Adding Mac for Backup
Prerequisites to add Mac
Before you add a Mac Endpoint to the BDRSuite Server/Client, check the following prerequisites.
1.User Account with Root Privileges:
Make sure the user account you specify to add the Mac has root privileges. If you add a non-root account, make sure to provide the root password.
2.User Account Credentials:
You can add the user account credentials using any of the following options:
i) Mac Account Option:
You can connect to the Mac directly using the Username and Password of the specified user account
ii) Mac Private Key Option:
You can connect to the Mac using the Identity/Pubkey authentication method.
If you have already generated public-private key pair, provide the Username, Private key, and Passphrase (if applicable) and save the Mac credentials (or) you can follow the steps below to generate the public-private key pair.
Step 1
Generate a pair of keys – a public key and a private key using the command below:
ssh-keygen -t rsa
Step 2
Specify the location and the file name in the format .ppk to save the key.
Example: /home/key.ppk
Step 3
Enter a passphrase or leave it empty. The private key is protected with a passphrase.
Step 4
Then, the private key (.ppk) and public key (.pub) will be saved to the specified location and file.
Example: Your identification has been saved in /home/key.ppk Your public key has been saved in /home/key.ppk.pub
Step 5
On the target Endpoint, Public-key needs to be kept in a special authorizedkeys file containing a list of public keys. Use the command below to copy the public key and then paste into the following file location: /var/root/.ssh/authorizedkeys.
xclip -sel clip < public key location
Example: xclip -sel clip < ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
Step 6
Copy the Private Key file to the backup server using any FTP tools. You now have the Public key on the Mac and the Private key on the backup server.
3.Ports
Make sure the SSH Port is open allowing remote access to the machine. The default SSH port is 22. If you run the SSH server in a different port, make sure the port is accessible.
BBA installed on the target Endpoint – Mac uses port 42005 to communicate with the Backup Server. Make sure your firewall rules allow port 42005 to be open for communication.
4.Internet Connection
Make sure the target Endpoint (Mac) has internet access.
5. Supported Operating Systems
Mac Intel Based (64-bit):
MacOS Mojave 10.14 & above
Mac Arm Based (64-bit):
MacOS BigSur 11 & above
6. System Requirements
Memory: Minimum: 2 GB
CPU: Minimum: Dual-Core Processor
Add Mac (File & Folder Backup)
Mac machines can be backed up at files and folders level using the BDRSuite Backup Server. You can simply add the source to the BDRSuite Backup Server and configure backups. Navigate to Data Sources tab and choose Add Mac.
When a Mac machine is added to the BDRSuite Backup server, a BDRSuite Backup Agent (BBA) is automatically or manually installed in the target machine. In order for the agent to be installed, certain prerequisites are to be met by the Mac target machine.
Procedure to add Mac Machine
Mac machine has to be added before you begin configuring the backup schedule. In the Data Sources tab choose ‘Add Host’ and select Mac. You will be taken to a page where you will see a message stating ‘No host added’ if you adding host for the first time.
Click on ‘Add Mac Machine‘ and there are three distinct methods provided on the opening page for adding which are as follows;
- Manual Agent Installation
- Automatic Agent Installation
- Bulk Installation
1. Manual Agent Installation
Step 1: Download Backup Agent
Mac(Intel-based, 64-bit) – MacOS Mojave 10.14 & above – Download
Mac(ARM-based, 64-bit) – MacOS BigSur 11 & above – Download
Step 2: Backup Agent Installation on Individual Backup Hosts
Run Backup Agent setup file on the target host and follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the installation.
During the installation, you will be prompted to enter the following information:
Display Name: Enter a name to identify the host in the backup server.
Backup Server DNS Name/IP Address: Enter the BDRSuite Backup Server’s DNS Name/IP Address to register this host with the backup server.
Choose Backup Component: Select the option ‘Files and Folders Backup’.
Complete the installation process by providing the necessary information.
Once the installation is successful, the agent will automatically establish connection and register the host with the backup server.
