Scheduled backups

[Super-T]

Steve
My Cumulus 1 runs so well now that I only shut it down intermittently when I need to reboot the computer. It is running on a standalone computer now.
I think that the backups are only done when Cumulus closes? This can create a problem where, if I don't shut it down for a few weeks then the last backup would be older than the data in the WH1081 and if a recovery using backups was necessary then it might be an idea for C1 to autobackup weekly if a backup hasn't been done.
Perhaps even a "Button" on the front end to do the backup as required.
I also backup across the network daily in my normal backups to a spare HD.
Just a thought....maybe to include in C2.

[steve]

Yes, it's occurred to me that this is an issue. The backups are done at start up, so that the exact conditions at that start up can be reproduced later, if required. The problem is that it's not straightforward to do a backup that can be used to start from, while Cumulus is running. But I'll have a think about it; it may not be as difficult as I think it is.

[gemini06720]

Steve, if a backup can be made while Cumulus is still running, might you be able to give the users a few options such as daily backups or weekly backups, or anything in between...

[steve]

Yes; if I can work out how to do the backup so it's actually usable to start up from, I can offer a few options of how often to do one.

[nikkidev]

Would it also be possible to allow choosing of backup location. I recently lost all my weather data after a full system restore because I forgot that my weather data was within the program files structure.

[steve]

Would it also be possible to allow choosing of backup location. I recently lost all my weather data after a full system restore because I forgot that my weather data was within the program files structure.

Possibly... but the backups aren't a full backup anyway. They are there you allow you to 'rewind', to re-try a start up when something goes wrong, and just contain enough to allow that (only the current month's data is saved). They don't replace standard data backup procedures.

[Super-T]

Nikki
You should include the entire cumulus directory as part of your "Daily" backups

[gemini06720]

Terry 'Super-T',

...You should include the entire cumulus directory as part of your "Daily" backups...

That would not be practical because there are many graphic files (some of them quite large in size) that can easily be re-created once Cumulus has been re-started...

What would be nice to have in the backup would be the files that contain Cumulus' operating parameters as well as some of the archived weather data.

[Super-T]

Probably true but my Cumulus directory is only 53 meg and I only backup changes.
Much more complicated to explain to someone that they should select specific files, and those specific files would change monthly and yearly.
KISS principal works well.
I guess it depends on what the backup medium is as to time problems but when your Outlook.pst is up over 1 gig them 53 meg is nothing.
My Cumulus has been running since July '08.

[GraemeT]

I'm with you, Terry - keep it simple.
I use Acronis True Image 2009 to manage a fairly simple backup strategy of a monthly system backup plus daily incremental backups of folders holding critical data.
When I began using Cumulus, I just added the \data\ and \web\ folders to Acronis' daily backup of critical files.
This results in a maximum of 1 day's data at risk at any time and recovery is quick and painless.

Cheers for now