Upgrading a single mobilEcho server without Client Management configured

Scenario 1 - Upgrading a single mobilEcho server without Client Management configured

In this scenario, you have a single Windows Server running just the mobilEcho File Access Server service. With this architecture, you have not enabled the optional mobilEcho Client Management Administrator web console and are not using mobilEcho’s policy and remote management features. When your users set up mobilEcho, they manually enter their server name, username, and password into the mobilEcho app.

When upgrading to Acronis Access, your mobilEcho File Access Server is upgraded to an Acronis Access Gateway Server. This service will continue to accept connections from mobilEcho clients and to act as the gateway to any file server, NAS or SharePoint data sources your users are accessing.

The upgrade will also install the Acronis Access Server web console. This new console replaces the mobilEcho Administrator Windows program previously used to administer your mobilEcho server. The Acronis Access Server web console allows you to administer your mobilEcho servers from one unified web interface and will allow you to take advantage of additional client management features if you desire.

To perform an upgrade to Acronis Access:

1. Backup all of the necessary files following these guides: mobilEcho 4.5 Backup and/or activEcho 2.7 backup.
2. Disable any anti-virus software you have or it may interrupt the installation procedure resulting in a failed installation.
3. Download the Acronis Access Server installer to your mobilEcho server and run the installer.
   1. To access the latest installer, please visit: http://www.grouplogic.com/web/aalatest
   2. You will need to enter your product serial number for verification before downloading the installer.
   3. The installer file is named: AcronisAccessAdvancedSetup.exe
4. Click Next on the Welcome Screen.
   
5. Please accept the license agreement.
   
6. Click the Upgrade option to automatically upgrade your mobilEcho File Access Server service to an Acronis Access Gateway Server. In the upgrade process, the Acronis Access Server and its required services will also be installed.

   Note: Do not choose Custom and install only the Acronis Access Gateway Server. The Acronis Access Server is the new web console that replaces the mobilEcho Administrator Windows program. It is required to administer your mobilEcho server. If you do not install it, you will have no means to change your mobilEcho settings or to give access to new file shares.

   

7. Select an installation location for the Acronis Access components being installed. If you are upgrading an existing mobilEcho server, these paths will default to your existing installation location. We recommend you do not change these installation paths.

   

8. The Acronis Access Server uses a PostgreSQL database to store its settings. This database is required and is installed automatically.

   Note: Please enter and confirm a Super-User password for the “postgres” administrative account. Be sure to record this password in a safe place.

   Note: It is not recommended that you alter the PostgresSQL install location or port.

   

9. Please review the services being installed and upgraded. Then click Install to begin the upgrade.

   

   Note: All required components will be automatically installed in sequence. This may take 5 to 15 minutes depending on your server. Future upgrade installs will be quicker.
   

10. Once installation has completed, a summary of the components installed is shown. Click Exit to continue.

    

11. At this point in the upgrade process, all necessary software has been installed, but you must now configure the network interfaces, ports, and certificates that will be used.

    IMPORTANT NOTE: If you do not proceed with this configuration step, your mobilEcho server will not be functional. This step is mandatory.

    When exiting the installer, you will be prompted to run the Acronis Access Configuration Utility. Click OK to continue.

    

    If you accidently skip this step or need to change your network interfaces, ports, or certificates in the future. You can manually run the configuration utility at any time.

    On upgraded mobilEcho servers, the utility’s default location is:

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Group Logic\Configuration Utility\AcronisAccessConfiguration.exe

12. Within the Configuration Utility, the Gateway Server tab is used to configure your Acronis Access Gateway Server’s network address, port, and certificate. The Acronis Access Gateway Server is the core mobilEcho service that your mobilEcho clients connect to and that gives access to your file servers, NAS, and SharePoint servers. This service was called the mobilEcho File Access Server prior to Acronis Access.

    Note: You existing settings are retained. Please confirm that these settings match your existing mobilEcho File Access Server settings. This service typically runs on all available network addresses on port 443. If you have an existing SSL server identity certificate, it will be automatically selected. If you do not, a self-signed certificate will be generated.

