RM CC4 Backup

[TheFace]

Hi

 

If I want to perform a full backup of an RM CC4 Windows 2008 server using windows server backup do I have to stop the RMConnect PostgreSQL database server service before I perform the backup or will it still be ok if I leave it running ?

Any other RM services need stopping or am I ok just to go ahead and not alter anything before I backup ?

[yac2016]

Not used Windows Server backup on CC4 for some time, but you don't need to stop any services or make any alterations. We used to use it all the time to perform backups to tape.

[AlanD]

First - and most importantly - this is something you should discus with RM support. You pay a small fortune for it - so make that money earn its keep.

 

And surely you are already doing full backups....what is different about this backup from those you already do?

 

My understanding is that (assuming all updates and patches are in place and the CC4 server is running OK) is that CC4 does its own "backup" of PostgresSQL. I'm not sure how often it happens - and probably its just the one backup file which gets rotated . I've never had to use it to recover- and I guess it would require some kind of manual intervention (such as stopping the service and renaming files).

 

You could always start the server in "safe mode" - so there are no services running and perform a backup to a local USB3 SATA disk or something - which might be safer because there could be other services with "open files" and cached data not actually written to a file.

 

I am wondering why you are asking this...and what you intend to do with this backup. While bare metal recovery might be possible from a windwows backup ...I'm not entirely convinced I'd want to put it to the test unless I really had to. If one of our servers went down - I'd more more inclined to take the opportunity to do a completely clean re-install and then recover the user/shared data only. It would seem too good an opportunity to miss. A load of stuff (including AD) can get very touchy if you present an existing network and with a "recovered" server.

[TheFace]

Cheers, was thinking about using the free version of veeam endpoint backup instead but if WSB works just as well will use that

[yac2016]

RM used to use windows backup and re-badge it RM Server Backup. There is the usual issues with recovering a full server using WSB, but I never had an issue on CC4. Saying that we are all virtual so use Altaro at most sites to backup VM's.

 

I would agree though you should already have some form of full backup procedure in place.

[TheFace]

As the case with many schools there is no RM Support Contract in place and hasn't been for a while.

 

Currently it is full backed up daily to tape, but a restore has never been tested.

 

My ultimate aim was to take a full bare metal backup to a nas box and recover it to a virtual hyper v 2008 server elsewhere for test purposes. Can this not be done ?

[yac2016]

Yes should be possible as long as you create the correct disk sizes for the test VM.

[AlanD]

As the case with many schools there is no RM Support Contract in place and hasn't been for a while.

 

...Wondering if this is because support was provided indirectly through local authority....then its become an Academy ...but no one thought through ICT implications....

 

So I assume...there have been no regular software updates to your CC4 either....and there have been lots of "critical" updates that ensure the smooth and trouble free running of CC4 in the last couple of years.

 

I am beginning to have some sympathy for RM - which often (and sometimes deservedly) come in for a lot of criticism...but if this is from schools that have chosen to abandon support ...and yet clearly are not so averse to using it that they have gone "veneer" (possibly because there are some good things about RM?...) then perhaps I am not surprised.

 

I think there are better "tools" - which can "virtualise" an existing server which are more tolerant of different hardware the recovery takes place to. But yes, in theory at least - you should be able to recover the backup to a virtual server. I can't see the logic in you wanting to "test" an installation which is bound to be problematic with missing updates....

 

If I thought for moment that it was an attempt to - for example - to clone an RM server for use in another school - then that would be unacceptable, unethical, almost certainly illegal....and while a Judge might have some sympathy with an excuse of "lack of budget" I could practically guarantee it wouldn't reduce any sentence handed out. As someone who has written and published software I expect users to pay for it. If they don't want to pay for it...don't use it. While I question the "worth" of RM CC4 regularly (and indeed the worth of Microsoft and Apple software) they are entitled to charge what they like - even if we don't like it.

[TheFace]

Cheers for all advice. Ultimately I want to virtualise the cc4 and sims server to the same host which is currently the physical cc4 server. Replicate the vms across to another server with hyper v.

 

With no support contract though i wanted to test that cc4 server can be restored in the case of failure and also virtualised

[TheFace]

Believe me the last thing I would want to do would be to clone and rm server to take to another school.

 

The school have the licenses for the software just not the £2000 phone support.

 

I have seen cc4 in 3 schools and none have the phone support contract.

[yac2016]

A bit harsh to assume someone you don't know, who just asked a standard question about backup and restoring a CC4 2008 system, that they would want to copy it across to another school network.

 

It's a 2008 CC4 system why would anyone want to do that, it would be a nightmare.

 

I would virtualise and do a full test restore, with no updates you may need it at some point if something goes wrong.

[TheFace]

Alan seems like the type of chap that would phone 999 to report a member of his own family for having a faulty brake light imo