[Bacula-devel] [Fwd: Re: bacula win32 gui console?]

[Kern S. <ke...@si...>]

Hello,

Just so that you are aware that we are working on
a GUI program, here are a few emails recently exchanged
off list. In the future we will be copying the developer's
list.


-----Forwarded Message-----

From: Kern Sibbald <ke...@si...>
To: Mark Martin <beo...@ho...>
Subject: Re: bacula win32 gui console?
Date: 23 Jun 2003 10:39:15 +0200

Hello Mark,

I'd like to start copying our emails to the devel list
if that is OK with you.

See comments below:

On Mon, 2003-06-23 at 05:29, Mark Martin wrote:
> Quoting Kern Sibbald:
>=20
> >Anyway, I wanted to suggest to you to take a look at wxWindows
> >at www.wxwindows.org.  This program has been around for a long
> >time now (over 10 years if I remember right), and I previously
> >considered it but did not use it because it was C++.  Well, Bacula
> >is now C++ and I'm becoming more comfortable every day with C++.
>=20
> Excellent.  I was about to suggest the same to you.  I've actually=20
> considered that framework on and off over the years for a few projects I=20
> worked on.  Now seems as good a time as any to try digging back into the=20
> API.
>=20
> It was actually my hope to get a console working with WxWindows on Solari=
s,=20
> Linux, and Win32, with my main focus being on Win32.
>=20
> So it looks like I'll need:

Yes, you will need those pieces, but I'd recommend that you start
with Windows only, since that is where you prefer developing. I can
then make it work on Gtk+ Linux.  On Solaris, we have the option of
using the wxWindows/X11 converter or Gtk+.  Probably for the current
time X11 would be better as very few Solaris users use Gtk I suspect.

>=20
> Dev-c++ for windows (WxWindows seems to show MingW support, so...) w/Ming=
W=20
> (and I'm assuming Gtk++/win32?)
> Gcc 3.22/Make/Configure/GTK++ for Solaris
> Gcc 3.22/Make/Configure/GTK++ for Linux
>=20
> I've never written a configure script, although I've played temporarily w=
ith=20
> autoconf/automake.  I have noticed that KDevelop will do configure/auto*=20
> stuff for ya, so I may leave the autoconfigure stuff until after I get so=
me=20
> rudimentary code working on at least one platform...

Please don't worry about autoconf or ./configure -- I'd prefer to see
the code. I'm perfectly willing to do all the necessary changes to=20
the configuration code. I have a lot of experience with autoconf
although I am far from being an expert.

I'm thinking about splitting *all* the GUI code out from the base
Bacula package into a bacula-gui package.  This will probably be a
requirement if we move to wxWindows because it will become a new
dependency that I am *very* reluctant to add to the current Bacula
configuration, which is already too complicated.

>=20
> I may even try to just get it compiling under a Mingw Make environment an=
d=20
> use MSDEV as my main development platform.=20

That would be fine with me.  My reservations concerning MSDEV were more
because of compiler problems, but if you are working in wxWindows, that
will eliminate most of the possible Microsoft quirks.

>  I've been meaning to get a=20
> multi-build environment setup working for another cross-platform thing I'=
ve=20
> got going, so this is just one more good reason to get that working.  The=
=20
> trick will be getting one button push/builds working from within MSDEV. =20
> Heck, maybe I'll just whip up a ssh wrapper and have a Systray icon for=20
> that...

If it is any help, start with MSDEV, and I'll then setup a Linux counter
part, and later a Mingw build if that makes life easier for you.

>=20
> Last week was a bust, but I'm down to just getting one more firewall buil=
t=20
> and I'll be free to get back to coding.  I'm getting so tired of Java at=20
> work...

Good luck. Anyway, this should be a good diversion.

Best regards,

Kern
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

     From:=20
Kern Sibbald
<ke...@si...>
       To:=20
Mark Martin
<beo...@ho...>
  Subject:=20
Re: bacula
win32 gui
console?
     Date:=20
22 Jun 2003
16:26:24
+0200

Hello Mark,

I've been thinking quite a bit about the Bacula GUI.
One reason is that Gnome 2.0 is becoming quite common,
so I made a quick stab at "porting" my current gnome-console
from Gnome 1.4 to 2.0 (actually 2.2).  Well, as you can
imagine, it was quite problematic. In fact, although it
executes, they have changed the way text widgets are handled,
so I need to do some important reprogramming.

Anyway, I wanted to suggest to you to take a look at wxWindows
at www.wxwindows.org.  This program has been around for a long
time now (over 10 years if I remember right), and I previously
considered it but did not use it because it was C++.  Well, Bacula
is now C++ and I'm becoming more comfortable every day with C++.

