Ghost Solution Suite

 View Only

  • 1.  Initiate Backup Manually from Client?

    Posted Jun 05, 2007 02:42 AM
    I would like to create a backup task that may be initiated, manually, from the client. I have a sub-group of users who run processes overnight, so for them a scheduled backup is a no-go. I'm new to GSS, using version 2.01.
     
    Any suggestions?
     
    Cheers


  • 2.  RE: Initiate Backup Manually from Client?

    Posted Jun 05, 2007 02:28 PM
    Don't know about GSS, but I can answer for the version I have (I think they're fairly similar).

    Go to Tools>Options.

    Select Client tab, check "Enable Client User Interface"

    Now, create a group in Machine Groups for these computers.  Have the service started on them and move them into this machine group.

    Create a backup task for each one and on the task itself, there should be a checkbox for "allow client initiation" or something like that.  You can even set a password for this.  Now, assign it to the computer account.

    There are also command line options where users can connect to the ghost server and create a new session and back up the computer, but I don't know it off the top of my head...sorry.  If you figure this out, you could create some sort of vbscript for it, maybe.




  • 3.  RE: Initiate Backup Manually from Client?

    Posted Jun 05, 2007 07:59 PM
    Hello,
    If you're using an image create task to backup those machines, then BobLabaw is correct and everything should work by following his instructions.
    But if you're using Backup Regimes to backup then unfortunately there's no 'allow client intiation'option for that. 

    However you can initiate a backup regime from the client if you make the backup regime a scheduled task. 
    Then on the client machine map a network drive to the schedule tasks folder of the server machine (maybe create a short-cut to this location.)

    You can run this task to initiate the backup regime.

    Cheers,
    Bruce


  • 4.  RE: Initiate Backup Manually from Client?

    Posted Jun 06, 2007 07:27 PM
    well I spoke with symantec support and they confirm that by design a Ghost console client cannot initiate a backup ... however, further to BobLabaw's and Bruce's advice I created a Ghost task that

    - copies a one-line batch file {schtasks.exe /run /tn "Symantec Ghost Task - New Backup Regime #0" /s server01} from the Ghost server to the root of the client. (I couldn't get the command to work within a Ghost task, and yes I started with cmd.exe)

    - runs the batch file

    The batch file starts and then halts with schtasks error "ERROR: Access is denied". If I run the same batch file on the client by double-clicking it, it works.
     
    Regardless, unless I get schtasks to work within a Ghost task, each user would need a customized batch file.
     
    I submitted an enhancement request to Symantec for client-initiated backups, to the Ghost server. Apparently others have been looking for this functionality as well.

    Message Edited by David Bruce on 06-06-200704:28 PM



  • 5.  RE: Initiate Backup Manually from Client?

    Posted Jun 07, 2007 08:04 PM
    Each backup regime only applies to a single computer.  So you will need to create backup regimes for each client and customized batch files too.

    But it sounds like you got it going once the clients receives their batch file.

    Cheers,
    Bruce