Compatibility Statement Sytron Corporation's Sytos Plus for DOS v1.32 is compatible with LANtastic NOS version 4.xx. Product Overview Sytos Plus is a file backup manager designed to operate with a variety of backup storage devices, including floppy diskette, quarter-inch tape, data cassette, etc. It allows you to set up backup procedures to be run automatically at specified times. It also supports password protection of media, quick file access during restore, and customizable log to record status of unattended backup procedures. Users are strongly recommended to read Chapter 2 "Backup Strategies" in their User's Guide to design and implement an efficient backup strategy to protect their important data. Product Installation Notes Sytos Plus can be installed on the network server or the workstations, but it can only be run from the node to which the backup device is attached. Be sure the backup device settings (e.g. DMA channels) are not used by the network adapter card or other devices in your system. The Sytos Plus Scheduler (SYPLUS /I) permits backup procedures to be executed at pre-designated times. It exists in the form of a TSR. It uses about 2K of RAM, and can be loaded high by the MS-DOS 5.0's loadhigh command. The "Network Environments" section in their "Getting Started Under DOS" booklet contains a lot of useful information about using Sytos Plus on a DOS network, including how to handle redirected drives and the need to obtain access privileges to read a file. Basically, if drive mappings changed after files are backed up, the files will be restored to the original drive or may not be restored if that drive is no longer valid. In this situation, you can use the Sytos Plus Redirection option during the Restore to reference a new drive letter. Product Execution Notes If a file is opened by another user when Sytos Plus attempts to back it up, Sytos Plus will place the file in a "Busy" file log. Sytos Plus can also optionally retry this file at the end of the backup procedure. The retry interval (time between retries) and length of time Sytos Plus will wait to retry busy files are user configurable. Similarly, when restoring files, make sure that users are not using files in the directory you want to restore, since files that are open ("busy") cannot be overwritten. Some administrative tips for the LANtastic environment: 1. To shutdown a server to prepare it for backup, try NET SHUTDOWN \\ 10 "Shutting down in 10 minutes" This schedule the shutdown in 10 minutes and send a warning message to all users logged into the server. 2. To find out who has logged onto a server, use the Monitor and Manage Server Activity Option from the net utility. 3. A new net command called SLOGINS is added to LANtastic NOS v4.1, which can enable or disable user logins to a server. The syntax is: NET SLOGINS(/ENABLE /DISABLE) \\ 4. You can use either of 2 backup and restore methods to ensure complete recovery of a LANtastic network: a. using the NET_MGR utility to backup the LANtastic network control directory, and then Sytos Plus to backup the rest of the files. b. using only Sytos Plus to backup all files. Please refer to the attached Product Support Tip No. 8 from Sytron on the details of each method. 5. The NET_MGR utility also provides a command line interface for advanced users. Here are a few of those for your reference. Details of the commands can be found in appendix C "NET_MGR Commands and Switches" of the LANtastic v4.1 Upgrade Manual. To backup a server's control directory to a specified file: NET_MGR BACKUP To restore a control directory that has been backed up: NET_MGR RESTORE 6. The DOS filesystem stores the date and time when a file was last updated (created or modified). You can implement an incremental backup strategy based on this date. Printing Sytos Plus defaults to print the backup log to PRN. You can use the LANtastic net utility to print to a remote printer on your network. Vendor Information Sytron Corp. 134 Flanders Rd. Westboro MA 01581. 508-898-0100 (main number) 508-898-2677 (fax) 508-898-0193 (tech support) Attachments Product Support Tip No. 8 from Sytron Corporation (2 pages) PRODUCT SUPPORT TIP Products Affected Sytos Plus for DOS 1.3 under LANtastic v4.0 and 4.1 Summary To be able to recover the complete LANtastic network, the LANtastic network control directory, \LANTASTI.NET, must be backed up and restored. The directory LANTASTI.NET contains the hidden subdirectories \LANTASTI.NET\SPOOL.NET and \LANTASTI.NET\SYSTEM.NET. You can use either of two backup and restore methods to ensure complete recovery of a LANtastic network: o Method 1: using the LANtastic NET_MGR utility and Sytos Plus o Method 2: using only Sytos Plus Using the NET_MGR utility involves more steps. Using only Sytos Plus requires less steps, but non-existent hidden directories are restored with the hidden attribute. Method 1: Recovery of a LANtastic Network using NET_MGR This recovery method consists of two major tasks: A. Backing Up the Network B. Restoring the Network Steps to Backing up the Network can also be found in the LANtastic reference Manual in the chapter Control Directory Maintenance. A. Backing Up the Network 1. Shut down the server using the NET SHUTDOWN \\SERVERNAME command. 2. Enter the LANtastic NET_MGR utility 3. At the Control Directory Maintenance menu, back up the Control Directory by choosing Change Directory and then the Backup Control Directory Option. 4. Enter Sytos Plus and exclude the network control directory from the Backup Procedure. To exclude the network control directory: a. Enter Source Files... from the Sytos Plus Main screen. b. Choose =Selection Sheet c. From the Selection Sheet window choose d. Type the directory you wish to exclude: :\LANTASTI.NET\* e. At the Exclude button, press the space bar to exclude these files. f. At the Directory button, press the space bar to exclude subdirectories. 5. Run the Backup Procedure. B. Restoring the Network 1. Run a full system Restore using Sytos Plus. (Refer to the Sytos Plus User's guide for details) 2. Run a full system Compare Procedure. 3. Enter the LANtastic NET_MGR utility and restore the Control directory by choosing the Restore Control Directory option. Method 2: Recovery of a LANtastic Network using Sytos Plus Sytos Plus automatically backs up hidden subdirectories under DOS. NOTE: If the hidden directories being restored do not exist, Sytos Plus restores them but without their hidden attributes. To recover a LANtastic network, use the Backup and restore steps detailed in the Sytos Plus User's Guide, and follow these guidelines: o Prior to running a Backup, shut down the server using the NET SHUTDOWN \\SERVERNAME command. This ensures that all critical network files are accessible during the Backup Procedure. o After completing the Restore Procedure, run a full system Compare Procedure. Sytos Plus and Sytron are registered trademarks of Sytron Corportion. All other product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. ARTISOFT, Inc. makes no warranties as to the completeness or accuracy of this document. LANtastic is a trademark of ARTISOFT, Inc. Brand names, company names, and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.