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WHYBACKU.DOC
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1992-02-13
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H
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H EM/dBS
H Equipment Maintenance dataBase System
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B WHY BACKUP DATA FILES?
B
C NOTE: CAUTION: Changed data should be backed up daily.
C Failure to do so will inevitably result in lost data,
C followed by costly and often futile attempts to recover
C missing information. The expenses of frequently backing up
C data are far less than the costs of trying to recover lost
C data.
C
B5.1 Backing Up Data Files
B
D Backing up data frequently cannot be over emphasized. The
D data files are stored in a subdirectory, such as in DATA1,
D separate from the program files located in the EMS
D directory. Database programs, including EM/dBS, frequently
D access the hard disk drive during normal daily use, which is
D why there is a greater tendency for database files to become
D corrupted due to power surges, etc., than with word
D processing and other types of programs. It should be noted
D that corrupted data files may not become apparent for days
D or even weeks later, which substantiates the need for weekly
D and monthly backup sets.
D
D Prior to upgrading to any new version of the EM/dBS program,
D we recommend present users back up both the EMS and DATA 1
D directories, indicating the Version Number of the EM/dBS
D program on the label. Some new versions of the program will
D require a conversion of older data to "convert" it to the
D format of the newly released software version.
D
D For those that are using the EM/dBS program daily, we
D recommend the following Multiple-Set Backup Procedure. The
D DOS BACKUP.COM file may be used, or one of the better,
D commercially available backup utility programs. Keep in mind
D that the same program used to backup your data will have to
D be used to restore your data if and when the need arises.
D Tape drive backup methods also offer a fast means of
D performing daily backups of the entire disk drive. The
D following backup procedure is recommended for any of the
D backup media types (diskette or tape).
D
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B5.2 Multiple-Set Backup Procedure
B
D (1) Daily backup is urged for users who make daily entries
D into the program to add or revise data. Use four sets
D of backup media for daily backup for each day Monday
D through Thursday and label them "EM/dBS Data, Monday
D Backup"; "EM/dBS Data, Tuesday Backup"; etc. Every
D Monday, use the Monday set of backup media, etc. This
D requires four sets of preformatted diskettes or four
D sets of tape cartridges. Users who make less frequent
D use of the program may be satisfied with only making
D backups weekly. (Note that some backup utilities do not
D require preformatted disks and are much faster than DOS
D format).
D
D (2) Use three sets of backup media for the weekly backup of
D data on each of the first three Fridays of each month.
D Label them "EM/dBS Data, 1st Friday Backup", "EM/dBS
D Data, 2nd Friday Backup", etc. for each of the three
D Friday backup sets. The weekly backup may be done on
D any day of the week to better suit the user's schedule
D and conveniences; however, it is best to keep a
D consistent schedule so it is not neglected.
D
D (3) Use three sets of backup media for the monthly backup of
D data on each of the last Fridays of each month. Label
D them "EM/dBS Data, 1st Monthly Backup", "EM/dBS Data,
D 2nd Monthly Backup", etc. The first month backup may be
D the first month of the quarter to make it easier to
D remember which monthly backup set to use.
D
D (4) At the end of the fiscal year, an annual backup set of
D both EMS and DATA1 directories should be made and
D retired in a safe place for historical data retrieval.
D
D (5) The first time the data is backed up, a full backup of
D all DATA1 data files should be made. Subsequent (DOS)
D backups may be made using the DOS switch "/M" to backup
D only those files that have changed since the last
D backup on the media set being used. The /M switch will
D reduce the time required to backup since only changes
D are being backed up. Note, however, that if this
D incremental backup system is used, all disk sets since
D the original full back up must be saved to assure a
D complete restore operation is possible.
D
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C NOTE: A full backup must be performed weekly, if the daily
C backup disks are reused.
C
D (6) DOS backup commands for the two previous situations
D would be as follows:
D
C C:\> BACKUP C:\EMS\DATA1 A: <Enter>
C (First backup)
C
C C:\> BACKUP C:\EMS\DATA1 A:/M <Enter>
C (Subsequent backups)
C
D Refer to your DOS manual for additional information
D using BACKUP and RESTORE commands.
D
B5.3 Restoring Data
B
D If the DATA1 subdirectory files become corrupted, files that
D were backed up using the DOS BACKUP command must be restored
D using the DOS RESTORE command. Start with the most recently
D backed up date that you believe has not been corrupted. The
D full path name must be included for proper restoration. If
D the path used in backing up the data is not specified in
D like manner in the RESTORE command, a warning message will
D display indicating that files were not restored. The DOS
D restore command, specifying the path for restoring the DATA1
D files, might look as follows:
D
C C:\> RESTORE A: C:\EMS\DATA1 <Enter>
C
D Any restored data must then be reindexed using the Sort
D Databases option (Support Data Main Menu - Utilities Menu -
D "Sort Data (Rebuild Indexes)" option).
D
D Note that if you have made incremental backups, you will
D need to restore the last full backup first, then each of the
D incremental backups made since the full back up. If you do
D not have all of the incremental backups, a complete restore
D will not be possible.
D
D Restore data only if you have lost data that cannot be
D recovered. Backup files cannot be "copied" with the normal
D DOS COPY commands. They must be restored. Backups made with
D other commercial backup utility programs must be restored
D using the same utility program.
D
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