    

13. The Access Server tab is used to configure your Acronis Access Server’s network address, port, and certificate. The Acronis Access Server is the web console that is used to perform all server administration and remote client management. This console replaces the mobilEcho Administrator Windows program and is required.

    Note: Please review the settings for the Access Server. The default settings are recommended. This web console typically runs on all available network addresses on port 3000. If you have an existing SSL server identity certificate, it will be automatically selected. If you do not, a self-signed certificate will be generated.
    

14. Acronis Access Server requires that a File Repository location be selected. If you are using mobilEcho only, this File Repository will not be used to store anything, but setting a location is still required.

    This repository is used by Acronis’ activEcho file sync and share features. These features will not be enabled if you are upgrading a server that does not already have them installed, but you can chose to enable them at a later time, if desired.

    The default location for the File Repository is:

    C:\ProgramData\Acronis\Access\FileStore

    If you would like to try out activEcho in the future, you may want to select a location on a data drive instead of the C: drive. This location can be modified post-install, too.

    

15. Click OK to exit the Configuration Utility and apply these settings.
16. You will now log into the Acronis Access Server web console for the first time to complete your configuration. You will be prompted to click OK to launch a web browser and complete this configuration.
    

Required initial configuration of Acronis Access:

1. The Acronis Access Server web console should open automatically after completing the steps above. It may take 30 seconds or so for the services to start up and the web page to load for the first time.
2. If the web page does not load automatically, open a web browser and navigate to the Access Server HTTPS address and port you selected in the Configuration Utility.
   1. For example: https://mobilecho.mycompany.com:3000 or https://localhost:3000

      Note: Most of the settings in the SMTP, General Settings and LDAP pages should already be present from your mobilEcho installation.

3. Acronis Access Server requires that a local administrator account be created. Please enter and confirm a password for this local administrator account.
   
   1. The username for this local administrator account is: administrator
   2. Keep this local administrator password in a safe place. It will be needed to log in as an administrator, until you configure additional administrative users.
   3. Once your server is configured, you will be able to designate additional Active Directory users or groups to act as administrators of the server.
4. You will now be presented with a setup wizard that will guide you though the remainder of the configuration process.
5. Licensing

1. You will be prompted to enter the new type of license or continue using your old mobilEcho license.

1. SMTP settings
   
   1. You will be prompted to configure the SMTP settings used by the Access Server to send email alerts and client enrollment invitations.
   2. There is an option to send a test email to confirm these settings.
2. LDAP settings
   
   1. The Acronis Access Server needs an LDAP connection to search your Active Directory for the users and groups you would like to assign policies and data sources to.
   2. Please enter the LDAP information for an Active Directory server on your network. If you have a multi domain network this will need to be a Global Catalog Server on port 3268 or 3269 (for SSL connections). Tool tips are provided for each field for more detail.
   3. You are required to configure an LDAP username and password to be used when the server makes request to LDAP.
   4. The LDAP settings you enter will be tested when you save them.
3. Local Gateway Server – Client connection address
   
   1. Your mobilEcho Gateway Server has been automatically paired for administration by your Acronis Access Server web console. This connection is made by IP address by default, and can be modified later.
   2. In this step, you will need to enter the network address that your mobilEcho clients use to connect to this mobilEcho server. This is typically a DNS address and may be the DNS address of this server, but could be the address of a proxy server used to gain access to this server.
4. Your initial configuration is now complete.
   1. Click Finish Configuration to continue.

Upgrading Acronis Access 6.0 to 7.x or newer:

Once you have confirmed that the upgrade is successful, you can continue the upgrade to the latest version by following the steps below..The upgrade procedure from a previous version of Acronis Access is a simplified process and requires almost no configuration.

Backup the vital components:

The Apache Tomcat folder

On upgrade the Apache Tomcat may be upgraded and all of the current Tomcat configuration files and log files will be removed. We recommend you make a copy of the Apache Tomcat folder, which by default is found here: C:\Program Files (x86)\Acronis\Access\Common\.

We recommend that you backup the web.xml file before updating. Your web.xml file will be overwritten on upgrade. On versions 7.1.2 and newer, you can find a backup at C:\Program Files (x86)\Acronis\Access\Access Server\Web Application\WEB-INF\<timestamp>.previous.web.xml. If you have made any specific changes that you wish to retain (excluding Single Sign On, those changes are preserved) , you will have to manually copy and paste your changes from the old file.

