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Comet Server Overview

Server Roles

The Comet Server software is split into multiple roles. It can be considered to be (at least) two separate servers;

  • the "Authentication" server role, which is responsible for handling users and logs; and
  • the "Storage" server role, which is responsible for storing and replicating the raw data.

This design allows you to scale either role, without necessarily scaling the other.

For example, if a user or tenant requires storage in another region, you could run an additional Comet Server with Storage Role only while keeping users in the same server.

Alternatively, if your storage capacity is exceeded, you can create an additional physical "Storage" server role without needing to duplicate user handling.

In addition to these two, there are also roles for handling branded software downloads and for overseeing a cluster of Comet servers.

Licensing

Comet Server requires network access to lic.cometbackup.com on port number 443.

Serial Numbers

Your serial number for Comet is used to request a short-term exclusive lease from a central licensing server. The Comet Server will not start without a valid lease, and no other running instance of Comet Server can use the same serial number until the short-term exclusive lease expires. There is a grace period of a few days to allow for temporary license-server unavailability or non-contactability (exact details will not be published).

At the time of writing, Comet Server stores data about the current lease within the comet-license.db file. Loss of this file results in loss of lease.

The external IP address and hardware configuration (exact details will not be published) should not change for an existing Comet Server. Otherwise, the central licensing server may refuse to grant a new lease for the serial, or might cause a running instance of Comet Server to refuse the existing lease (exact details will not be published). The external IP address is locked to the Comet Server with a particular serial number. You can remove and/or turn off the IP Lock feature via the 'My Servers' page. This is useful if you are moving your Comet Server to a new location with a new external IP address.

You may grant any number of additional serial numbers via https://cometbackup.com/ . Your support representative is also able to 'relax' leases on an existing serial number (for instance, when moving IP addresses or upgrading hardware). You can also do this for yourself via the 'My Servers' page.

Telemetry

The Comet Server submits information about user accounts to a central licensing server, in order to correctly price your subscription.