Managing NerveCenter - Managing the Database - Backing up the Database -
Viewing Information about the Database      Restoring the Database

Backing up the Database

You should establish a regular database backup schedule that suits your environment. Also, you should back up your database prior to doing anything that might affect the database. For example, you'll want to back up the database before upgrading NerveCenter or before importing data from another database. Then, if you need to restore the original data, you can.

SerializeDB exports the object and node data from the database to a single serialized ASCII file (*.asc). On Windows, SerializeDB offers an alternative: exporting to a NerveCenter flat file database, which is made up of two text files (*.ncdb and *.node). The flat file database files can be used on UNIX or can be imported into a database on Windows.

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   The NerveCenter Server checks its connection to its database server on a regular basis. If the connection has been broken, the NerveCenter Server attempts to reestablish it. Upon reestablishing the connection, the NerveCenter Server writes its current data to the database. The retry interval is two minutes.

If, when the NerveCenter Server exits gracefully, its connection to the database server is down, it saves its current database information to an .ASC file in the NerveCenter DB directory and logs a message in the event log. The format of the file is MONTHDAYYEAR_HOURMINUTE.ASC. You can then use SerializeDB to restore this data.

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You can use any number of methods to set up regularly scheduled backups, depending on your environment. Select the method that fits in best with your existing backup strategy. Here are some suggestions:

• If you use a backup tool for scheduled backups already, use it to back up the NerveCenter database, too.
• If you use a scheduling tool, create a process to back up the NerveCenter database.
• If you have a Microsoft SQL Server database, use the SQL Server backup utilities to back up the database.
• On UNIX, set up a cron job to run SerializeDB (the backup utility that ships with NerveCenter) from the command line at a regular interval.

If you need to do a manual backup in addition to your scheduled backups, see Backing up the Database Using the SerializeDB Application.

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   We recommend you use SerializeDB (application or command line) instead of manually copying the database file to another directory to make sure you back up the correct files and to minimize the size of the backup file.

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Backing up the Database Using the SerializeDB Application

SerializeDB exports the data in your database to a text file. When you use the SerializeDB GUI on Windows, you can choose the text file format -- you can have SerializeDB export the data to a NerveCenter flat file database or a serialized ASCII file. You might want to export data from a database on Windows to a flat file database if you want to use the resulting file on a UNIX machine without having to import the data.

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   Before you back up the database, you must shut down the NerveCenter Server. Not shutting down the NerveCenter Server, could result in lost data.

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If you are backing up a UNIX flat file database, all of the files that make up the database must be in the db directory. See Database Formats for more information.

 
  To back up the database using the SerializeDB application:

1. Do one of the following to start SerializeDB:
   • On Windows, start SerializeDB from the NerveCenter program group in the Start menu.
   • In a UNIX shell, change directories to the NerveCenter bin directory and type ./serializedb &. Then press Enter.

     The SerializeDB window is displayed.

     

2. Select the Export database to file radio button.
3. Specify the format by selecting one of the following radio buttons:
   • NerveCenter serialized file (*.asc)
   • NerveCenter NCDB (Windows only)

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        Unless you plan on using the resulting files directly with a UNIX server, we recommend you select the NerveCenter serialized file option. The ASC file is smaller, and because it is a single file, it is easier to manage.

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4. Do one of the following:
   • To export the data to a new file, type a name for the file (for example, backup061503) in the File field. If you do not specify a path as part of the name, SerializeDB creates the file in the NerveCenter db directory.
   • To write over existing data, select the Browse button. Select the existing file. Then select Open.
5. Select Start.

   On UNIX, SerializeDB starts exporting the data.

   On Windows, you must specify the data source for the database. The Select Data Source window is displayed.

   

   1. Select the Machine Data Source tab.
   2. Select the data source for your NerveCenter database. Then select OK.

      See your Microsoft ODBC documentation for more information about selecting data sources.

When the data has been exported, SerializeDB displays a message letting you know that the data transfer was successful.

When running SerializeDB from the command line, you can only export to a serialized file (.asc file).