| |
Restore a File from a Mirror Data Repository Drive
You may discover that you need to restore a file for a Client that is not on the Data Repository hard drive, but on a
Mirror drive. This can be done, but it is very important that the process does not interfere with the regular Backup
for Workgroups installation and backups. We recommend following the steps below to create a separate installation of
Backup for Workgroups that will will be immediately uninstalled after the restore process is complete:
- Create a new Data Repository Manager that will use the Mirror drive as the data source
- Create a Client that will restore the files of interest
- Remove the new Data Repository installation
Step # 1: Create a new Data Repository Manager that will use the Mirror drive as the data source.
- Select a computer that you do not have a Data Repository Manager installed on. Optimally this would also not have
a Backup Client, but if it does have a Backup Client on it, that is ok.
- Assuming the Mirror is a removable drive such as an external USB drive, connect the Mirror drive to the computer.
If the Mirror drive is not an external drive, make sure that this new Data Repository Manager computer has access to the drive.
- If you know what the Mirror drive letter was originally, you will want to configure this drive to use a different drive
letter. For example if in the past you had the Mirror at drive G: use any drive letter that is not G:. The reason
is when we setup a Data Repository Manager, it will read the configuration and start the Mirror process to the drive by
letter that had been used in the past. We do not want this this Mirror copy to then Mirror itself to itself.
- Locate the copy of the "bfwsetup.exe" file that is on the Mirror drive. It should be in the folder where
the Mirror was specified and then in a folder called "Programs".
- Run the "bfwsetup.exe" program from the Programs folder so you are installing the same version of Backup for
Workgroups that was running at the time the Mirror was created.
- When you run the setup program choose to install a "Data Repository Manager".
- First, you will be asked for a path to install the Data Repository Manager software. We recommend using the
default location of "C:\Program Files\etc..."
- Second, you will be asked for a path to use for the Data Repository storage device. You will want to select the
drive letter and location of the Mirror drive.
Note: The data on the Mirror drive is actually located in a folder named "data" under the original Mirror
path. You want this data folder. For example if the original Mirror path was g:\BackupMirror, and the Mirror
drive is now setup on the H: drive, then the data path you want to use in the setup program is H:\BackupMirror\data.
We suggest going to My Computer, going to the Mirror drive, and finding the original Mirror path. Then find the data
folder under the original mirror path. So the actual path for the data repository to use will contain ServerConfig.hdb,
UserConfig.hdb, MessageLog.ldb and two folders named users and repository. This is the folder that you want to use
within the setup program to have the DRM store its files.
Since this folder already contains data, then the BFW DRM will just use the files on the mirror drive as its active files.
- Complete the setup and the main screen should appear.
- Go to the Mirror panel and disable the Mirror function. We do not need the Mirror to be mirroring the Mirror
copy to another location.
- Go to the Clients panel, you should see all of your previous Client accounts. If not, then the setup path is incorrect.
At this point you should have a Data Repository that is installed and running and using the Mirror drive as the source
of its primary data.
Step # 2: Use a Backup Client to restore the files of interest.
There are 2 routes based on if you already have a Backup Client on this computer or not.
Step # 2.1: If this new Data Repository computer does not have the Backup for Workgroups Client software
already installed (recommended):
- Run the "bfwsetup.exe" file and install the Backup for Workgroups Client software.
- After the setup program completes, you will first be prompted to enter the name of the Data Repository. Use the
name of this computer as the Data Repository computer name.
Second, you will be prompted for the Client Name and password. Enter the information for the Client account you want
to restore the data on behalf of. This will make this new Client impersonate the original Client you want to restore the files for.
- The Backup Client will synchronize files with the Data Repository.
- Proceed through the setup program to the main User Interface.
- Select the Restore Panel.
- At the Restore Panel, press the Selected files button.
- Restore the files of interest.
- NOTE: DO not restore any of the SYSTEM FILES or the WINDOWS REGISTRY. This would restore the original Client
computer's registry onto this new Client computer.
- When the restore is complete, IMMEDIATELY UNINSTALL the Backup for Workgroups Client software to avoid the possibility
of performing a backup while impersonating the original Client.
You do not want the new Client computer to perform any backups while impersonating the original Client or else extra
data from the new Client computer will be combined into the storage for the original Client computer. A good idea is
to stop the scheduler (the icon with the 2 blue arrows pointing to the left in the system tray, lower right-hand portion of
your screen), by right clicking on the scheduler icon and selecting exit.
Step # 2.2: If this new Data Repository computer does have the Backup for Workgroups Client software already installed:
- If the Backup Client is running - close the UI, you can leave the scheduler running, but do not perform any backups
- Go to the folder where the backup client is installed
(default is C:\Program Files\Lockstep\BackupForWorkgroups Client)
- Rename the folder named "Data" to something else, such as "Original Data Folder" or "
Data [ComputerName]"
- Run the BackupClient.exe program
- The Backup Client will detect the Data folder is missing ( from its point of view ) and prompt for the Data Repository
computer name, Client name and password. Use the name of this computer as the Data Repository computer name.
Enter the Client name and password information for the Client account you want to restore the data on behalf of. This
will make this new Client impersonate the original Client you want to restore the files for.
- The Client will synchronize files with the Data Repository and proceed to the main screen
- From the user interface, select the Restore Panel
- At the Restore Panel, press the Selected files button
- Select the files to restore. NOTE: DO NOT restore any of the SYSTEM FILES or the WINDOWS REGISTRY. This
would restore the original Client computer's registry onto this new Client computer
- When the Restore is complete, exit the User Interface
- Go to the folder where the Backup Client is installed and delete the folder named "Data"
(default is C:\Program Files\Lockstep\BackupForWorkgroups Client)
- Rename your original data folder back from the temporary name used in Step 3 back to "Data"
In this process you will temporarily put your original Client data on hold (renaming the folder achieves this), and
allow you to impersonate another Client. When you are done, make sure you move the restored data to a different
location, delete the Data folder for the impersonated client and rename your changed Data folder back to "Data",
which brings back your data.
In both cases above you will have access to the currently known state of the Client you want to restore files for.
If the original Client performs a backup, your copy of the data will not know this has happened. As a result, view
this as short time event, where when you are done with the restoration, you should clean up the temporary setup you have created.
Step # 3: Remove the new Data Repository installation
- Shut down the Data Repository Manager Service:
a. Right click on My Computer and select Manage
b. At the Computer Management windows, expand "Services and Application" and then highlight "Services".
c. The right hand panel will now show all of the installed services. Scroll the panel on the right until you
see the service named "Backup for Workgroups Data Repository Manger".
d. Right click on the Backup for Workgroups Data Repository Manger service and select stop.
- Physically disconnect the Mirror drive. You should use Windows to first stop the drive, then physically unplug
the drive from the computer. This will make sure the Mirror data on the drive remains as is.
- From the Start menu, select Control Panel, then Add/Remove Programs.
- Uninstall the Data Repository Manager software.
AGAIN - Do not uninstall the Data Repository Manager software until you have first unplugged the Mirror drive. If
the Mirror drive is still connected, the uninstall process will delete the data from the Mirror drive.
|
|
|
