When N2WS copies data to or restores data from an S3 repository, or Explores snapshots in a region other than that of the N2WS server, it launches a temporary ‘worker’ instance to perform the actual work, such as writing objects into S3 or exploring snapshots.

• When performing backup operations, or Exploring in a non-N2WS server region, the ‘worker’ instance is launched in the region and account of the target instance. The backup or Explore ‘worker’ instance is configured in the Worker Configuration tab.

• When performing restore operations, the ‘worker’ instance is launched in the region and account that the backed-up instances are to be restored to. The restore ‘worker’ instance is selected or configured according to the following criteria:

  • If a ‘worker’ for the target account/region combination was configured in the Worker Configuration screen, that ‘worker’ instance will be used during the restore or the Explore.

  • If such a ‘worker’ does not exist for the target account/region combination, N2WS will attempt to launch one based on N2WS’s own configuration.

  • If the N2WS configuration cannot be used because the restore, or Explore, will be to a different account or region than N2WS's, the user will be prompted during the restore to configure the ‘worker’.

• You can add tags to a worker for subsequent tracking in the AWS Cost Explorer.

  • To activate Cost Explorer in N2WS and AWS, see section 25.1.

  • To add worker tags, see section 22.2.

You can manage workers and their configurations as well as test their communication with the CPM, SSH, EBS API, and S3 Endpoint in the Worker Configuration tab (section 22.3).

22.1 Worker Parameters

It is necessary to define a separate worker configuration for each planned account/region combination of Copy to S3 instance snapshots, or each Explore region that is different from the N2WS server region:

To configure S3 worker parameters:

1. Select the Worker Configuration tab.

2. Select New.

3. In the Account list, select the Account that the new worker is associated with.

4. In the Region list, select a Region. This configuration will be applied to all workers launched in this region for this account.

5. In the Key pair list, select a key pair. Using the default, Don’t use key pair, disables SSH connections to this worker.

6. In the VPC list, select a VPC. The selected VPC must be able to access the subnet where N2WS is running as well as the S3 endpoint.

7. In the Security Group list, select a security group. The selected security group must allow outgoing connections to the N2WS server and to the S3 endpoint.

8. In the Subnet list, select a subnet, or choose Any to have N2WS choose a random subnet from the selected VPC.

   1. If you choose ‘Any’ in the Subnet drop-down list, N2WS will automatically choose a subnet that is in the same Availability Zone as the one you are restoring to.

   2. If you choose a specific subnet that is not in the same Availability Zone as the one you are restoring to, you will have to choose a different subnet from the Subnet drop-down list.

9. In the Network Access list, select a network access method. Direct network access or indirect access via an HTTP proxy is required:

   1. Direct - Select a Direct connection if no HTTP proxy is required.

   2. via HTTP proxy – If an HTTP proxy is required, select and fill in the proxy values.

10. Select Save.

11. Test the new worker (section 22.3).

To edit or delete a worker configuration:

1. In the Worker Configuration tab, select a worker.

2. Select Delete or Edit.

22.2 Worker Tags

You can add multiple tags to each account for workers for subsequent monitoring of cost and usage in the AWS Cost Explorer. When the worker is launched during Copy to S3, Recover S3, file-level recovery, or worker test, you will be able to filter for the N2WS worker tags in the Tags tab of the AWS Cost Explorer. To activate your worker tags, see section 22.2.1.

To add worker tags:

1. In the Worker Configuration tab, select a worker and then select the Worker Tags tab.

2. Select New, and enter the Tag Name and Value. The Value may be blank.

3. Select Save.

22.2.1 Configuring AWS to Allow CPM Cost Explorer Calculations

To allow CPM Cost Explorer calculations in AWS, users must add cost allocation tags once.

To activate user cost allocation tags:

1. Log in to the AWS Management Console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/billing/home#/ and open the Billing and Cost Management console.

2. In the navigation pane, select Cost Allocation Tags.

3. Choose the worker tags to activate.

4. Select Activate.

For complete details, see http://docs.aws.amazon.com/awsaccountbilling/latest/aboutv2/activating-tags.html.

22.3 Testing the Configuration for a Worker

Before a worker is needed, you can test whether it successfully communicates with the N2WS server and other communication targets. Depending on the test, some, but not all, AWS permissions are also checked.

• Connectivity to N2WS Server (default)

• SSH Test - Connectivity to N2WS server using SSH

• EBS API Test - Test API connectivity and check AWS ebs:ListSnapshotBlocks permission

• S3 Endpoint Test - Test connectivity; check AWS s3:ListAllMyBuckets and s3:ListBucket permissions

To test a worker configuration:

1. Select a worker, and then select Test.

2. If you want to test connections in addition to the worker, in the Select Additional Tests dialog box, select the relevant tests.​

3. Select Run Tests. The ‘Worker Configuration test is underway’ message briefly appears at the top right and the ‘ In Progress’ message appears in the Test Status column. Select Refresh as necessary.

4. Check the results in the Test Status column: Successful or Failed.

5. If not 'Successful':

   1. Select Test Status to display information about the root cause.

   2. To check settings, select Edit.

Besides the requested connectivity tests, the Configuration Test Details include Account, Region, Zone, Key Pair, VPC, Security Group, and whether an HTTP Proxy was required.

To view and download the latest log, selectTest Log.