This document provides instructions for backing up and restoring the RightFax server software and SQL database using Microsoft's OSQL command-line utility. The OSQL utility is automatically installed on your SQL server when you install either the full version of SQL or the MSDE SQL database provided with the RightFax server software. Backing up the server requires a separate backup storage device or software utility. Captaris does not provide support for third-party backup tools, and so you should be familiar with your organization's software backup tools and protocols before scheduling regular backups.
All of the RightFax server files can be backed up using any standard disk or tape backup system. If you have applied Service Pack 2 for RightFax 9.0, a complete backup of the server can be performed at any time without shutting down the server or stopping the RightFax services. If you have not upgraded to version 9.0 Service Pack 2, you must stop the RightFax BoardServer service before performing a backup to ensure that the file actlog.dat, which is periodically opened and closed by the BoardServer, does not cause read/write errors during the backup. While the BoardServer service is stopped, no faxes can be sent or received. You can set this service to stop and restart automatically in Windows Scheduled Tasks based on the start time and approximate duration of the backup process.
To ensure that your backup software does not cause any disruption or slowdown of the RightFax server, Captaris recommends scheduling backups only at night or during off-peak hours.
To backup the RightFax server software, backup the \RightFax folder and all of its subfolders. Because several RightFax configuration settings are stored in the Windows Registry, Captaris recommends also backing up the following registry keys:
Refer to the documentation for your backup software and/or Microsoft Windows for information on scheduling and executing periodic backups of your software and the registry, and for information on restoring from the backup.
Important Note: Because the bump codes that enable all of your licensed RightFax features are tied to the name of the computer on which the software is installed, you must call Captaris Support to obtain new bump codes if you restore the RightFax server to a machine other than the one on which it was originally installed.
RightFax stores most of its data in a SQL database which is stored and maintained separately from the core server software. Depending on how the RightFax server software was installed, this database may be on a separate SQL server on your network, or an MSDE SQL database installed directly on the RightFax server computer. To perform a backup of the RightFax database, you must know where this database is installed, and you must have a user ID and password with administrative access to the database.
To back up the RightFax database using OSQL
Open a command prompt on the SQL server or on the RightFax server if you are using MSDE SQL.
Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Binn
Enter the
command:
osql -UUserID -PPassword -HServerName
Where UserID is a SQL user ID with administrative access, Password
is the password for the specified user, and ServerName is the machine
name of the server where the database is located. (When SQL is installed,
the default user ID is "sa" and the default password is blank.)
Note that the commands and parameters are case-sensitive.
On the command
line that follows, enter the following command set:
BACKUP DATABASE rightfax TO DISK = 'C:\Backup\rightfax.bak'
[Enter]
go [Enter]
exit [Enter]
Where C:\Backup is the name of the folder where you want the
backup file to be stored. This can be a local folder or a folder on any
mapped drive on the network. The backup process may take several minutes,
depending on the size of the database. Note that the commands and
parameters are case-sensitive.
To create a batch file for automating the database backup
To automate the database backup at a scheduled time you can create a batch file which will execute the OSQL backup command, and then add the batch file to your Scheduled Tasks list in Windows Control Panel.
Caution: This batch file will overwrite any existing backup file in the target folder without prompting for confirmation.
The batch file should contain only the following command:
osql -UUserID -PPassword -HServerName -Q"BACKUP DATABASE rightfax TO DISK = 'C:\Backup\rightfax.bak'"
Where UserID is a SQL user ID with administrative access, Password is the password for the specified user, ServerName is the machine name of the server where the database is located, and C:\Backup is the name of the folder where you want the backup file to be stored. (When SQL is installed, the default user ID is "sa" and the default password is blank.) Note that the commands and parameters are case-sensitive.
Follow these steps to restore the RightFax database from a backup:
Open a command prompt on the SQL server or on the RightFax server if you are using MSDE SQL.
Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Binn
Enter the
command:
osql -UUserID -PPassword -HServerName
Where UserID is a SQL user ID with administrative access, Password
is the password for the specified user, and ServerName is the machine
name of the server where the database is located. (When SQL is installed,
the default user ID is "sa" and the default password is blank.)
On the command
lines that follow, enter this command set:
RESTORE DATABASE rightfax FROM DISK = 'C:\Backup\rightfax.bak'
[Enter]
go [Enter]
exit [Enter]
Where C:\Backup is the name of the folder where the backup file
was stored. The restore process may take several minutes, depending on
the size of the database.
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