SIMS Backups

[timbo343]

Just recently we have noticed that out backups done in SIMS are not been exported to a ZIP file so we are are ending up with massive backup files, but they were before we did an update.

 

Can anyone help me on how to get these backup files into a zip file during the backup process as going back to the backup file everyday and converting them to a zip file is going to be tedious.

 

Thanks

 

Tim

[matt40k]

Yes, zipping got removed. Before this happened I create a tool to cope with it.

 

Tidybackups

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/43573-sims-tidy-backups-sql-2008-autumn-release.html

tidybackups | Get tidybackups at SourceForge.net

Hope that helps

Edited May 11, 2010 by ZeroHour

[vikpaw]

That was a planned change by Capita. There are reasons for it, check SupportNet.

 

You can script the zipping to take place, or a very helpful member has written an app that will automate the process for you. I'll go find it and post the link here.

 

The other option is to use a program like WinZip, WinRAR to compress them for you in bulk every so often. I've done this with WinRAR before, and it will bulk compress a bunch of files, each to a separate rar archive file at your choice of compression level, maintain the original filename, delete the original, and password protect if you wish.

[vikpaw]

...You can script the zipping to take place, or a very helpful member has written an app that will automate the process for you. I'll go find it and post the link here.

...

 

speak of the devil

[dwhyte85]

SIMS told me to use compression on the server Not going to happen!

 

Thanks for posting tool

[timzim]

SIMS told me to use compression on the server Not going to happen!

Why? If you're only backing up at night then putting a brief extra load on the server shouldn't impact on any users? Seems sensible to me to just compress the backup folder.

[matt40k]

And what happens when you get a critical patch that your told to run during the school day? You don't want to waste time compressing. Most patches take less then 5mins to apply, even with a backup! Previously it was over and hour just to do a backup!!

 

Compression can happen later on when no-ones using the system along with the rest of your maintainance tasks.

[timzim]

I'm can never patch during the day - don't get to take SIMS down at all during school hours as it's in constant use (Lesson Monitor!). Anyway, I've had plenty of patches fail and then had to restore the databases - wouldn't want to be doing that with a mob of angry teachers beating on my door...

[apeo]

Previously it was over and hour just to do a backup!!

 

You must have a big database for compression to take that long.

[Mcshammer_dj]

I use matt's scripts on all my schools now. The advise from Capita regarding compression was just a wate of time. All I now do is run a dbattach backup and then the tidybackups routine, with the delete level set to 45 days

[vikpaw]

I use matt's scripts on all my schools now. The advise from Capita regarding compression was just a wate of time. All I now do is run a dbattach backup and then the tidybackups routine, with the delete level set to 45 days

 

It's funny, you'd have thought, by now Capita would have bought him out and rebranded him as Capita_matt40k

[dwhyte85]

Why? If you're only backing up at night then putting a brief extra load on the server shouldn't impact on any users? Seems sensible to me to just compress the backup folder.

 

Compression of the backup folder will cause issues with BackupExec, or at least compressed folders used to on BE?

 

If we had a major outage, had to restore to a new folder on a new server... it used to be the case that compressed folders didn't always work once restored, albeit this wasn't SIMS.. it was pharmaceutical stuff

Edited March 17, 2010 by dwhyte85

[TimH]

Most patches take less then 5mins to apply, even with a backup! Previously it was over and hour just to do a backup!!

 

Out of interest how large does/can the SIMS database/backup become ?

 

We only started using SIMS in September, our backups are about 1.2GB (1700 students 11-18 secondary) and are only taking a minute and a quarter to run (modified date compared creation date).

 

tim

[matt40k]

SQLExpress is limited to 4GB, I believe. I know schools with 6gb database which grows by 1gb per year on average, that's not including DMS!!