To install the Retrospect client under Ubuntu/Debian Linux (and its derivatives):

Note: Retrospect seems to install differently on different Linux distributions so one set of instructions doesn't work for everybody

1. Download the client installer from here: https://www.cvs.rochester.edu/cvspriv/downloads/Retrospect_Linux_18.5.3.tar (note that this is only for 64-bit versions of Linux...if you need the 32-bit install, let me know)

2. Double-click on the installer to launch the decompression app on your computer and extract the files to a convenient location.

3. Open a terminal session and type in the following command (along with your password when requested) to switch to superuser mode:

sudo -s

4. Navigate to the folder where you decompressed the installer and type in the following command to run the installer:

./Install.sh 

5. During the installation process, you'll be asked to enter a "first access" password for the client. This is the password our Retrospect server will use to access the client on your computer. Please use the password "chris" (without the quotation marks) for now. Once I add your computer to the server, the password will be changed.

6. The client installer will add the client as a daemon to your computer and may ask if you want your "rc.local" file modified so it automatically launches at boot. Agree to this. Once the install completes, type in the following command:

ps aux | grep retro

You should see a process related to retrospect/retroclient. Reboot your computer, then open another terminal session and type in this command again. If you again see the retrospect daemon, skip to Step 7. If you do not, continue with Step 6a.

6a. For the Retrospect client to be able to autolaunch, you will need to create what is call a "Unit" file.

To create a custom Unit file do the following while running as root or using sudo (see Step 3 for becoming superuser):

Enter the following commands in a terminal window:

touch /etc/systemd/system/rcl.service

chmod 664 /etc/systemd/system/rcl.service

Open the rcl.service file and add the following text:

[Unit]
Description=Retrospect Client
After=syslog.service

[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/local/retrospect/client/rcl start
ExecStop=/usr/local/retrospect/client/rcl stop
Type=forking
Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target

Enter the following commands in a terminal window:

systemctl daemon-reload

systemctl enable rcl.service

If you get an error saying that the service is masked, type in the following command to unmask it, then retry the two commands above:

systemctl unmask rcl.service

If the service is not started, run the following in a terminal prompt:

systemctl start rcl.service

7. Once the installation is complete, you need to allow Retrospect traffic through the network firewall on your computer. Every Linux distribution is different, but there should be a control panel for modifying your network firewall...open it. You need to add a rule to ALLOW traffic IN to your computer over port 497 (both UDP and TCP).

Once done, please let me (Chris) know and I'll try adding your computer to the Retrospect backup server.