Remote Backup Software Powering Successful
Online Backup Services for More Than 20 Years Brandable, Scalable, Full-Featured, Customizable, Complete Solution

RBS Knowledge Library

Article Number: 100097
Software: SERVER LOCATOR Version ALL

Don't worry, your software isn't broken. The likely cause of your trouble is that your Server Locator account has been suspended. Your softare WILL operate without the Server Locator.

The Server Locator is a multi-function service included in the Maintenance Subscription for RBS Servers. It is included by default in all RBS Servers, and you can turn it off and on as you like. Depending on your specific requirements, you may or may not need it.

All RBS Servers ship with the Server Locator turned ON. If your maintenance subscription runs out, your Server Locator account will be turned OFF, which may effect the operation of your RBS software if you have set it up to rely on the Server Locator service.

In this case, you can re-adjust your RBS Server software, router, and/or firewall so it will run without the Server Locator. The RBS Software never requires the Server Locator to operate. The Server Locator simply makes setup simpler, corrects some router and firewall misconfigurations, and provides Dynamic DNS. Your software will operate without the service, as long as your RBS Server software, router, and firewall are properly configured.

If your RBS software stops running when your Maintenance Subscription expires, it usually means that you have set up your software, router, or firewall to require one of the following services. Your two choices at this point are to 1) adjust your RBS Server software, router, or firewall properly or 2) renew your Maintenance Subscription and leave your setup the way it is.

Dynamic DNS - The Server Locator provides Dynamic DNS to your RBS Server. It establishes a unique Host Name (like a domain name) that never changes, which identifies your RBS Server on the Internet so your clients can find it. Your Host Name is your serial number plus ".ddns.rbsnet.net" as in the following:

Your clients will be able to find your RBS Server at its Server Locator Host Name no matter what your RBS Server's IP address is, no matter how often it changes, no matter whether your RBS Server also has a domain name or host name provided by another service.

It's a good idea to use the Server Locator Host Name as your Clients' primary contact address for your RBS Server regardless of whether you have a static or dynamic IP address. See below for info on Backup or Emergency DNS

If your Maintenance Subscription expires and your clients begin getting an error like "11001 Connection Attempt to RBS Server failed" on the initial contact attempt or during a Test Connection, it probably means that your Clients are attempting to contact your RBS Server at it's Server Locator Host Name, which has now been disabled because your Maintenance Subscription expired.

You can renew your Maintenance Subscription, or change the Client software so it contacts your Server at its IP address or a domain name or host name provided by another service. For instructions on changing the "Backup Server URL" in the Client software, see your Server's documentation under the topic, "Administrator's Override"

High Security Routing Correction - The RBS Server's communications protocol requires it to know its true public IP address. When routers and firewalls are not correctly configured to allow the RBS Server to see its public IP address, the Server Locator allows the RBS Server to operate correctly anyway. Thus the Server Locator solves a number of issues, not the least of which is security.

It's not usually a good idea to expose a Server completely to the Internet. It's sometimes difficult to set up routers and firewalls to provide proper security while also exposing the server to its public IP address. So, to allow the RBS Server to operate in tight security, the Server Locator can feed the RBS Server its public IP through even tightly-configured routers and firewalls.

If you initially set up your RBS Server relying on this feature of the Server Locator (you may not have known you did) and the Server Locator gets turned off because your Maintenance Subscription expired, your Clients may still be able to log in, but may not be able to send data. The Online Server Tester will show that the Server Function test passes, but the Router/Firewall test fails.

The fix for this problem is to either renew your Maintenance Subscription so you can use the Server Locator, or to configure your router and firewall to work without it. That usually lessens the security of your RBS Server, but it's the only choice if you don't want to use the Server Locator.

PICK THIS LINK to learn how to adjust your software to detect its public IP address AFTER you have reduced the security settings on your router and firewall.

For help configuring your router and firewall, contact their manufacturers. RBS cannot help you configure your equipment. Try searching the Knowledge Library for "Ports" or "Routers" or "Firewalls" for more help.

Since the RBS Server's basic protocol mimics FTP protocol, you can tell the people at the help desk for your router and firewall that you need to run a public FTP server in passive mode on a non-standard port number, with a narrow data port range. This should be enough for them to recommend the proper settings.

ADJUSTING YOUR RBS SERVER SOFTWARE

This procedure is recommended only if you are willing to reduce the security settings of your router and firewall below what is recommended for running this software, AND you are familiar with using the Windows Registry Editor.

Note: Attempt this procedure ONLY if you are familiar with the Registry Editor. You can really screw up your computer if you do this wrong.

If this procedure does not solve your problem, your router and/or firewall is still misconfigured. Contact the help desk at their manufacturers or renew your Maintenance Subscription so we can turn your Server Locator account back on.

Perform this procedure on your RBS Server computer only once. Do not do it to Client computers.

Stop the RBS Server software and the RBS Manager. If the RBS Server is running as a service, stop the service.

Pick RUN then type "regedit"

Open the following branch:

HKLM/Software/Quantum Tech, Inc./RBSServer/Settings

Find the key "ResolvePublicIP"

Double-click it

Edit it to read "False"

Click OK

Close the Registry Editor

Reboot your RBS Server.

Return to Knowledge Library Index