TouchPoint FAQs
Management and Installation
How do we control and monitor TouchPoint?
At installation the TouchPoint administrator console, known as the TP-User, is installed on as many or as few workstations as required and will need a valid administrator logon, ensuring that there is no unauthorised access. A Customer Administrator Console acts as an interface with TouchPoint, enabling the configuration of all backup schedules and data restoration.
Is the TouchPoint software installed on any other machines?
The TouchPoint backup software does not need to be installed onto each backup client, simply on one dedicated backup gateway.
If TouchPoint is agentless, then how does it access the data?
When a new backup set is created in the administration console, a username and password must be provided that will enable TouchPoint to connect on to a server or workstation. TouchPoint has the ability to be fully able to integrate with NT domains, Trusts and Novel NDS trees.
Do we need to create individual users for TouchPoint on all our servers?
No, but a dedicated user is recommended and it should be set for no password expiry for the obvious reasons. In a domain or NDS environment, a user on each machine is not necessary as one central user can be created with access to all the resources that are required to be backed up.
What access permissions does this user require?
This user will now have the ability to back up and restore all the data on your network, it is essential that access permissions are of administrative equivalence. TouchPoint can only backup data that this user can access. A less privileged user may be restricted, causing data to be missed.
How is the TPLS connected to our network?
The TouchPoint Local Store (TPLS) is based on your the client's network. A simple rule is used to allow access via 3 ports on the firewall to a direct IP address back at Smartways secure data centre. This creates a direct link back to the Smartways, whilst also keeping a direct copy of the most up to date backup on your site.
Who installs the TouchPoint service?
Smartways will install the TPLS unit and the administrator console software at your site and provide the necessary training. The initial setup charges include between one and three days setup support, depending on the service contracted for. If the installation is particularly complex or remote sites are involved, additional days on site support are available at a daily rate.
How is the first backup done, given that there will be a lot of data?
The initial backup may be done to a portable unit, backing up at LAN speeds to a large array of disks. When the full backup of your data is complete, the disks are transported back to Smartways secure data centre. Future backups, which are purely incremental, will be transmitted via the telecommunications connection and synchronised with you initial backup at the Data Centre. When the retention period of the full backup expires, TouchPoint creates a new full backup based on the previous full and subsequent incremental backups.
Setup of Initial Backup Sets and Schedules
Who does this?
As part of the installation training, Smartways will ensure that all your main servers are sensibly configured to ensure their optimum backup. Additionally, you will be invited to send your nominated backup administrator for a full days tuition at our Smartways In-House training courses.
Who is authorised to use the administration software console?
Smartways will set up users with access to create and maintain backup sets and schedules. Only people with a user ID on the TPLS will be able to administer its functions.
Can users administer backups for their own machines?
Multiple user accounts can be created for use on the TPLS and access permissions can be set per backup set. These permissions can be any combination of Backup, Restore, Delete or Modify, so a particular user could be given access to backup and restore only their own machine.
What frequency of backup can be set?
Backups can be configured as often or as infrequently as you want. More advanced schedule options include the last working day of the month or even once-only backups scheduled to occur on a particular date.
What level of granularity is possible in setting up the backup i.e. file level/individual database?
A backup set can include a whole server, share/volume, directory or even a single file. The backup set could even include just a registry, should you desire.
Can one machine be prioritised over another?
There are literally hundreds of different priority levels that can be assigned, ensuring maximum flexibility when organising your backup schedules.
Can multiple servers be backed up simultaneously?
Any number of machines can be backed up simultaneously. However, as network bandwidth is a major factor, Smartways would recommend a maximum of four servers to be backed up at any one time in a LAN environment as the benchmark. This could be increased in a WAN environment to take advantage of many slow external connections.
Can the software be set to stop backing up after a certain time window has elapsed?
Yes, the software is designed to fit specific backup windows. TouchPoint can be told what time to stop at, from example at 9:00am when employees are starting to arrive or maybe by 5:00am if there is an important batch process to run.