Data Access and Recovery over Network

Network data recovery is available with UFS Explorer Business Network Edition only.
To prepare you network environment to use Network recovery you should:

• Install UFS Explorer Business Network Edition main program to computer(s), where from you going to proceed with data recovery (clinet computers; used by technician(s));
• Install UFS Explorer Business Network Agent to all workstation computers, where from you planning to control/recover data (server computers; the distant computers of employees).

UFS Explorer Business Network Edition main program is functional equivalent of UFS Explorer Standard Recovery, extended with secure 'Connect remote disk' tool.

UFS Explorer Business Network Agent is Windows NT-based OS (NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista) service. It creates single-connection TCP/IP server on workstation that can accept remote network connections from UFS Explorer Business Network Edition main program.

You have set of options how to install and configure UFS Explorer Business Network Agent:

• Contribution: you may install agent to computer with main program installer. Just be sure that 'Agent' component is selected for installation;
• Stand-alone: you may download separate installer for network agent. Run this installer on client machine and it will prepare application and environment options;
• Network access: agent not uses any critical environment setting, so you may just copy main agent application file ufsxagent.exe from your local program installation to remote machine folder (it's recommended to use directory path like: "\\host\c$\Program Files\UFS Explorer\").

After installation, UFS Explorer Business Network Agent requires program configuration and service registration (service will not be registered until you specify network access password).
To do this, run "Manage Network Agent" application (ufsxagtman.exe) that is part of UFS Explorer Business Network installation. Be sure you have Administrator rights!
Select computer: local or remote (in case of remote - specify computer name) and press 'Next>>'. In case of successful connection (remote registry, remote service control manager) and you will be prompted for agent configuration.

Figure 1. Agent configuration

If agent path not detected or invalid - enter full correct local path to network agent application (usually, "C:\Program Files\UFS Explorer\ufsxagent.exe").
Specify complex-enough password for network access (at least 8 symbols).
Important: weak password is the subject to great security leak!
Press 'Install'. At this stage 'Service manager' will check for configuration and start the service under LocalSystem account and Auto start type.

Now, to recover the data over network, just run UFS Explorer Business Network Edition main program, press 'Connect network disk' button or choose this option from menu. Enter remote computer name or IP address, press 'OK'.

Figure 2. Agent connection.

Enter agent network access password.

Figure 3. Agent password entry.

In case of successful connection, program will ask you to choose remote disk (if there are more then one disk).

Figure 4. Select remote disk.

After that, new 'Network disk' will appear in left-side menu. All usual function for this disk are available.

Figure 5. Remote disk.

Important technical information:

• Security specification: SHA1 hash password protection, 3DES traffic encryption, PC3 session key exchange algorithms (no static keys used);
• Network communications: Agent is TCP/IP, single connection server. Default agent port is 5912;
  • Program-agent communication is fast bidirectional packet data exchange and works on Nagle algorithm disabled sockets with no TCP delays (see issue below);
  • Agent Server is single-connection so you may connect only one disk and from only one computer.
• Service fine-tuning: Registry data of Agent is located at:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UFS Explorer NetAgent.
  You may edit data hare on your own risk!
• Known technical issues:
  • If you using software/hardware firewall, before data recovery be sure that agent port (5912) is allowed TCP port on firewall (enable it);
  • Some software firewalls, like Zone Alarm uses non-standard replacements for Windows TCP stack. Such TCP stack is not fully-operational and not supports Nagle algorithm control. This may cause significant slowdown in program network access (up to 80 times!). If you experiencing network speed problems be sure the problem is not in firewall.
  • New Agent connection may be rejected if some remote disk is opened via the agent. This means you have to close any network connection to the agent before opening new disk via agent;

Requirements

OS (Client/Server):	Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista
Client Software:	UFS Explorer Business Network
Server Software:	UFS Explorer Business Network Agent
File system:	ANY

---

See also: Data Access, Help topics.