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--- admin:backup_and_restore [2020/09/15 07:22] – Mark Glover
+++ admin:backup_and_restore [2024/08/05 00:33] (current) – [Restoring your data] Mark Glover
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{indexmenu_n>60}}
-====== 23.06. Backup ======
+====== 25.06. Backup ======
 If your data is important, then data backups need to happen, because things can go wrong (power failures, disk failures, ransomware, etc.)
@@ Line 23: / Line 22: @@
 Choose **File > Backup...** to run a manual backup of your data. The backup will be carried out according to the configuration of the [[preferences:general#backup_tab|Preferences > Backup tab]].
 ===== Backup: best practice =====
@@ Line 50: / Line 45: @@
 This is still possible if your machine only has one disk drive and you can not configure a RAID array.  This could be a volume attached to a USB port (e.g. a thumb drive) or a location on the network, //provided that it is always available//.
+==== Configure Primary backups ====
+We recommend that you configure the Primary backup as recommended in our user's guide section on the [[preferences:general#backup_tab|Preferences > Backup tab]].
+==== Configure a secondary backup ====
-==== Configure a secondary backup location in mSupply ====
   * Configure a secondary backup to a destination on the same machine, or elsewhere on the network that will be synced off-site (e.g. Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.) - refer [[preferences:general#backup_2_tab|Preferences > Backup 2 tab]].
@@ Line 65: / Line 61: @@
-===== Setting up backup for single user mSupply =====
-If you are using a synchronisation system with mSupply it's very important that you don't lose any data on the remote sites, which are possibly even more vulnerable to power or component failures.
 ==== Use a standard place to store backups ====
@@ Line 75: / Line 68: @@
   * Log file in ''C:/mSupply_data/''
-==== Primary backups ====
+===== Backup for mSupply single user sites =====
-We recommend that you configure mSupply to
+If you have a synchronisation system with mSupply it's very important that the sync satellite sites have operating backups.  By design, mSupply sync satellite sites can operate indefinitely without syncing to the Central server.  There are numerous cases of Sync satellite sites operating for months without syncing, though this is not recommended!  In such cases, a failure on the sync satellite site could result in months of lost data unless backups are operating on the such sync satellite sites.  These sites are normally even more vulnerable to failure than 'Central' servers ....
-  * Use the single disk as the primary backup location.
-  * The Primary backup should be set to be carried out nightly.
-  * Use a log (journal) file. A log file records each database action as it happens. In the event of a power failure or other adverse event, all changes can be recovered from the log file.
-You can configure primary backups to run on a schedule that you set.  To do this go to Admin > Preferences and select Backup from the left panel.  You must have an existing backup to use these features (see [[admin:backup_and_restore#running_a_backup]]).
-{{ :admin:backup1.jpg |}}
-Select Automatic Backup and schedule by hour(s), day(s) or week(s) as indicated.
-{{ :admin:backup2.jpg |}}
-Choose your backup folder and select Use log file. {{:admin:backup5.jpg}}
-You will be prompted to specify the location of your log file.
-{{ :admin:backup3.jpg |}}
-Press Continue
-{{ :admin:backup4.jpg?700 |}}
-When all settings are correct, press OK to save.
 =====  Restoring your data =====
+<WRAP important center round 90%>
+For data security purposes, the //New data file//, //Restore// and //Open new datafile// functions are disabled if you are on a satellite site in a synchronising system.
+</WRAP>
 An mSupply database can be created from a backup:
+  - Quit mSupply if it is running.
-  - Log in to msupply with an old data file or by creating a new data file and click menu **File > Restore...**
+  - Start mSupply and then <wrap em>immediately</wrap> hold down the **Alt** key.  You will now be shown the following dialogue box with a number of radio buttons with the different options available:{{ tutorial:/new_file_option.jpg?450 }}
-  - Locate your backup file in the //**Open**// dialog that appears. Your backup file has file extension ''.4BK'', eg. ''CMS.4BK''.  Hit **OK**.
+  - Choose the 4th radio button **Restore a backup file**.
-  - Clicking on the small red down arrow next to the data file name will show the current destination location to where the data file will be restored.  You are being prompted for a folder where the data file will be restored to.  Change the destination location of the data file by clicking on the **...** button.  Once you are happy with the destination location, hit the **Restore** button.
+  - Another window will open where you can choose the backup file to restore.  Locate your backup file in the //**Open**// dialog that appears. Your backup file has file extension ''.4BK'', eg. ''CMS.4BK''.  Hit **OK**.
-  - After the file is restored, the file location is then displayed using your computer's default file manager.  You can close this window.
+  - You will be prompted for where to create the data file.  This //should// default to the location of the backup that you have selected.  If you want to save it elsewhere, change the destination location of the data file by clicking on the **...** button.  Once you are happy with the destination location, hit the **Restore** button.\\ {{:admin:pasted:20220530-014805.png}}
-  - Now go back into mSupply and click menu **File > Open data file...**
+  - Once the restore has completed, mSupply will Quit.
-  - Locate the newly restored data file in the //**Open**// dialog that appears.  Your data file has file extension ''.4dd'', eg. ''CMS.4dd''.
+  - Restart mSupply
-  - Select the data file and hit the **OK** button.
+  - You may be prompted for a log file.  In that case:
-  - You may be prompted for a log file.  Click on the **Create** button.  Select the suggested location, which is the same as your new data file location, and click on the **Save** button.
+    - Click on the **Create** button.  Select the suggested location, which can be the same as your new data file location.  You may find that the parent location of the default location is where the log file is already created.  You can overwrite it.  Once you have specified a location, click on the **Save** button.
-  - You will be prompted to do a backup.  It is not necessary to do this at this stage, but the log file will not be created until you create the first backup, so you may as well accept the offer.  It can take a while to open this new data file, particularly if it is a large data file and the index file is not included with the backup (hours).
+    - You will be advised that **The log file will be activated after the next backup of the data file.  Do you want to start the backup automatically?**.  If you click **OK** here, then a backup will be created //now//.  This can take many minutes if it is a large data file.  It is not necessary to create the backup at this stage, but the log file will not be created until you create the first backup.
+    - After clicking **OK** or **Cancel**, the data file will open.  This will take time (hours) if it is a large data file and the index file is not included with the backup.
   - mSupply should open your restored data file and you should be presented with the log in screen to the new data file.
-In client/server usage this command will have no effect.
-Be very careful about restoring. We suggest you consult Sustainable Solutions before attempting a restore, particularly in a synced system.