Concepts

Access Mobile Clients connect directly to your server rather than utilizing a third-party service, leaving you in control. Acronis Access server can be installed on existing file servers, allowing iPads, iPhones and Android devices to access files located on that server. These are typically the same files already available to PCs using Windows file sharing and Macs using ExtremeZ-IP File Server.

Clients access Acronis Access servers using their Active Directory user account. No additional accounts need to be configured within Acronis Access. The Access Mobile Client also supports file access using local computer accounts configured on the Windows server Acronis Access is running on, in the event you need to give access to non-AD users. The client management features described below require AD user accounts.

A minimal deployment consists of a single Windows server running a default installation of Acronis Access. This default installation includes the Acronis Access Server component installed and the local Acronis Access Gateway Server with a license installed. This scenario allows devices running the Access Mobile Client application to connect to this single file server, and allows for client management. If client management is not needed, Data Sources can be setup on the local Gateway Server and the Access Mobile Clients will be able to access these Data Sources, but the users will be in control of their app settings.

Fig 1. Single Gateway server, many Access Mobile Clients

Any number of Gateway Servers can later be added to the network and configured for access from the client app.

Note: Details on installing Acronis Access are included in the Installing section of this guide. Configuration of Gateway Servers and Data Sources is explained in the Mobile Access section.

If you wish to remotely manage your Access Mobile Clients, Acronis Access Client Management allows you to create policies per Active Directory user or group. These policies can:

• Configure general application settings
• Assign servers, folders, and home directories to be displayed in the client app
• Restrict what can be done with files
• Restrict the other third party apps that Access Mobile Client files can be opened into
• Set security requirements (server login frequency, application lock password, etc.)
• Disable the ability to store files on the device
• Disable the ability to include Access Mobile Client files in iTunes backups
• Remotely reset a user's application lock password
• Perform a remote wipe of the Access Mobile Client app's local data and settings
• And many additional configuration and security options

Only one Acronis Access Server is required.

A typical network employing client management includes one server with the Acronis Access Server and Acronis Access Gateway Server components installed and several additional Gateway Servers acting as file servers. In this scenario, all mobile clients are configured to be managed by the Acronis Access Server, and will contact this server each time the Access Mobile Client application is started, to check for any changed settings and to accept application lock password resets and remote wipe commands if necessary.

Access Mobile Client clients can be assigned a list of servers, specific folders within shared volumes, and home directories in their management policy. These resources will automatically appear in the Access Mobile Client app and the client app will contact these servers directly as needed for file access.

Note: Details on enabling and configuring the client management are included in the Policies and Managing Mobile Devices section of this guide.

Fig 2. One Gateway Server, one Gateway Server + Acronis Access Server, many clients