In the NiagaraAX 2013 security update releases (e.g. AX-3.7u1), station password storage changed to become much more secure than in “pre-update” releases. Now, in some cases after making a station backup dist file in AX-3.7u1 (typically using a station’s BackupService), you should subsequently edit that dist before restoring it with the Distribution File Installer.

This is especially true if you need to install the same backup dist in multiple hosts, say as a “system image” for a replicated JACE station. Otherwise (without a dist file edit), system security on those hosts will be compromised. For details, refer to the NiagaraAX 2013 Security Updates engineering notes document.

In AX-3.8, improvements in station backups and restorations were made that simplify usage, such that “.dist file edits” are typically unnecessary. See AX-3.8 changes to backup dist usage in this document.

Note that in any case where you want to restore a backup dist to the identical host (JACE) from which you made the backup, no edits are needed beforehand. In this scenario, operation remains as before, and security remains uncompromised.