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  1. Home
  2. NetBackup™ Security and Encryption Guide
  3. Security deployment models
  4. Single datacenter with NBAC on primary and media servers
NetBackup™ Security and Encryption Guide

Single datacenter with NBAC on primary and media servers

The single datacenter with NBAC on primary servers and media servers example uses the NetBackup Access Control on the primary servers and media servers. This configuration limits access to portions of NetBackup and provides non-root administration of NetBackup. NBAC is configured for running between the servers and the GUIs. Non-root users can log in to NetBackup with operating system (UNIX password or Windows local domain) or global user repositories (NIS/NIS+ or Active Directory) to administer NetBackup. NBAC can be used to limit the level of access to NetBackup for certain individuals. For example, you can segregate day to day operational control from environmental configuration such as adding new policies, robots, etc.

The single datacenter with NBAC on primary and media servers includes the following highlights:

  • Administer non-root users

  • Administer UNIX with a Windows User ID

  • Administer Windows with a UNIX account

  • Segregate and limit the actions of specific users

  • Root or Administrator or client hosts can still do local client backups and restores

  • Can be combined with other security-related options

  • All servers must have the required NetBackup version

Figure: Single datacenter with NBAC on primary and media servers shows an example single datacenter with NBAC on primary and media servers.

Figure: Single datacenter with NBAC on primary and media servers

Single datacenter with NBAC on primary and media servers

The following table describes the NetBackup parts that are used for a single datacenter with NBAC on the primary and media servers.

Table: NetBackup parts for a single datacenter with NBAC on the primary and media servers

Part

Description

Primary server

Communicates with the media server, root, and authentication broker. It also communicates with the authorization engine, clients 1, 2, 3, and client 5, Web server, in the DMZ. The primary server also communicates with and receives a credential from the authentication broker.

When a CLI or GUI accesses a daemon on a primary server, a credential is exchanged to identify the user. The authorization engine is then contacted to determine accessibility to the daemons functions.

Media server

Communicates with the primary server, clients 1, 2, 3, and client 5, Web server, in the DMZ. The media server also communicates with the authorization engine and receives a credential from the authentication broker. The media server enables the writing of unencrypted data to tape for clients 1, 2, 3, and 5.

When a CLI or GUI accesses a daemon on a media server, a credential is exchanged to identify the user. The authorization engine is then contacted to determine accessibility to the daemons functions.

GUI

Specifies that this remote administration console GUI receives a credential from the authentication broker. The GUI then uses this credential to gain access to functionality on the media servers and primary servers.

Root broker

Authenticates the authentication broker but not the clients. In this example, the root broker and authentication broker are shown as the same component.

Authentication broker

Authenticates the primary server, media server, and GUI by establishing credentials with each. If a command prompt is used, the authentication broker also authenticates a user.

Authorization engine

Communicates with the primary server and media server to determine permissions of an authenticated user. These permissions determine the functionality available to the user. It also stores user groups and permissions. Only one authorization engine is needed.

Note:

The authorization engine resides on the primary server as a daemon process. It is shown in the figure as a separate image for the example only.

Tape

Contains unencrypted backup data that is written for clients 1, 2, 3, and 5.

Clients

Specifies that clients 1, 2, and 3 are standard NetBackup types and client 5 is a Web server type. Both types are managed by the primary server and have their unencrypted data backed up to tape through the media server. Clients 1, 2, and 3 exist in the datacenter. Client 5 exists in the DMZ. Client 5 communicates to NetBackup using NetBackup only ports through the internal firewall. Client 5 receives connections from the Internet using HTTP only ports through the external firewall.

Internal firewall

Allows NetBackup to access Web server Client 5 in the DMZ. Only selected NetBackup ports and possibly other application ports are enabled for data communication into and out of the DMZ. HTTP ports that are open in the external firewall are not allowed to pass through the internal firewall.

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

Provides a "safe" area of operation for Web server client 5 that exists between the internal firewall and external firewall. The Web server client 5 in the DMZ can communicate to NetBackup through the internal firewall using designated NetBackup ports. The Web server client 5 can communicate through the external firewall to the Internet using HTTP ports.

External firewall

Allows external users to access the Web server client 5 located in the DMZ from the Internet over HTTP ports. NetBackup ports are open for client 5 to communicate through the internal firewall. NetBackup ports are not allowed to pass through the external firewall to the Internet. Only the HTTP ports of client 5 can pass through the external firewall to the Internet.

Internet

Specifies a collection of interconnected computer networks, linked by copper wires, fiber-optic cables, and wireless connections. Client 5 can communicate over the Internet using HTTP ports through the external firewall.

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