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====== Components and Roles ======

In order to run backups, the following components act in concert:
  * the backup controller starting backups, keeping inventory records, sending out notifications
  * the backup client: the system being backed up
  * the backup repository: the storage holding the actual backups

In the most simple use case those roles are all implemented on the same machine. Also, a central controller is supported but not required - it is up to you if you prefer to run a controller on each client or one single central one.

You will need to install the backup software at least on the backup controller and the backup repository. The backup client can be backed up without installing the backup software (but requires SSH and rsync).

===== The backup repository =====

The actual backups are stored file-by-file in the same structure as on the backup client. The backup repository needs to have access to a sufficiently large storage volume (rule of thumb: at least twice the size of the data to be backed up, but of course your retention policy will have a big influence) with a decent file system. Ext3/ext4, xfs, btrfs, zfs will do, file systems with limitted capabilities like NTFS, FAT, exFAT won't. Pluggable disks (USB, RDX, hotplug SATA, etc.) are completely ok.

Multiple backup repositories and synchronisation between them is possible, e.g. for running backups on a local storage during the night and slowly synchronizing them to a remote backup repository during the day.

===== The backup client =====

The system to be backed up. Currently, Windows and Unixoid systems are supported. Besides file-by-file backups some limitted imaging capabilities via external tools (ODIN, NTFSClone) are available, too.

===== The backup controller =====

The backup controller starts and monitors backups, (optionally) holds a backup inventory and sends notifications and reports via mail. Usually, tasks are run via cron.


===== Communication between the components =====

Most of the communication is done through SSH and rsync. A few of the features make use of SMB file sharing.
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