So, in the end, I believe that if it is not wxWindows, it will=20
be some program like it where we can write the code once and
with perhaps some very minor adjustments, it will work pretty
much everywhere.

Please let me know what you think about it ...

Best regards,

Kern

On Sun, 2003-06-15 at 21:46, Mark Martin wrote:
> Sorry for the delay.  My day job's been taking my weekdays, and the
last few=20
> weekends have been spent doing long overdue work around the house.
>=20
> Ok, here's my status:
>=20
> * I have hand-built SD, Dir, and FD running on a Solaris box with an
Exabyte=20
> library attached.
> * I modified the mtx-changer script heavily to work _reliably_ with
the=20
> changer.  I had to do the same with the amanda changer script, so I'm=20
> guessing the changer is just too dumb.
> * I have a win32 desktop (my main) backing up quite well with the
prebuilt=20
> FD running.
>=20
> I'm about ready to start scheduling real regular backups.  I'll have
to=20
> deply the FD to:
> * 5 more Solaris Boxes
> * 1 OpenBSD boxen (firewall)
> * 1 other Win32 box
> * 1 Dualboot Linux/Win2k3 enterprise server box
> * 1 box for which I'm not sure what I'm putting on it yet, FreeBSD
most=20
> likely...
> * 1 Irix 6.5 Indy
> * 2 Whole other VPN connected networks I have yet to get bacula
installed=20
> on.
>=20
> So, in regards to the GUI, here are a few enhancements I would like to
see,=20
> whether or not I implement them myself:
> * Autochanger commands from the console:  loadmedia, unloadmedia.  I
have=20
> jobs stuck waiting for a tape, and I have to unmount within the
console,=20
> quit console,  mtx-changer load #, re-mount in the console....
> * A way to enumerate the file system/dirs from either FD or SD or
something.=20
>   I would love to see a Win32 GUI where I can totally control the
media,=20
> catalog, pools, and backup sets from one administrative win32
console.  Ala=20
> Arcserv or similar.  Security concerns not-withstanding, I'd like to
be able=20
> to simply deply the FD's as "clients" across the network, and create=20
> filesets visually from the 1 admin workstation.  Pick directories and=20
> individuals files, etc...
>=20
>=20
> I found an OO ide specifically for developing on MingW on Win32.  It
looks=20
> usable enough, but I'm just so much more comfortable with MSVC.  I'm
sure at=20
> this point I can use the other tool, though, as it emulates the MSVC=20
> environment pretty well.
>=20
> I'm not sure what to do about the Win32 API vs GTK++ vs MingW/cygwin
layer. =20
> I'm not very inclined to develop right to the Win32 API without the
use of=20
> MFC or ATL and the MSVC++ environment.  My thinking is that if I'm
going to=20
> the effort of using a MingW/cygwin ide environment, I might as well
develop=20
> either to GTk or something like WxWindows or something similar.  I'm
also=20
> very inclined to just crank the monitor out quickly in VB or even .Net
(C#=20
> or C++).
>=20
> So what about a Java admin console?  I think this would solve the
cross=20
> platform question and the open/free tools question..  While not _my_
first=20
> language of choice, there would still be a good chance others could=20
> contribute, so the long term risk is mitigated...
>=20
> I'm going to finish up the setup/client installs by early this coming
week=20
> and start on the gui admin console as well (possibly mid-week).  I'll
let=20
> you know which direction I'm taking at that point, in case I don't
hear back=20
> from ya by then...
>=20
> Mark
>=20
> >From: Kern Sibbald <ke...@si...>
> >To: Mark Martin <beo...@us...>
> >Subject: Re: bacula win32 gui console?
> >Date: 30 May 2003 11:51:20 +0200
> >MIME-Version: 1.0
> >Received: from sc8-sf-list1.sourceforge.net ([66.35.250.206]) by=20
> >mc7-f7.law1.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.5600); Fri,
30 May=20
> >2003 02:51:42 -0700
> >Received: from matou.sibbald.com ([195.202.201.48])by=20
> >sc8-sf-list1.sourceforge.net with esmtp (Exim 3.31-VA-mm2 #1
(Debian))id=20
> >19LgXv-0005ZP-00for <beo...@us...>; Fri, 30 May
2003=20
> >02:51:35 -0700
> >Received: from [192.168.68.112] (rufus [192.168.68.112])by=20
> >matou.sibbald.com (8.11.6/8.11.6) with ESMTP id h4U9pKv17048for=20
> ><beo...@us...>; Fri, 30 May 2003 11:51:20 +0200
> >X-Message-Info: JGTYoYF78jEHjJx36Oi8+Q1OJDRSDidP
> >In-Reply-To: <E19...@sc...>
> >References: <E19...@sc...>
