TouchToBegin

I would like to see a list of locations that should be backed up for everything not included with a fresh install. I am using SI5 on Vista and have noticed that files are all over the place. My reports are in my User folder and other items are in ProgramData folders. I have invested a lot of time up to this point and would really benefit from knowing, in a nut shell, all the places I should be backing up. This installation includes all the server apps.

Thanks.

SenoS

There are three locations where (non project) SI 5 files are stored:
Vista
C:\ProgramData\D-Tools\SI5
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\D-Tools\SI5
C:\Program Files\D-Tools\SI 5

XP
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\D-Tools\SI5
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\D-Tools\SI5
C:\Program Files\D-Tools\SI 5

Projects (if using the default) are stored here:

Vista
Local: C:\Users\username\Documents\D-Tools SI 5 Projects
Server: C:\DTools\SI5\Server\Projects

XP
Local – C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\D-Tools SI5 Projects
Server – C:\DTools\SI5\Server\Projects


SQL data is stored here:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.2\MSSQL\Data

Note: the "MSSQL.2" may be different on your machine, depending on how many times you have loaded SQL Server Express. May just be "MSSQL".

To backup your SQL data, we recommend using:
Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...displaylang=en

TouchToBegin

Thanks...

A big concern of mine is the reporting center. I am starting to shuffle things around rather heavily. How is all that data stored? I know that the report definitions are XML styled files. What about the categories and groups? Is that part of a database file some where or is it also in an XML file that I could easily restore in the event of a catastrophe?

SenoS

All of your reporting data, stock and customizations, is stored in the C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\D-Tools\SI5\Reports folder (XP users: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\D-Tools\SI5\Reports). So if you backup the paths listed in my previous posting, you can recover if needed.

HickmottJ

Originally Posted by SenoS

There are three locations where (non project) SI 5 files are stored: Vista C:\ProgramData\D-Tools\SI5 C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\D-Tools\SI5 C:\Program Files\D-Tools\SI 5 XP C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\D-Tools\SI5 C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\D-Tools\SI5 C:\Program Files\D-Tools\SI 5 Projects (if using the default) are stored here: Vista Local: C:\Users\username\Documents\D-Tools SI 5 Projects Server: C:\DTools\SI5\Server\Projects XP Local – C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\D-Tools SI5 Projects Server – C:\DTools\SI5\Server\Projects SQL data is stored here: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.2\MSSQL\Data Note: the "MSSQL.2" may be different on your machine, depending on how many times you have loaded SQL Server Express. May just be "MSSQL". To backup your SQL data, we recommend using: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...displaylang=en

Very usefull information.

In the first three folders (non-project data), what files are the user files and must be backed up or should they all be backed up including dll, etc?

HickmottJ

BUMP

Also, our D-Tools files seem to be all over the place. How can we be sure which files are being used in order to back up.

We are attempting to re-image our main design laptop and need to ensure EVERYTHING is backed up and ready to be restored.

HELP!!!!!

jleemc44

How the #*$$ do we use the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express to backup the database? I see lots of buttons and trees and options that look like it could severely screw up my install. But nothing that says back or better yet, one click backup.

It just dawned on me the other day that we were doing nothing to backup D-Tools. I assumed that there would be a backup option built in but now that I dig in to it I can’t figure out how to assure we’re not going to loose everything due to a failed drive.

Have any advice? How do some of the other users secure the data? Or do we just hope nothing goes wrong?

RandyB

For instructions on how to back up the server using SI5.2, see this article:

http://www.d-toolsblog.com/technical...server-backup/

This is part of a larger document, which effectively also tells you how to restore:

http://www.d-toolsblog.com/technical...nents-machine/

Note that SI5.5 includes server backup and restore functionality, so you'll be able to just click on buttons in the Admin Console once you update to 5.5.

jleemc44

Originally Posted by RandyB

Note that SI5.5 includes server backup and restore functionality, so you'll be able to just click on buttons in the Admin Console once you update to 5.5.

We have 5.2 and I noticed in the Admin Console there are the Backup and Restore functions for the Product and Project Database.

Can we not use this?

RandyB

Originally Posted by jleemc44

We have 5.2 and I noticed in the Admin Console there are the Backup and Restore functions for the Product and Project Database. Can we not use this?

The backup and restore functions in the 5.2 Admin Console do not always successfully restore. Additionally, they only back up the database and do not back up the shared project and product folders, which are needed in the event of a server failure.

For these reasons, we recommend using the steps outlined in the link above to be 100% sure none of your data is lost. Once you've updated to 5.5, the backup and restore function properly and can be used.

Randy Bownds
Program Manager
D-Tools, Inc.