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  1. Home
  2. NetBackup™ Security and Encryption Guide
  3. Security deployment models
  4. Single datacenter with NBAC complete
NetBackup™ Security and Encryption Guide

Single datacenter with NBAC complete

The single datacenter with NBAC complete environment is very similar to the single datacenter with NBAC primary and media server. The main differences are that all of the hosts that participate in the NetBackup environment are reliably identified using credentials. And non-root administrators can manage the NetBackup clients based on configurable levels of access. Note that user identities may exist in global repositories, such as Active Directory in Windows or NIS in UNIX. Identities can also exist in local repositories (UNIX passwd, local Windows domain) on those hosts that support an authentication broker.

The single datacenter with NBAC complete includes the following highlights:

  • Similar to highlights for single datacenter with NBAC primary and media server, except for root or administrator on client

  • On client systems, non-root / administrator users may be configured to do local backup and restores (setup by default)

  • The environment facilitates trusted identification of all hosts participating in NetBackup

  • All hosts should have the required NetBackup version

Figure: Single datacenter with NBAC complete shows an example single datacenter with NBAC complete.

Figure: Single datacenter with NBAC complete

Single datacenter with NBAC complete

The following table describes the NetBackup parts that are used with a single datacenter with NBAC complete.

Table: NetBackup parts for a single datacenter with NBAC complete

Part

Description

Primary server

Communicates with the media server, root broker, authentication broker. It also communicates with the authorization engine, clients 1, 2, 3, and client 5, Web server, in the DMZ. The primary server further 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 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 contacted to determine accessibility to the daemons functions.

GUI

Specifies that the 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. Figure: Single datacenter with NBAC complete, shows the root broker and the authentication broker as the same component.

Authentication broker

Authenticates the primary server, media server, GUI, clients, and users by establishing credentials with each.

Authorization engine

Communicates with the primary server and media server to determine permissions of an authenticated 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. When receiving credentials from the authentication broker, clients 1, 2, 3, and 5 are authenticated to the NetBackup Product Authentication Service domain. Both standard server and Web server 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 cannot 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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