I too have the problem of users backing up the entire universe.

I tried to implement the installation of the Ver 3.x client with a read only copy and hidden of the DSM.OPT file, after having modified it for our environment, however I found that the installation wouldn't install it as read only/hidden, so I have to modify DSM.OPT on each PC.

This is only partially successful because some PC's are unique, but we do have some standards, for the majority of machines, and running a Netware/NT network and backing up to a 9221 running VM/ESA 2.1 (ADSM ver 2.1... <asking for ADSM ver 3.x for VM!!!>), our drive mappings are pretty consistent.

Another way I ve delt with this, is just to hide the backup client from the user (remove it from the menu itself), and then start DSMC as an NT service. (I ve had no problem with the service running, but again I have to perform manual intervention on each PC), this would be a nice feature to have as part of the install.

Perhaps there could be a way to integrate the backup of drives with user rights/policies in an NT/Netware environment? For example, could the right to backup up a CD ROM be denied, since NT knows what is a CD ROM it shouldn't be too hard to deny that right by default, then allow the ADMINISTRATOR to assign the right to backup that, or any other designated drive.

Along these same lines is the inability to have a centralized DSM.OPT file(s).
For example, in an NDS world, I could use the GROUP membership or PROFILE to determine who has the right to back up only their own drive.

While you can have a network copy of DSM.OPT, you compromise the saving of certain key system files on an NT workstation. If you run DSMC as a service on an NT station, and you run your backup BEFORE logging in to your network, you do save these specific NT system files, but you dont have any network drives mapped therefor you can't use a networked copy of DSM.OPT. Perhaps there is a way to backup the NT system files first, then have ADSM map to the network drive where a custom DSM.OPT file is kept.

Ian Swartz
Seligman Data Corp.