Welcome to Autobak version 3.00.



BEFORE YOU INSTALL!!! TAKE NOTICE!!!! AUTOBAK MUST MUST MUST BE INSTALLED IN THE C:\AUTOBAK DIRECTORY ON YOUR NT MACHINE!!!! 

IF YOU ARE INSTALLING ON NT 4.0, BE SURE THAT YOU ARE INSTALLING TO THE C:\AUTOBAK SUBDIR... NOT THE C:\PROGRAM FILES\AUTOBAK SUBDIR!!!! 



Sorry for shouting... but if you follow those words, we all all have fewer headaches... 

This program does not run on Win95. 





***************AutoBak ReadMe************************* 

Thank you for your time in reviewing this product. 

I will try to make this document as short as possible to keep your eyes from glazing over. 



First, above all, I would ask you to PLEASE register this product. When you download and use a shareware program and do not register it, you are turning your backs on the people who worked hard to provide it. In all honesty, shareware often times provides a cheaper solution to an expensive program that you would normally have to purchase in stores... so registering the program and providing the programmer with a means to continue with his/her programming dreams. I could go on about helping people who have grandparents in hospitals, or the starving code heads in the streets... but you probably get the point. For registration instructions on this program, please click on "Registration Instructions." 

Also take note, reinstallation of this program to try to gain another 30 days does NOT reset the timer. It DOES, however, reset the first half of the registration code. If you re-install this program AFTER you have sent off your fee, the code you get back from me WILL NOT WORK!!!! 



This product, unregistered, is shareware, and can be distributed freely, intact and unmodified. 


***************************Upgrading from Autobak version 2.51i and below**********************

If you are upgrading Autobak from an earlier version, you need to follow these instructions:

1)  Make a backup of the entire C:\AUTOBAK subdirectory
2)  After making sure you HAVE A BACKUP of this subdirectory, delete the c:\autobak\autobak.exe and the c:\autobak\help.txt files.  If you do not delete these files, the installation process does not overwrite them. 
3)  Run the setup.exe as normal.  The procedure will take you through the setup process normally.

*** Note:  The upgrade process does not affect your registration status.  We promised 2 years ago that we would never charge for upgrades.   If your software was unregistered before, it will still be after the upgrade.  If you registered your software, then the v3.00 will come up registered.  

If you have problems with the upgrade process, please e-mail us at:  on-site@net-tech.com, or check with our web page at http://www.net-tech.com/autobak.htm.  We have FAQ's posted that are updated frequently.  



************* Important stuff you need to know********* 

AutoBak is a program that works in CONJUNCTION with your currently installed Windows NT 3.51 or 4.0 Backup program. In order to use AutoBak, you must have your NT backup program installed and configured properly. AutoBak does not configure or use your backup hardware directly. 

BE PATIENT! Autobak is a TIMER based program.... since it is a backup AUTOMATOR is assumes that it has plenty of time to run its course. For example, in between the time that it STARTS the backup, and the time when NT Backup asks you if you want to overwrite the contents of the tape, Autobak sits idle in the background, possibly for as long as 4 MINUTES!!!! My point is, before you hit that STOP key, let the program sit for at least 10 minutes to be sure. Sometimes it can take as long as 10 minutes to start the backup process. 

You must close down the NT backup program after it is done running... (you don't have to close AutoBak after every run.) This is because AutoBak has no way of knowing when the backup has been completed. 

You must have an open session (log in ON the NT machine) to run the AutoBak program. AutoBak does not have a way to run as a service. 

If you want to leave a session open on the NT server for automatic daily backups, you may want to create a Tape Backup user with Console Operator Rights, along with Read Only Access to files. If your server contains extremely secure files that should not even be VIEWED, then I do not recommend even the Autobak soution. 

I make no claims for responsibility for loss of data, explosion of machines, death of pets, etc. Again, this program is used in CONJUNCTION with Microsoft NT Backup. 

*****************How to Configure and Use Autobak***************************************

Autobak is now configured in sections.  These sections are:  What to Backup, When to Back it up, Backup Options, Registration Status Check, and finally the Summary.

1)  What to Backup:  Autobak 3.00 allows the user to back up NT server(s) (local hard drives, and any other server you have attached to a drive letter) and/or Exchange servers.  By checking the Exchange server box, you only have the option to back up an entire exchange site... not individual servers.