> >Organization: Message-Id: <1054288280.1578.1459.camel@rufus>
> >X-Mailer: Ximian Evolution 1.2.4 Return-Path: ke...@si...
> >X-OriginalArrivalTime: 30 May 2003 09:51:42.0889 (UTC)=20
> >FILETIME=3D[1316F190:01C32691]
> >
> >Hello Mark,
> >
> >Thanks for your interest. I'd really be please to see
> >a Windows GUI Console for Bacula.
> >
> >Concerning getting Bacula running: I recommend you
> >put your Storage daemon on your Solaris or possibly on
> >a Linux system. I've had *serious* problems getting
> >Bacula to work with the FreeBSD SCSI tape driver.
> >
> >Concerning the Windows GUI: Here are a few thoughts
> >that I have:
> >
> >- If possible you should get the current CVS code working
> >   on GNOME 1.4 and take a look at what I have done with
> >   the gnome-console.  It will give you an idea of how
> >   I have been doing things and the direction I have been
> >   taking.
> >- So far, I have tried to enhance the Director to provide
> >   what a GUI interface needs so that the Console program
> >   whether tty or GUI doesn't need to know about the Catalog
> >   or anything else.  There are a good number of dot commands
> >   (commands prefixed with a period) that are "batch" oriented
> >   commands.  See <bacula-source>/src/dird/ua_dotcmds.c.
> >- I have considered using the GTK+ toolkit that has been ported
> >   to Win32 for porting the gnome-console (which has very few
> >   GNOME dependencies -- i.e. is mostly GTK+). This may not
> >   be the best way to go though.
> >- I would much prefer if any Win32 GUI is developed, that it
> >   compile and build with Cygwin and GNU C++ rather than
> >   Microsoft C++.  Both is fine too, but I don't have
> >   MS C or MS C++.
> >- I would prefer that any Win32 GUI not use (except for building/
> >   development) Cygwin, but rather use Win32 APIs directly.
> >   The socket interface to the Director is a Bacula specific
> >   packet oriented protocol rather than streams, so a certain
> >   part of the "BSOCK" library might need a bit of porting
> >   to run directly under Win32 rather than under Cygwin.
> >
> >I'd suggest the following concrete steps if you want to
> >continue:
> >
> >- Get Bacula running on your systems as you have planned.
> >
> >- Take a look at the Console program, the Gtk+ implementation,
> >   and the Director's interface to the console (ua_*.c
> >   ua_*.h code in <bacula-source>/src/dird).
> >
> >- Possibly build the Win32 version of Bacula (requires
> >   Cygwin be loaded on your system).
> >
> >- Read the developer's notes in the manual:
> >    http://www.bacula.org/html-manual/developers.html
> >
> >- Read the porting notes in the manual:
> >    http://www.bacula.org/html-manual/porting.html
> >
> >Thanks for the nice compliments.  Hope to hear from
> >you soon.
> >
> >Best regards,
> >
> >Kern
> >
> >On Fri, 2003-05-30 at 03:58, Mark Martin wrote:
> > > I'd be interested in helping write a Win32 gui console for the
> > > director.  I've just recently started to install and administer
> > > your system, and I like the design.  Amanda's administration
> > > frustrates me something fierce, although I seem to have some
> > > minor problems with my tape library's autochanger at the
> > > moment after having switched to bacula.  (I'll work that out).
> > >
> > > I thought while I attempt to get a complete set of systems
> > > backed up, I might throw a few code cycles at a Win32 gui
> > > admin console.  I have a mix of OpenBSD (i386, sparc),
> > > Solaris 8,9, FreeBSD, Win2K, WinXp, Irix 6.5 and various
> > > other critters floating around.  My goal would be to get them
> > > all backed up and administer them from my main win32
> > > desktop.
> > >
> > > I'm a software architect by trade, am currently working on a
> > > rather boring j2ee project at work, but my roots are in C++ on
> > > both Win32 and unix.  I've poked at the code a little, and I'm
> > > sure I can handle sticking to the conventions you've started.
> > > It's pretty clean code from what I can tell so far :)  Kudo's to
> > > you and the gang for what seems to be a very promising
> > > system!
> > >
> > > Tx,
> > > Mark Martin
> >
>=20
> _________________________________________________________________
> The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* =20
> http://join.msn.com/?page=3Dfeatures/junkmail



This message is
digitally signed.
Click the lock
icon for more
information.