To verify the installation and connection, go to the Data Sources menu on the backup server. You will see the host details, including the display name, Hostname/IP address and connection status.
You can configure backups for Mac Hosts that have successfully connected and registered with the BDRSuite Backup Server/Client.
2. Automatic Agent Installation
This option allows you to add each host by entering their IP address and credentials. This will automatically install BBA on the target host.
Note: You can add as many Mac machines into the BDRSuite Backup Server whenever required.
IP Address/DNS Name
Enter the hostname or IP address of the hostname for which you have to proceed with the backup.
The Hostname can be added using FQDN(Fully qualified domain name) ie., machine_name.domain_name. You can connect your host with BDRSuite Backup Server through the following combinations in the Hostname/IP Address section:
Hostname – Enter the Hostname alone
Hostname@Domain name – Enter the hostname followed by @ and domain name
Domain name/Hostname – Enter the domain name followed backslash (/) and the hostname
192.xxx.xxx.xxx – Enter the IP address
Note: If you have provided an invalid Hostname/IP address, the following alert message will be displayed “Unable to connect the Mac Machine. Please check network connection settings”
Credentials
You can add new credentials or select existing credentials.
User Name: Enter the username of the specific host
Password: The password of the host or IP Address
Email ID
You can enter an email ID where you want to receive the endpoint reports.
Save the added mac host after entering all the details. The Mac machine will be added to the BDRSuite Backup Server if you had chosen automatic installation of BBA.
3. Bulk Installation
Step 1: Download BDRSuite Backup Agent
Mac(Intel-based, 64-bit) – MacOS Mojave 10.14 & above – Download
Mac(ARM-based, 64-bit) – MacOS BigSur 11 & above – Download
Step 2: Backup Agent Installation using Third-Party Tools (Silent Installation)
Download Backup Agent and install it on multiple backup hosts simultaneously using the command below through any third party tool.
Intel Mac:
sudo sh BDRSuite_Delegation_Service_7_0_1_0_IMac.bin “{Enter Backup Server IP Address/DNS Name}”
ARM Mac:
sudo sh BDRSuite_Delegation_Service_7_0_1_0_IMac_arm64.bin “{Enter Backup Server IP Address/DNS Name}”
Overview Dashboard
1. Bulk Email Update
Bulk Email Update allows you to update user email IDs to multiple hosts simultaneously. If Email Reports (backup, restore, etc) for Servers/Endpoints are enabled, it will be sent to this configured Email ID. Email Reports can be enabled from the ‘Reports -> Email Notifications’ menu.
Incase you want to update the new or the already given email ID for individual host then you can do that using the ‘Edit’ option alongside the respective hosts listed.
2. Protection Status
Protection Enabled: You can click here to view all the hosts for which backups have been configured.
Protection Not Enabled: You can click here to view all the hosts for which backups have not been configured.
3. Agent Status
Active: You can click here to view all the backup agents (Installed on the host) that have recently connected to the BDRSuite Backup Server.
Disconnected: You can click here to view all the backup agents (Installed on the host) that have not connected to the BDRSuite Backup Server for more than few minutes.
Never Connected: You can click here to view all the backup agents (Installed on the host) that hasn’t established a initial connect yet with the BDRSuite Backup Server.
4. Hosts
Windows: You can click here to view all the added Windows hosts/machines.
Linux: You can click here to view all the added Linux hosts/machines.
Mac: You can click here to view all the added Mac hosts/machines.
5. Agent’s Version
Up to Date Agents: Click to view all the hosts with backup agents running the latest version.
Outdated Agents: Click to view all the hosts with backup agents running the outdated version and need to be updated.
You can search for the host with its name using the search option and also apply filter based on ‘Type’, ‘Agent Status’, ‘Protection Status’ and ‘Agent Version’.
You can also click on the ‘Download icon’ to download all the host details.
The added hosts will be listed with its OS Type, Name, IP Address/DNS Name, Email ID, Protection Status, Agents Status, Last Connected Time, Agent Version & Actions. Edit and Delete Actions can be performed for the respective hosts as per requirement.
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