afbackup – client-server backup system

Last Updated on July 10, 2021

afbackup is a client-server backup system allowing many workstations to backup to a central server (simultaneously or serially). It is used to maintain archives on a backup server host or in a file. Archives can be created, extracted or their contents be listed.

Backups on the clients can be started automatically using cron-jobs on the clients, but the more intelligent solution is to start it remotely from a central administrative host. To be independent of tricks like rsh, rcp and so on, that are in fact security holes, this remote start option is implemented internally.

Any streaming device can be used for writing the data to it, usually this will be a tape device. Writing backups is normally done sequentially: The next writing to tape goes to the end of the previous write no matter from where you have restored in the meantime. There is a special way for the administrator to change the next writing position, but this should be done only in emergency cases. Another way to be more flexible here is to configure variable append mode.

Features include:

• Client/Server System.
• Authentication of the client is performed before it can take over control.
• Several servers can be configured for each client: the actual server is chosen by availability.
• Multi stream server, several clients can store to one server at the same time.
• Remote start option -> centralized administration.
• Access restriction for the streamer device -> security.
• Client-side per-file processing -> reliability. If the files and directories were first packed and then processed, by the server a single faulty bit in the processed stream would make the rest of the backup inaccessible for restore.
• Built-in compression (requires libz).
• Data stream is written to tape in pieces of configurable size -> fast finding of files during restore.
• Tape position logging for each file -> fast finding of files during restore.
• Tape capacity is fully used.
• Flexible tape handling and configurable append mode.
• Full/incremental backups and verify.
• Raw partitions can be saved.
• Ordinary users can run the restore for their own files and directories, but only for these.
• Emergency recovery on different catastrophe levels.
• Command output saving feature: useful e.g for databases.
• Cartridge locations database maintained.
• Support for media changers.
• Client access to cartridge sets can be restricted.

Website: launchpad.net/afbackup
Support:
Developer: Albert Fluegel, Jalon Zimmerman
License: GNU GPL v2

afbackup is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

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