Topic: File structure in SME server-manager

[indengr]

I have Ubuntu running on one server and SME on a new server. Intend to switch over to the SME and then restore the Ubuntu to SME as a backup.  In the Ubuntu I can have a "master" folder with subfolders that various user groups have access to. That gives me one master to backup.

In SME it seems that I have to create "I-bays" that are all at the same level with each having different group(s) access. That means that I have to backup each I-bay individually?

What I want is folder (or I-bay) "A" which has everything it in.  "A-1" is admin group that has access to it.  "A-2" is drafting. Both admin and drafting groups have access to this.

[cactus]

I have Ubuntu running on one server and SME on a new server. Intend to switch over to the SME and then restore the Ubuntu to SME as a backup.  In the Ubuntu I can have a "master" folder with subfolders that various user groups have access to. That gives me one master to backup.

In SME it seems that I have to create "I-bays" that are all at the same level with each having different group(s) access. That means that I have to backup each I-bay individually?

Yes, that is a solution

What I want is folder (or I-bay) "A" which has everything it in.  "A-1" is admin group that has access to it.  "A-2" is drafting. Both admin and drafting groups have access to this.

That is not possible in SME Server (by default) access level can be granted on ibay level using the server-manager. You will have to manually move the data from Ubuntu layout to the SME Server layout I am afraid.

[indengr]

I have all of the data set up on the SME in the I-bays and am currently syncing between the two until we switch. But I would like to reconfigure the structure in the SME to have a main folder.

Do I understand it correctly that I cannot have such a hierarchy in SME where different levels have different groups that can access them?  I guess I want to set up I-bays within I-bays would be one way to do it. Not possible?

[cactus]

I have all of the data set up on the SME in the I-bays and am currently syncing between the two until we switch. But I would like to reconfigure the structure in the SME to have a main folder.

Do I understand it correctly that I cannot have such a hierarchy in SME where different levels have different groups that can access them?  I guess I want to set up I-bays within I-bays would be one way to do it. Not possible?

I seem to remember a thread on such a ish as well, I do not know if a solution was found, but I remember it having to do with symlinking one ibay in another, if I find the time I will try if I can find it, until then try finding it yourself

[idp_qbn]

Hi Indengr
I think you have stated the solution you want not the problem you have.

You really are after data sets (Ibays, folders whatever) that some people can get to and others can not. Ibays provide exactly this, through the use of GROUP access.

In your example you use A-1 for Admins, A-2 for admins and drafting - easily done:

Create two groups ("administrators" and "drafting").
Create two Ibays ("adminstuff" and "draftingstuff").
Put the users who you want to be admins into the "administrators" group, and both admins AND drafters into the "drafting" group.
Grant R/W access to "adminstuff" to the group "administrators"
Grant R/W access to "draftingstuff" to drafters.

In the above example "admins" are people you want to be administrators (DO NOT CONFUSE THEM WITH THE admin USER BUILT INTO SME) and "drafters" are the people you want to be in the drafting group. I have used "adminstuff" instead of A-1 and "draftingstuff" instead of A-2. Change these to whatever suits you.

You can, of course, extend this model indefinitely by creating other Ibays and groups. Just make admins part of any other group you create so they can have access to the new Ibays.

Now for the backup:
The normal backup-to-desktop picks up your system settings AND Ibays....but is limited to 2Gb. This backs up from the SME server to a workstation you are using.
DAR2 and others are backup contribs that also backup system settings and Ibays. You need one of these if you have more than 2Gb of total data.
Affa contrib is an SME server especially configured as a backup server with the added bonus that it can be "promoted" very quickly to take the place of your main SME server in the event of a hardware failure.

That should, I hope, cover the problem as you outlined it.
Many times in this forum we are advised to "Read the manual three times to fully understand it". And get to know what contribs (addons) you might need.
Good luck
Ian

[indengr]

Somehow I can't seem to exrpess myself clearly or I can't understand what is said/written.  I have created the I-bays and users as stated, however, they are all at the same level. That is the problem.  There is 300gB of data and multiple I-bays that each must be sync'ed individually.

I need to create a folder (I-bay) that holds all other folders (I-bays).  I will have access to that as controller. Within that I need to create another I-Bay that has administrative data and accounting data.  The Accounting group will have access to that.  Within that I need to create a folder (I-bay) for administative and all (myself, accounting and administration) will have access to that. Accounting will automatically have access because they have access to the folder (I-bay) above. Then I will create a folder (I-bay) within the master folder that is projects.  All project engineers and designer/drafters will have access to that.

Now when I backup I merely back up the master folder (which contains all others) and it is all backed up. This is especially important so I don't have to sync each individually.

Otherwise I have to create 8 or 10 I-bays (all at the same level) and back them up individually.  That is the way that I would interpret how you said to do it.

It would work if I could just put all of the I-bays into one folder that could be sync'ed or backed up as a single entity.

I did not find anything in anything about creating I-bays within I-bays.  Sorry if I missed it.

[versa]

Hi indengr
Im no expert but it seems like you should follow ian's guide.
Each user / group will only have access to the ibays that you set.
If you look at the file layout the you will see all the ibays are created under one folder in "/home/e-smith/files/ibays"
That is the folder you need to backup

Hope this helps

[indengr]

Is that a file that is available to a windows computer on the network?  I can visualize that from the structure of Ubuntu but cannot see a way to access it from a Windows machine?  +

[versa]

No its would not be visable under windows. But you can use affa or dar2 for backup and restore functions. The idea is that the ibays instide that folder has the permissons on them as to who has access.

[indengr]

Thanks for all the info.  I will have to check into AFFA and DAR2 but that won't be for awhile.  I have some other things that are higher priority. Maybe in a couple of months I can check on how those will work for backup. 

Thanks again for the help.