I use Robocopy for some of my backups (here). I hadn't realised that Robocopy doesn't copy the modified date/time of any folders it copies. This isn't a huge problem but I like to sort some of my files so I can see newly created folders.
The simple fix is to add the 'copy directory timestamps' switch to the command.
/DCOPY:T :: COPY Directory Timestamps.
So the command
ROBOCOPY Q:\HarjHome M:\HarjHome /MIR /R:0
changes to
ROBOCOPY Q:\HarjHome M:\HarjHome /MIR /R:0 /DCOPY:T
and all the timestamps on the copied folders are copied too. There is a minor overhead in this but it's negligible.
Showing posts with label backup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label backup. Show all posts
Monday, 7 January 2013
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Backup Windows
I don't normally backup my Windows as I usually just reinstall if I have any issues. As the amount of viruses and spyware is increasing I thought I'd take a backup of Windows with the programs I use so I could just restore it if it does get messed up.
I'll be using Acronis True Image Home 2009, the process for making sure the backup is as small as possible is:
1. Delete all temporary internet files.
2. Disable hibernation (which will deltete c:\hiberfil.sys).
3. Disable then re-enable System Restore (which will remove any System Restore Points).
4. Copy any large files to an external drive (AVI's, encrypted volumes etc.)
Acronis True Image can do the backup while Windows is running (which I still find remarkable). The options I use are:
1. Encrypt 128 bit.
2. Set password.
3. Do a full backup.
The backup file is 4GB which I can keep on my work PC by transferring it with my 8GB memory stick.
I also created a bootable recovery CD in case I need it in future too.
Monday, 23 February 2009
SQL Server Online Backup Server
A while ago I was looking into how to have a backup server for our live SQL Server. The backup server had to be able to be accessible while the live server was running, this is so that we could use it for reporting purposes.
These are the different options (and the reasons why they weren't suitable for us) :
1. Mirroring - the database mirror can’t be accessed – it's only available if the live database goes down.
2. Log Shipping - the Backup database disconnects users while new transactions being are being applied.
The only viable option was Continuous Replication where data is replicated in realtime every fixed period of time (normally a few minutes).
For our needs Clustering was too expensive. For the record it's for reliability only and offers no performance gains.
These are the different options (and the reasons why they weren't suitable for us) :
1. Mirroring - the database mirror can’t be accessed – it's only available if the live database goes down.
2. Log Shipping - the Backup database disconnects users while new transactions being are being applied.
The only viable option was Continuous Replication where data is replicated in realtime every fixed period of time (normally a few minutes).
For our needs Clustering was too expensive. For the record it's for reliability only and offers no performance gains.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Data Backups
I'm a bit obsessive about backups, I suppose ever since I did FORMAT C: instead of FORMAT A: when I was in work about 10 years ago. My C Drive at the time was only 2GB but I always have backups of my data now.
Work
In work we use SourceSafe and I also backup my important directories (about 10 of them) to someone else's PC at 1.15PM every day. This is a scheduled task, and I'm normally at lunch at that time. I use ROBOCOPY which is a Microsoft command line tool which is similar to XCOPY but it has many more features and is more reliable. I use the /MIR which copies all files and subdirectorys and /R:0 which skips any files which are open.
We also have a tape backup which runs nightly and backs up SQL, Sourcesafe and any network folders so I'm pretty much covered for backups in work.
Home
At home I have:
1. Approx. 300MB of personal files, documents etc. It's held on an encrypted partition using TrueCrypt. This is backed up using mozy.com, the free edition which allows 2GB of data. This backup is run on an ad-hoc basis - normally every 1-2 days.
2. Approx 40GB of music, video and pictures - this is held on a USB Hard Drive. Every month I bring the drive to work and copy it's contents to a PC in work.
This works for me but it isn't ideal for the following reasons:
a. Everything isn't automatically backed up. For 1. I can't do scheduled backups in case the TrueCrpyt parition isn't mounted because if it isn't Mozy thinks I've deleted my data and also deletes the backup too. For 2. the worst I can lose is a months worth of new data.
b. Version Control/Deleted Files. For 1. if files are deleted they'll also be deleted from the backup, and if a file is modified the original will be lost. For 2. any deleted files will be lost once I update the backup at work.
I did try Dropbox. but all it does is synchronizes a folder to the online version and the folder path is hard-coded. Good for some things but not for me.
A guy in work is using Cucku Backup which keeps copies at other locations, i.e. all my home data can be copied to work in real time. The backup is encrypted too so. I'll try this soon I think.
In work we use SourceSafe and I also backup my important directories (about 10 of them) to someone else's PC at 1.15PM every day. This is a scheduled task, and I'm normally at lunch at that time. I use ROBOCOPY which is a Microsoft command line tool which is similar to XCOPY but it has many more features and is more reliable. I use the /MIR which copies all files and subdirectorys and /R:0 which skips any files which are open.
We also have a tape backup which runs nightly and backs up SQL, Sourcesafe and any network folders so I'm pretty much covered for backups in work.
Home
At home I have:
1. Approx. 300MB of personal files, documents etc. It's held on an encrypted partition using TrueCrypt. This is backed up using mozy.com, the free edition which allows 2GB of data. This backup is run on an ad-hoc basis - normally every 1-2 days.
2. Approx 40GB of music, video and pictures - this is held on a USB Hard Drive. Every month I bring the drive to work and copy it's contents to a PC in work.
This works for me but it isn't ideal for the following reasons:
a. Everything isn't automatically backed up. For 1. I can't do scheduled backups in case the TrueCrpyt parition isn't mounted because if it isn't Mozy thinks I've deleted my data and also deletes the backup too. For 2. the worst I can lose is a months worth of new data.
b. Version Control/Deleted Files. For 1. if files are deleted they'll also be deleted from the backup, and if a file is modified the original will be lost. For 2. any deleted files will be lost once I update the backup at work.
I did try Dropbox. but all it does is synchronizes a folder to the online version and the folder path is hard-coded. Good for some things but not for me.
A guy in work is using Cucku Backup which keeps copies at other locations, i.e. all my home data can be copied to work in real time. The backup is encrypted too so. I'll try this soon I think.
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