The PostgreSQL database

The following method creates an *.sql file containing a text representation of the source database.

1. Open a Command Prompt window and navigate to the 9.2\bin folder located in the PostgreSQL installation directory.
   e.g. cd "C:\PostgreSQL\9.2\bin"
2. Once your current Command Prompt directory is the bin folder, enter the following line:
   
   pg_dump -U postgres -f mybackup.sql acronisaccess_production
   where mybackup.sql is the desired file name for the produced backup file. It can include a full path to the location where you want the backup file to be created, for instance: D:\Backups\mybackup.sql

   Note: acronisaccess_production must be entered exactly as shown as it is the name of the Acronis Access database

3. A "Password: " line appears. Enter the postgres password that you set during the Acronis Access installation process.

   Note: Typing the password will not result in any visual changes in the Command Prompt window.

4. Your backup file will appear in the bin folder by default unless the output file specification contains a full path to a different directory.

Note: If you want to backup the entire PostgreSQL database set you can use the following command:

pg_dumpall -U postgres > alldbs.sql

Where alldbs.sql will be the generated backup file. It can include a full path specification, for instance D:\Backups\alldbs.sql

For full syntax on this command see: http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.2/static/app-pg-dumpall.html

Info: For more information on PostgreSQL backup procedures and command syntax please read this: http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.2/static/backup.html

The Gateway Server(s) database(s)

1. Go to the server on which you have your Acronis Access Gateway Server installed.
2. Navigate to the folder containing the database.

   Note: The default location is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Acronis\Access\Gateway Server\database

3. Copy the mobilEcho.sqlite3 file and paste it in a safe location.

The Acronis Access configuration file

1. Navigate to the Acronis Access installation folder containing the configuration file.

   Note: The default location is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Acronis\Access\Access Server

2. Copy the acronisaccess.cfg file and paste it in a safe location.

Upgrade

1. Disable any anti-virus software you have or it may interrupt the installation procedure resulting in a failed installation.
2. Double-click on the installer executable.
   
3. Press Next to begin.
4. Read and accept the license agreement.
5. Press Upgrade.

6. Review the components which will be installed and press Install.

7. Review the installed components and close the installer.

8. You will be prompted to open the Configuration Utility, press OK.

   

Verify that none of the settings in the Configuration Utility have changed. After you have verified all of your settings are as expected, press OK to close the Configuration Utility and start the Acronis Access services.

Working with your mobilEcho Gateway Server

Your Gateway Server is automatically registered during the setup process and will appear in the Gateway Servers list, where you can adjust its settings and view its details and status.

When it was registered, the Volumes that existed on the mobilEcho Gateway Server prior to being upgraded to Acronis Access were imported into the Data Sources – Folders list.

There are no longer “Volumes” in mobilEcho 5.0. Instead of using Volumes to share data sources, you will now create Folders. These Folders have an optional “Show when browsing server” property. When this option is enabled, the Folder will appear when a user browses the root of the Gateway Server in their mobilEcho app, just as Volumes were displayed in mobilEcho 4.5 or earlier.

All the Volumes from your mobilEcho 4.5 or earlier server were imported into to the Acronis Access console as Folders with the “Show when browsing server” property enabled. So, they will continue to appear when your users browse the root of a mobilEcho Gateway Server. Any Folders added later can be configured to act like Volumes be enabling this setting. You can also begin using advanced client management features, such as the ability to add Folders that automatically appear in the mobilEcho client app for the list of Active Directory user or groups you assign them to.

As shown below, the 4 existing Volumes from this mobilEcho 4.5 server were imported into the Folders list after Gateway Server registration, and they continue to appear when browsing the server from the mobilEcho app.

You can also begin to create and use client policies and officially enroll users with your server so that they are managed by these policies. A Default policy that applies to all users can be enabled and configured, or you can add custom policies based on Active Directory users and groups.

Once policies have been configured, you can use the Enroll Users page to send enrollment invitation emails to your users so that they can enroll as managed users.