Backup Database Unattended

This is an advanced topic and is intended for experienced IT personnel.

It is best to shut down the database before doing a backup. However, CV11 also allows you to perform live backups, using the hot backup mode. This document covers the concepts required to configure your own custom unattended backup, using either of these two methods.

If you choose to implement any of these concepts, please be sure you have a complete understanding of the details and that you test your backups regularly.

Method One - Shutting Down Rds

To do this, you would need to shut down all of your users' Collect! sessions, the Web Host (if you use it), the Scheduler (if you use it) and finally, shutdown the RDS before beginning the backup. This ensures that no files are in use during the backup. Also, this prevents having one file backed up while the database is in one state, and another, ten minutes later, after database activity has taken place.

1. Change your command line startup for Collect! and the Web Host to include an auto shutdown time, using the /t parameter. Details on this can be found in Command Line Startup Options.

2. Set the " Auto Log Out After" setting on the Database Preferences form to a reasonable number of minutes (default is 60).

3. Using Windows Scheduled Tasks, schedule the running of CV11\bin\shutdown.bat at the time you want your RDS to shut down for the night.

To schedule Server shutdown using the Windows©right; Scheduler, you must enter the proper path when you create your scheduled task.


Setting Up Automatic Shutdown

4. Schedule the backup of your CV11 folder to run at least five minutes after the "shutdown.bat", as this should allow enough time for the server to shutdown smoothly.

5. Using the Windows Scheduler, schedule the restarting of the CV11 server, CV11\bin\rds.exe. This should be set to restart well after the amount of time your backup takes. Remember that, although our backup may take an hour tonight, it is quite possible that it may take two hours tomorrow, due to other tasks on your server or your network.

Method Two - Hot Backup Mode

1. Using Windows Scheduled Tasks, schedule the running of CV11\bin\startbackup.bat to put the server in Hot Backup mode.

2. Schedule the backup of your CV11 folder to run at least five minutes after the "startbackup.bat", as this should allow enough time for the server to cleanly enter hot backup mode.

3. Using Windows Scheduled Tasks, schedule the running of CV11\bin\endbackup.bat take the server out of Hot Backup mode.

Summary

Many sites have had success with writing their own custom batch files to automate the tasks outlined in this document. However every environment is different, so only you and your Network Technicians can decide what is best for your site, and confirm that your backup needs are met.

Some backup tools have the ability to run a program of your choice for you, before and/or after doing their backups. While many of these have proven to be successful, some have not, due to the folder the backup tools starts them in, or other reasons. Although these can often be used for the restarting of the RDS, or the running of the "endbackup.bat" script, we would advise against using such features for the running of the "shutdown.bat" or the "startbackup.bat", as they often need a few minutes to complete their tasks. As mentioned in the outlines above, please schedule these tasks separately, at least five minutes before the backup itself.

See Also

- Backup Database Topics