Subscribe to TurboBackup News

Data Backup Software Download Lunix / Unix Windows Mac Novel Solaris

Setting up online backup email notifications

Summary

The online backup client can be configured to send e-mail / pager notifications in the event of a critical backup failure, allowing an Administrator to react instantly to such failures. In addition, the online backup client can regularly mail out a summary of backup activities (during Admin processes).

Online backup client notifications can be:
• SMTP
• MAPI

Messaging Service Setup

Restrictions
The delivery of notifications is provided by 3rd-party mail clients installed on the online backup client
computer and registered with the Windows Messaging Subsystem (MAPI). By design, MAPI and most mail clients cause their client applications to pop up dialog boxes to interact with a user.
Because online backup client is unattended service software, it would hang if it displays a dialog. Therefore,
the online backup client will only use compatible mail clients known to never display a user interface. Such mail clients are listed in the order of preference in the Registry value

• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\DS-Client\Parameters]
• MailClientsSupported

The entry for Microsoft Outlook is added to this list by the online backup client Setup. The online backup client will use the first MailClientsSupported entry installed on the computer, i.e. listed under
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Clients\Mail]

Note that the online backup client is not compatible with the Outlook Express mail client.

Restrictions Specific to Windows NT / 2000 / XP
The normal procedure for sending e-mails in Windows is as follows. The client application places the message in the Outbox of a message store provider, the latter notifies the MAPI Spooler, the Spooler dispatches the message to the appropriate transport provider based on message recipients and, finally, the transport provider takes over message delivery.

Since Microsoft overlooked security and identity issues in designing the MAPI Spooler, it cannot properly work with client applications that are services. For instance, the Spooler may not be able to access Mail Profiles due to incorrect security context, and may not receive new message notifications from a message store provider by way of window messages (every service runs in its own virtual desktop and window messages do not propagate between desktops). Because the online backup client runs as a service on Windows NT / 2000 / XP, it must not use the MAPI Spooler. This means the online backup client notifications will forever remain in the Outbox of the message store provider unless the latter is tightly coupled to a transport provider, so that the two can work out between themselves how to send the message without the intervention of the MAPI Spooler. At this time, only the Microsoft Exchange Server mail client is known to offer tightly coupled message store and transport.

You can specify the message store and transport to be used by the online backup client by creating a Mail Profile (see relevant section) and selecting it in the online backup User Configuration.
To use the online backup client with non-tightly coupled transports, such as Internet Mail, you can force
the online backup client to use the MAPI Spooler by setting the Registry value
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ DS-Client \Parameters]
• MailUsingSpooler to a nonzero DWORD value. Keep in mind that such use is not supported by Windows NT architecture and errors are bound to ensue. Make sure no other MAPI client applications are executed on the Client computer.

How to Create a Mail Profile for the online backup client
1. Have a mail account created on the mail server for use by online backup client.
2. Login to the online backup client computer using the <<Client service account>>.
• If the online backup client computer is running Windows NT / 2000 / XP, it is the account found in the Services Control Panel for Turbo Backup online backup service. Don't forget to select the correct domain when logging in.
3. While logged in with the online backup client service account, install your mail client (if not already
installed) and use it to create a new (or edit an existing) Mail Profile.
• a. Add to the Mail Profile a messaging service that includes a tightly coupled message store and transport, such as Microsoft Exchange Server, and configure this messaging service to use the mail account created in step 1;
• b. Specify a message store added in 3.a as the default message store;
• c. Move transports added in 3.a to the top of the transport order;
• d. Specify the default address book of your choice;
• e. Save the Mail Profile, start a mail application, configure it to use the Profile just created and proceed to send a test message.

Once you have successfully tested your Mail Profile, you may configure the online backup client to use it.

Notes
1. Turbo Backup strongly recommends using SMTP notifications.
2. Certain mail clients (e.g. Eudora Mail) may replace the MAPI Stub Library (MAPI32.DLL) with a version that does not support the Extended MAPI interface. If this happens, reinstall Microsoft Outlook.