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BackOnline is the first 100% JavaTM and web browser based client-server backup, archive and briefcase software, for the Internet and Intranets, that does not require any special backup devices (e.g. tape, zip) on the client machines because the data is stored on the server.
On Intranets, BackOnline provides a cost effective backup solution for organizations since it does not require special backup devices for each user. On the Internet, it enables online service providers and other organizations to provide a secure Internet briefcase (or vault) solution to their users. Optionally, BackOnline can be used to archive unused data in a secure and compressed manner.
The following figures show example uses of BackOnline on Intranets and the Internet:
For backups, the data is compressed and encrypted (56-bit DES) in the BackOnline Client prior to transmission and stored the same way on the server; for restores, the data is decrypted and uncompressed when it is received by the client.
The BackOnline Client is a self-installing Java applet, so all the user needs to get to their data on the server is a Java enabled web browser! Since, the applet is only downloaded and installed the first time or when it's version changes, there is no download delay each time. The BackOnline Client can also be invoked as a stand-alone GUI application or console application.
The multi-threaded, multi-user BackOnline Server is robust yet extremely simple to administer and can potentially service hundreds of users on one machine. It can also be used by Java developers as an object repository for custom applets/applications via the BackOnline Client Side API.
Since the BackOnline Client and Server are both written in Java, they can be run on most major operating systems (e.g. Windows 95/NT, Solaris, Linux).
The same client Java byte codes can be invoked as an applet in a Web Browser (e.g. Internet Explorer v3.02 or later, Netscape Navigator 4.0 or later, HotJava 1.0 or later) or can be run as an application from Windows 95/NT desktop/start menu, Unix command line, etc..
The client and server can run on Windows, Mac, Unix, OS/2, and several other Java compatible OSs. The client uses an simple, intuitive, and attractive Graphical User Interface (GUI) which is mostly self explanatory in order to reduce support calls. Our server is light-weight yet robust (multi-threaded, etc.) enough to service a large number simultaneous client requests.
No need for client-side software to be purchased, downloaded and/or installed on the user's machines -- the user simply connects to a URL, the applet is downloaded the first time and installed in the browser's environment (Note, the application version does require an install on the user's machine or network).
Because the BackOnline applet gets downloaded from the web server as needed, the user can get to their important documents in a secure fashion from anywhere they have access to the Internet/Intranet via a Java aware web browser. For example, BackOnline can be used to exchange large files between two locations such as work and home.
The server software for BackOnline for the most part is maintenance free. The system administrator creates an account for each user and ensures the server is running (typically done in system startup file) and that is it! The server automatically creates the required directories for each user as necessary. Storing user files in a centralized area (server) also makes administration more manageable.
With BackOnline and it's server, you no longer require a special device such as a tape or ZipTM drive on each user's machine -- you simply need to allocate enough disk storage on the server side where the user files are stored by the BackOnline Server. Note, the BackOnline Server also provides the ability to limit the amount of storage available to each user.
The data is encrypted (DES 56-bit) on the client side using a special "key" string provided by the user. The encrypted data is transmitted to the server and stored their in the same manner; the data can only be decrypted on the client side using the same key. Hence the user can feel secure that their data cannot be interpreted by others. Note, the key is never "stored" on disk anywhere -- it is only kept in the applet's memory while it is running.
The data is compressed (up to 550%) prior to transmission to the server where it is stored in the same manner, thereby providing fast transmission, low disk space usage and low network traffic. For example, in one instance a 7,296,512 byte Microsoft PowerPoint document was reduced to 348,517 bytes!
BackOnline can be used as a backup, archive or briefcase software.
For special cases, our extremely easy-to-use client side API (same one used by BackOnline) can be utilized, in conjunction with our server, by developers for their Java based applet/applications which require server side storage. Using this API, ISPs could potentially provide unique services to developers on the Internet. On Intranets, developers could use the API in their applets/applications to store any type of data on the server via the BackOnline Server. Additionally, as special Java enabled devices (e.g. PDAs) are introduced in the market, this light-weight API can be used to store their data on the server side as these devices generally tend to have limited storage.
The server by default uses the file system to store the streams of data (files) but can also store the data in Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS), Object Database Management Systems (ODBMS), or any other data source which supports streams. In addition to the file system component (default), our software will initially come bundled with the RDBMS extension using the JDBC API from Javasoft -- the JDBC API has been successfully used to connect to Sybase, Oracle, Informix, SQL Server, and several other popular RDBMS.
This product
includes software developed by the
Cryptix Development Team (http://www.cryptix.org)
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