2)   When to Back it up:  Autobak 3.00 is a program that calls the NT Backup utility at the specified time.  This time defaults to 10:00 PM, and is set by the user.  When you wish to change the time, you must enter it in a precise format.  This entry is in the form HH:MM:SS AM/PM.    

	Examples:  	1:00 in the afternoon		 1:00:00 PM
		                    Midnight			12:00:00 AM
			
	Notice that if your hour is only a single digit, that you DO NOT begin the time with a leading "0".    Also notice that the AM/PM must be in capital letters to be recognized by Autobak.  If you do not follow these rules when inputting the backup time, Autobak will not start.  

For days of the week, simply put a check mark in the appropriate day of the week that you wish to backup on.  If you want to backup at 8:00 in the evening on weekdays, you would put in "8:00:00 PM" for the backup time, and check the boxes next to "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday."

3)  Backup Options:  This section allows users to choose whether or not they want to overwrite tapes, whether or not they want to back up the registry, etc etc.    This section is also where they choose whether tape for the pending backup is new has been previously used.  This setting is cleared each time, so if you insert a brand new tape into the tape drive, the next day the setting will be cleared automatically.

If you want to run a batch file just prior to the backup, put a check in the box marked "Run batch file just prior to backup", and fill in the blank with the batch file name.  Be sure to put the batch file in the C:\AUTOBAK subdirectory.   Also be sure to put the .BAT extention on the name of the batch file in Autobak.  For example, putting just "batch" in the field would be ignored by Autobak.  In order to run a file named "Batch", you must put "BATCH.BAT" in the field.
Why would you want to run a batch file just prior to backup?  Anything you want to run, you can put in there.  For example, maybe you want to run a batch file that contains a bunch of "NET USE" statements to double check your drive letters are still in place.  Or maybe you want to delete a bunch of trash files that accumulate every night before the backup runs.  Or maybe you want to broadcast a message to your users with a "NET SEND" routine.  Whatever it is, if you can squeeze it into a batch file, you can run it prior to your backup going off.

4)  Registration check:  Each time Autobak loads and runs, it checks whether or not it is registered and/or still in the 30 day eval period.  If the 30 days are up, Autobak disables itself and will not run until getting a registration code.

5)  Summary.  The Backup will run on either a yellow (caution), or a green light.  A caution light is not fatal, simply a notice that you may have missed a suggested configuration.  A caution light or a stop light in the summary means that one of the previous four sections has a caution or error.

Here are the following conditions that cause these events:

Yellow lights:
	Section 1:  Possibility of backing up an exchange server site with no drive letters.  
	Section 2:  None
	Section 3:  Possibility of choosing not to back up the registry.  (Note, you will always get a yellow 
		   light in this section with the unregistered version.  Only the registered version will 
		   automatically backup the registry).
	Section 4:  You will get a yellow light if your evaluation period is between 15 and 30 days.
	
Red lights:
	Section 1:  If you have no drive letters checked, and you have not chosen to back up an Exchange 
		   Site. 
	Section 2:  If you have the "backup time" blank, or if you have no days of the week chosen.
	Section 3:  If you have the check box next to "Run Batch file" with no batch file specified, or if 
		   you have no backup type specified.
	Section 4:  If your evaluation period has ended.


When Autobak runs, it calls up the NT Backup and inputs the appropriate data you have chosen.  At the end of the NT Backup, you will see a message inside the NT Backup status window that says "Operation Completed successfully."  When you are satisfied that the NT backup was completed, close down the NT Backup program, replace the tape in the drive, and LEAVE AUTOBAK RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND!!  If you close Autobak, there is nothing running to call up the NT Backup.


*****************Bug Reporting************************** 

Although I am pretty sure I got the major bugs (and there were A LOT of them... and they came from UNIMAGINABLE PLACES!!!!!), there may still be a few lurking around. If you send a description of the problem to on-site@net-tech.com, I will be very grateful. 



Thank you for your time in looking at this document. Please e-mail me at: 

on-site@net-tech.com 

Remember to REGISTER this product!!!! 



Microsoft and Microsoft NT are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation, Redmond WA. 





