Skip to main content

PI AF Backup Considerations

Perform backups of your PI AF database on a regular basis, using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio or the 'sqlcmd' command utility.

Consider these points as you design a backup strategy:

  • Standard maintenance best practices include log backups, daily data backups, and periodic re-index on all databases.

  • When the SQL Server Agent is available (all editions of SQL Server except Express), PI AF will automatically install and schedule a nightly SQL Server backup.

  • Releases beginning with PI AF 2.1, schedule a SQL Server Agent job to back up data and logs. SQL Server replication requires the SQL Server Agent on the publisher (primary) instance.

  • The frequency of your backup depends on your application; nightly backups might be best. The default backup does a complete backup every night at 0315, local time. However, you can change the time and frequency, whether running full or differential backups.

  • Place the backup file on a different physical disk from where the SQL Server data is located. Since you may not be able to write to the root folder of C:\ drive, use another drive, such as a network drive, or a sub-folder for the backup.

  • SQL Express 2008 does not include a job scheduler, so you need to use a Windows utility to schedule the backup. You can use the following command to run the backup:

    sqlcmd -S \<SQLINSTANCE\> -d PIFD -Q "EXEC dbo.usp_backup @outpath = N'', @allwaysfullbackup = 1;" -E

    You will need the sysadmin, db_owner, or db_backupoperator role. Using the least privilege is the best security practice.

  • Be sure to back up PIFD database regularly.

Note: For further information about SQL Server database backup, please refer to Microsoft documentation.