Enabler Backup and Restore
Created: 31 July 2009. Last Reviewed: 31 July 2009
Enabler has Backup and Restore functionality built in to assist with scheduling backups of Enabler data and restoring Enabler data in the case of database corruption or Hardware failure. This Backup and Restore functionality should be used to backup the Enabler data, rather than backing up the data directly using 3rd party applications. If using a 3rd party solution potential issues can arise with Database File locking and other corruption.
Enabler Backups
When using the Enabler Backup functionality, the backup selections are copied to a compressed zip file in the specified path. This file can then be backed up as part of a 3rd party backup to removable media such as tape.
Configuration
Various configuration options are available for the Backup system. It is recommended that different backup scenarios be configured for Store Servers (including the Head Office Server) and Tills. This is to avoid conflicts with different tills trying to backup the information on the store server at the same time. If this occurs, there is the potential for database locking errors to occur and cause further damage to data.
Store Server configuration
Back Office ⇒ Local Store Setup ⇒ Transaction Processing/Comms ⇒ Backup Options Setup ⇒ Select ‘Store Server’ only ⇒ enable ‘Create backups’
Backup path
Specify the full path to the directory where backup files should be created. This may be a local path as configured in Figure 1, or it can be a UNC network path (EG. \\till02\ebackups)
Days to retain backups
Specify the number of days to retain each backup file. Any backup files older than this setting will be deleted prior to creating the latest backup.
Backup configurations (local)
Local configuration files (*.ini files located in the Enabler root directory (usually \Enabler) will be added to the backup
Backup configurations (central)
The central configuration database will be backed up. This means that all files and subdirectories under the central configuration path (normally \Enabler\Comms\Config) will be added to the backup
Backup LAN transaction database
All *.dbf files from the LANTRAN database directory will be added to the backup.
Backup local database
All *.dbf files from the LOCAL database directory will be added to the backup.
Backup LAN maintenance database
All files from the LANMNT directory and all sub-directories will be added to the backup. Note that this means the .PRM files from the isl-bu directory will also be included.
Backup electronic journals
All .jnl from the LANTRAN\journals directory will be added to the backup.
Store Till configuration
Back Office ⇒ Local Store Setup ⇒ Transaction Processing/Comms ⇒ Backup Options Setup ⇒ Select ‘Tills’ only ⇒ enable ‘Create backups’
It is recommended that only the Local Enabler data be backed up on a Till. This ensures there will be no Database Locking issues if the till attempted to backup the transactional databases at the same time as the store server.
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To guard against data loss, the Enabler backup option should be configured to backup the Enabler store server to either another machine on the network, or to a USB drive attached to the store server.
Enabler backups are configured from Local Store Setup-> Transaction Processing / Comms-> Backup Options Setup. The following options can be set when “Create Backups” is turned on.
- Backup pathFull path of backup
- Days to retain backupsDays before backups are overwritten
- Backup configurations (Local)Configurations for store server
- Backup configurations (Central)Configurations for all store machines
- Backup Lan transactions databaseLANTRAN databases
- Backup local databaseLOCAL databases
- Backup lan maintenance databaseLANMNT databases
- Backup electronic journalsJournal files (\Enabler\Lantran\Journals)
Whilst backups can be performed to the same drive that Enabler is stored on, this only guards against data corruption and not hard disk failure. That is why it is recommended that backups be performed to a drive external to the Store server (USB, NAS, shared drive).
For the backups to run after “Create Backups” has been turned on, you need to have “Purge & Backup” configured in Scheduler Setup.
Whilst it is not necessary to backups tills, as all transactional data and till configs are held on the store server, if you did wish to backup tills, you would only turn on:-
- Backup configurations (Local)
- Backup local database
