Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack for Workstations, Version 6.1.2

Administration folders

Clients pull configuration information, commands, and software updates from administration folders. The central administration console manages clients by sharing information with clients in administration folders.

Managing clients

When the client and the central administration console access the same administration folder, they exchange information in the administration folder. The client sends reports to the folder. The central administration console collects the reports and presents the information to the administrator. The central administration console pushes software updates, configuration information, and command scripts to the administration folder, and the client periodically pulls the updates, configuration, and command scripts.

If the central administration console and a client are not configured to access the same administration folder, the central administration console cannot manage that client.

By default, the central administration console service uses a local system account to log on. A local system account can access administration folders on the central administration console server, but cannot access administration folders on shared drives on other computers. If the clients use administration folders on computers other than the central administration console server, run the central administration console service in an account that has access to the remote administration folders.

Determining administration folders for clients

Clients whose configuration files are created with the central administration console access the administration folder that you identify in the central administration console. The central administration console periodically scans the administration folder for reports from new clients. When the client is installed, the client accesses this administration folder, and the central administration console discovers the client. After the client is discovered, the central administration console locks the value of the administration folder.

If a Tivoli® Storage Manager FastBack for Workstations client has not been discovered by the central administration console, you have some ability to specify the administration folder with the client. In this case, the administration folder defaults to the \RealTimeBackup\ subfolder of the remote storage area. When such a client is discovered by the central administration console, the central administration console sets and locks the value of the administration folder.

If a remote storage area is not configured, or if the client uses remote storage on a Tivoli Storage Manager server, there is no default administration folder.

Tivoli Continuous Data Protection for Files Standard Edition clients have a Central Administration Settings panel that allows a user to explicitly configure the administration folder location. If the Central Administration Folder field is configured, that value overrides the default administration folder location. This allows a client that is configured with no remote storage, or one that is configured with remote storage on a Tivoli Storage Manager, to be discovered and managed by the central administration console. However, a user can change the administration folder setting to a location that is not known to the central administration console. If this happens, the central administration console cannot manage the Tivoli Continuous Data Protection for Files client.

Tivoli Continuous Data Protection for Files Starter Edition clients do not have a Central Administration Settings panel that allows a user to explicitly configure the administration folder location. If a Starter Edition client uses Tivoli Storage Manager server remote storage, there is no administration folder. You can configure an administration folder for such a client only by using the fpa config-set command. If you use the fpa config-set command to specify a folder that has been identified to the central administration console and is accessible to the client, the central administration console discovers the client.

The fpa config-set command sets the administration folder for any client, even one that has been discovered by the central administration console. Invoke the command from a Command Prompt window at the Tivoli Continuous Data Protection for Files install directory, like this:
fpa config-set GlobalManagementArea="\\MyServer\\MyShare\MyAdminFolder"
Replace \\MyServer\\MyShare\MyAdminFolder with the CIFS (Common Internet File System) URL of a folder that is accessible to the client and the central administration console.

Administration folder subfolders

The administration folder contains two levels of administrative subfolders.

Computer-specific subfolders
These folders apply to only one computer. The central administration console communicates with clients through the computer-specific subfolders. In the computer-specific subfolder, there are two subfolders:
The Reports folder
The client stores status reports in the Reports folder. You can view the reports in the central administration console. The full path of the reports folder is administration_folder_location\computer_name\BackupAdmin\Reports\.
The Downloads folder

When you put product upgrades or configuration files in this folder, the client automatically adopts the product upgrades or configuration. The full path is administration_folder_location\computer_name\BackupAdmin\Downloads\.

Group administrative subfolders
These folders apply to all computers that share this administration folder. In each group administrative subfolder, there is a Downloads subfolder. When you put product upgrades or configuration files in the group administrative Downloads subfolder, all clients that share this group administrative folder automatically adopt the product upgrades or configuration.
Screen capture of administration folders in Windows Explorer

Maintaining control of the clients

Follow these guidelines to maintain control of the clients: