Automatic Database Backup on Upgrade

By default, when you upgrade the version of Geo SCADA Expert software that is running on your Geo SCADA Expert server, an automatic backup is made of your database. The files that are backed up comprise Metadata, Configuration, Data, and Data files. For information about these files and the type of data they include, see Locations of the Database Folders.

The automatic backup only includes files that contain versioning information. As such, the backup only contains a subset of the files that are stored in the Database folder (the name of this folder might differ on your server - see the link above for more information). The backup does not include any historic files.

The automatically-generated backup is stored in an UpgradeDatabaseBackup folder on the server. For information about the default location of this folder, see File Locations (Default). The files are stored in a format that corresponds to the version of Geo SCADA Expert software that was running on the server just prior to the upgrade.

Each database backup (one per software upgrade) is stored in a folder with a specific naming convention:

<Build Number>_<Date of Backup><Time of Backup>

 

83.7332_13-FEB-2020112635.282

The above folder contains the automatic database backup of a database that ran on Geo SCADA Expert version 83.7332. The database backup occurred on 13th February 2020 at 11:26:35.282 UTC.

NOTICE

loss of files

Do not store any other files in the UpgradeDatabaseBackup folder, or in any of its subfolders. These folders should be used exclusively for storing automatic database backups during upgrades of the Geo SCADA Expert software.
Failure to follow these instructions could result in the loss of other files.

Be aware that the server will take a little longer to start up when performing the automatic backup following an upgrade.

The Server Startup log file, DBStartup, includes information about the status of the automatic backup that occurs when you upgrade Geo SCADA Expert.

If insufficient disk space is available for the automatic backup to complete successfully, the Server Icon will turn magenta to indicate that it was unable to perform the backup(see The Server Icon). A partial backup might exist if this occurs. The DBStartup log file will contain information about the status of the automatic backup (or inability to perform the backup). For information about this log file, see Access the DBStartup Log File.

If you want to, you can roll back the Geo SCADA Expert software following an upgrade. To perform the rollback, you downgrade back to the version of Geo SCADA Expert that was running just before the upgrade. You can then restore the automatically-generated database backup for that version of the software (see Perform a Downgrade after Upgrading Geo SCADA Expert).

NOTICE

loss of database changes

If you downgrade back to a previous version of Geo SCADA Expert and reinstate the automatically-generated backup of the database for that version of software, be aware that you will lose any new data that was retrieved following the upgrade, including any new alarms. You will also lose any configuration changes that were made after that database backup occurred. This might include new database items that were created following the backup, or the reinstatement of obsolete database items that were deleted after the backup occurred. Likewise, you will be unable to make use of any new features or functionality that are only available in the upgraded version of the Geo SCADA Expert software, once you have uninstalled and downgraded the software.
Following these instructions can result in loss of database changes and functionality

Following a successful upgrade, we recommend that you archive the automatic database backup from each server before removing those backups from disk.

Further Information

Do not confuse automatic database backups on upgrade with manual and scheduled database backups. For information on the latter, see Back up the Database.

Change the storage location of automatic database backups: see Locations of the Database Folders.

Perform a Downgrade after Upgrading Geo SCADA Expert.

Disable Automatic Database Backups on Upgrade.


Disclaimer

Geo SCADA Expert 2020