Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

[lpopejoy]

Re: Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

You mean like no option to "replay log files" or something into the database?

[AN-Tech]

Re: Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

If the current CommitCRM SQL version is not VSS aware how about making it a true MS SQL database so that it would be?

[Support Team]

Re: Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

Thanks Ascendnet. Whether VSS will or will not be supported is something that will be determined by Sybase, not us directly. If you're using SQL use the new Online Backup to freely backup your system while the system is in use. We do not have any plans to use other database engines as we believe that the one we use is an absolutely great product, reliable, stable, easy to manage, install and configure. If this will change we will probably revisit this.

Thanks.

[raymond]

Re: Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

Didn't really get an answer to the inconsistant state issue... one fix would be to add a switch to the backup exe... something like "CommitBackup.exe CommitCRMLiveSQLBackup FullBackup" which would backup the database AND all the other folders (documents, emails, etc.) -- this would then give us a big zip file that contained everything needed to restore from scratch in a consistant state.

//ray

[Support Team]

Re: Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

Hi Ray, document files can be stored anywhere - on your server and sometimes even on local PCs (still being link-to from RangerMSP). In any case, the way we see it is that unlike database backups, standard server files backups should be a part of your standard backup procedure and not a part of the RangerMSP backup. We do not have any advantage in offering standard files backup (the opposite may be true). Having said that, you may want to look at the backup utility offered by SmartIT, as far as we understand it does backup the files and offers some additional nice features. Maybe you can use this program in addition to using our live SQL database backup option.

Thanks,
Dina

[raymond]

Re: Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

we have super robust backup systems in place which grab images and file level backups. The issue is that when the CommitCRM database backup runs, it's not grabbing everything (files, etc.) so that the backup is never really in a consistant state. For instance, if we kick off the backups at 5:50PM and they take 5 minutes to complet then our systems backup run at 6:00PM, there is still 5 minutes where files can be added to the system (e.g. automated tickets, eml files, etc.) OR delete OR modified which means that the database backup does not account for things being processed in that time... the only way to really get this to be 100% is one of two options:

1) Commit's backup system takes a backup of everything including the documents, logs, whatever all at the same time

2) The database engine becomes VSS aware... yes, sybase may be a good system but it's not VSS aware... why not use Microsoft's database and be done with it (we all know how to work with with the database and can make backups happen).

Until one of those two things happens, there is really no way to confirm that the backups of CommitCRM are in a consistant state.

//ray

[Support Team]

Re: Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

Files are not considered, by us, as part of the RangerMSP backup. Just like backing up any other file you should backup your files in the standard way using the "super robust system" you have. I'm sure that the files will be backed up this way more safely than any of our attempt to write such a backup program. We will never beat your files backup program...

We do have advantages when it comes to database backup, especially when you're using SQL. We now support a live backup which is a very powerful feature.
Restoring RangerMSP from a database backup is very easy even if the entire RangerMSP folder is gone (install, restore data, done!).

Files restore should be done, in such cases, from your files back system. And if you work with VSS then you already have a backup to all files.

We currently do not have any plans to change this and backup external files ourselves simply because we will never do a better job than your dedicated backup program and we prefer to spent our resources on other items...

Thanks.

[raymond]

Re: Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

we use the CommitCRM sybase module and the live backup but because sybase is not vss aware, we are not getting clean in-state backups... the suggestion would be to have CommitCRM change the database back end to something that is vss compliant which would mean all image based backup systems would work 100%.

//ray

[DynamicIT]

Re: Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

The procedure entry point GetNativeSystemInfo could not be located in the dynamic link library KERNEL32.DLL

What? No Windows 2000 support? Sheesh!

We have a number of in-house utility VM's running Windows 2000 (low RAM and DISK requirements), and one of these holds our CommitCRM installation. Just thought I would try this solution instead of pausing and backing up the entire (very small) VM.

I think my new workstation has got more RAM than this VM has disk space. :)

[Support Team]

Re: Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

Yes, many times new PCs today have better on-paper specs than the server...
Do you refer to the RangerMSP backup utility or to the third party's one offered by SmartIT?

[DynamicIT]

Re: Automated Backup Script (OpenSource)

This was the SmartIT backup program I was trying.

CommitCRM continues to work flawlessly on the Windows 2000 Workstation VM that is dedicated to it, including the Web and Email modules. Day to day operations including backups are naturally done on more modern machines.