Zmanda Windows Client is a data backup and recovery tool designed specifically for Windows platforms. It uses the native Win32 API and the Volume Shadow Service (VSS) to perform backups. Zmanda Community Edition is free and stable and is available for Linux, Solaris, Windows, and source code packages.

Among the main features are the ability to perform open file backups (provided VSS has been enabled), NTFS file system backup, use of an open format for backup images (ZIP64), and data compression on the client using the deflate algorithm. In addition, it includes a configuration tool called ZWCconfig that allows you to modify the ports used and the name of the Amanda server. It is also possible to specify exclusion patterns (although the full path must be specified and the wildcard is supported).

One of the advantages of the client is that it is compatible with various versions of Windows, such as XP Pro (SP 2), Windows 2003 Server (SP2), Vista (SP1), Windows 2008 Server R2, 7, 2012 Server, and 10. However, there are some limitations and issues to be aware of. First, it only supports bsdtcp authentication, so the dumptype of ZWC must include "auth bsdtcp". In addition, it does not support the maxdumps parameter and does not support parallel backups. It also uses ports 10080 and 10081, so do not use other services that occupy them. In addition, it only supports "estimate server" and "estimate client," not "estimate calcsize".

As for installation, it uses an installer based on Installshield. First download the ZWC zip file, extract it and run the setup.exe file. Next, you must choose a password for the "amandabackup" user, who will perform the backups. It is important to note that if installed on a domain controller, the user will be created in the domain. Once the installation is finished, it is necessary to add the newly installed Windows client to the Amanda server. To do this, it is necessary to define the dump types in the amanda.conf configuration file of the Amanda server and add the client definition in the amanda-client.conf file of the Windows client. It is also essential to ensure that the Amanda user on the server has the name "amandabackup", although it is possible to use a different account by following a few simple steps.

Once the server and client are configured, tests can be performed using the amcheck command. A detailed report of the server and client status should be obtained if everything is correctly configured. In case errors or problems occur during the backup process, it is possible to consult the server and client log files, which are located in their respective installation folders.

In summary, Zmanda Windows Client is a data backup and recovery tool specially designed for Windows platforms, offering several useful features such as open file backup and data compression on the client. Although it presents some limitations and problems, it is an exciting option for those who need to back up their data on Windows systems.