of servers or PCs with SCSI cards, we propose a specific backup licence. As of today we support the following SCSI cards :

• Adaptec 1530, 3090, SMC, ...

We can study at request the additing of supplementary cards :
 

6. Our advantages !

• Backup / Recovery / Rollout / Installation / Securing: with one software and a unique graphical interface.
• No software installation on the stations.
• Independency of the operating systems of the client PCs.
• File coherence thanks to pre-boot backup.
• Rights, symbolic links, shortcuts and files are totally backed up.
• Easy installation and integration in the existing computer park.  
• Easy administration thanks to a convivial Web interface.
• Simplicity of the client interface.