This is the first article in a loose series on applications of the LAN we constructed in an earlier series on Peer Networking. If you aren't currently using a peer LAN similar to that one or have forgotten a lot of that series, I suggest you review the series before proceding further with this article. To assist you here are the important highlights of the series important to this article:

1. Each computer in your network must have Warp 4 Networking installed, specifically TCP/IP along with File and Print Services (aka NetBios). See the article Building Your Network, Part 1 for a good review of this process.

2. If yours is an ethernet network like our example in the series, be sure that each PC is properly connected to the central hub using at least Category-3 or preferably Category-5 twisted pair cable. If you are using Token Ring, then make sure your PC's are connected according to the rules for that topology. The article Building Your Network, Part 2 gives a good summary of the requirements of each topology.

3. Be sure the "TCP/IP Configuration (LAN) notebook for each PC is configured exactly as shown in the article Connecting your LAN to the Internet .

4. While always recommended, the Firewall is not actually used during network backup.

Set-Up Procedure

For the purposes of this article, I will be using BackAgain/2000 Workstation made by Computer Data Strategies.¹ I chose this product for the simple reason that it is the one I use in my daily work, and have found it eminently qualified for backing up peer networks. ² If you don't have a copy of BackAgain/2000 and wish to follow the procedures in this article, you can download a time-limited demonstration version from the CDS web site. BackAgain/2000 provides backup functionality using many different modes, involving the command-line, drag-and-drop, and point-and-click. My suggestion is that you try the different modes, find which ones are most comfortable and effective for you, and stick with them. This will minimize the confusion that can arise from switching back and forth between the different methods. In this article I will primarily use point-and-click, augmented with other methods on occasion.

1. Set Up Your Network

   1. Make sure each PC on your network has share access to each OS/2 (and DOS if desired) drive that you want to back up. You can use either of the following procedures to accomplish this:

      1. Command Line

         • NET SHARE C_DRIVE=C:\ /REMARK:SYSTEM_DRIVE

           Notes:

           • "NET", "SHARE", "=", and "/REMARK:" are keywords. The rest are placeholders and may be replaced with any appropriate value.

           • The "/REMARK:" parameter is recommended, but not required.

           • The NET SHARE command requires administrative access to the workstation.

           • TIP: Put the NET SHARE commands and LOGON command for each workstation into an OS/2 CMD file for safe keeping.

           • For a complete description of the NET command, please see the OS/2 Warp Command Reference Online Manual, Part 2 .

      2. Point-and-Click

         1. Open the "Connections" folder, and then open the "Network Services" folder.

         2. TIP: Drag a shadow of "Lan Services File and Print" to the WarpCenter or the ObjectDesk ControlCenter. This will save you a lot of time manipulating the File and Print objects.

         3. Make sure you have administrative access to the workstation, and start the "Shared Resources and Network Connections" object by double-clicking it.

         4. Click on the "Shares" tab, and click on the "Create a share" button at the bottom.

         5. Enter the drive to be backed up followed by a ":\" in the "Directory" window, and click on "OK".

         6. Enter a name in the window entitled "Share name". (Note: this corresponds to C_DRIVE in the NET SHARE command line.)

         7. Enter a comment (=Remark) in the description field, and click on "Manage Access...".

         8. Click on "Read/Write" (even if already selected), and click on the "OK" button.

         9. When the "Create Access Permissions" box appears, click on "OK" to clear it.

         10. When the "Create Share" window reappears, you are finished with that drive.

   2. TIP: Make sure each PC is always ready for a backup by including the command "LOGON GUEST" in your STARTUP.CMD file, where GUEST is a username that doesn't require a password. You can set up this user name on the "Users" tab of the "Shared Resources and Network Connections" object. (Administrative access is required to access this function.)

   Next week we'll conclude this article by examining how to set up and run BackAgain/2000 to actually back up the network. Stay tuned!

—Walter Metcalf

For Further Reading:

Setting Up a Peer Network on Warp 4, Part 1
First in a series of articles describing in detail how to construct a peer network.

Backup: Why and How?
Complete description of system backup process using BackAgain/2, the predecessor of BackAgain/2000.

Home and Office Networking
Collection of links on SOHO windows networking.