Selective Vault Database Backup Process

Notes:

  • This solution is only available in Vault Professional 2024 and newer releases.
  • See cautionary notes below

Scenario:

The Vault Server is hosting multiple databases and there is a need to transfer/archive one or more databases with their respective file stores, but not all databases will be included.

Example Scenario:

One of several databases is a large historical database with a large file store that causes the full backup to take 60 + hours to complete. In this scenario, users still need to periodically access the historical database but are prevented from making any changes or additions to its records.

The objective is twofold:

1.   Create an archive backup of the historical database and its file store for disaster recovery and transfer needs

2.     Modify the nightly script file to temporarily only backup the active production Vault databases and Custom Content Center Library databases until the large historical database can be restored to its own seperate server. Once the historical database is restored in an independent environment, it will be removed from the production server.

Archive\Transfer Backup

To solve this challenging issue, we will make use of a new backup feature introduced in Vault 2024 that allows us to select which databases we will backup.

Start the Vault Backup and Restore Wizard and select Backup.

Select the “More” button for the Vault/Libraries field and chose the databases you want to backup from the list. If Custom Content Center Libraries are to be included, you will need to select them from the list as well.

Notes:

  • Deselecting the switch “Backup Standard Content Center Libraries” will prevent any Standard Content Center Libraries from being backed up including any Custom Content Center Libraries.
  • Selecting the switch “Backup Standard Content Center Libraries” will backup all Standard Content Center Libraries but not any Custom Content Center Libraries. 
  • Incremental backups are not supported for this process

Backup Scripts

The next objective is to create/modify the nightly backup script such that it only backs up the current production Vault and any desired library databases.

Create a nightly backup of only the active Vault database and file store. To do this we will use the new “-N” switch in the script to identify the databases to be backed up. Repeat the “-N” switch for each database to be included in the backup. 

Format: -Ndatabase_name

Example:

Connectivity.ADMSConsole.exe -Obackup -B"C:\Target Path\backup" -Nname1 -Nname2 -VUadministrator -VPpassword-S -L“C:\Target Path\logs"

Notes: 

  • The "-DBSC" switch is still needed to exclude Standard Content Center Libraries
  • Custom Content Center Libraries will need to be specified using "-N"
  • The "-N" switch is not supported for incremental backup scripts. 

Cautionary Notes:

When restoring from a backup created by either of the above methods, any currently attached/active databases or library databases that are not included in the backup data will be lost. 

If the intent is to use one of the methods described above to provide you with nightly database backups for data recovery, you will need to develop a plan on how to recoverandrestore the unlisted databases should a full recovery be required.

About the Author

Hal Carruthers

Manufacturing Applications Expert<br><br>Hal has been working closely with clients since 1997 to develop and deliver integrated solutions utilizing Autodesk products including AutoCAD, AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Mechanical, Inventor and Vault. His qualifications range from mechanical design engineering to pre-sales and post-sales consulting for the integration of mechanical software solutions. Hal has over 15 years of mechanical design experience in a variety of industry disciplines. He has worked as a Product Design Engineer to design, develop, fabricate and test new surgical instruments for use in Endoscopic and Open Surgery, specific applications for product use include: vessel ligation, wound closure, endoscopic instrumentation and specialty surgical devices. Hal has been awarded two U.S. Patents for medical devices he developed. Additionally during his tenure, Hal developed and maintained Engineering Documentation and CAD Standards and provided CAD product training and support for all users and new hires.

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