Geo SCADA Database Backup

Problem

How do I properly backup a Geo SCADA database including all history and events?

Solution 1

ClearSCADA 2015 and newer features a 'Backup' object.  This object may be added to the Geo SCADA database to be used to backup individual objects or event the whole database itself.  Follow the steps in the ViewX help to create and configure a 'Backup' object.  The ViewX Help describes how to configure the 'Backup' object here:

ViewX Help | System Administration | Server Administration | Back up the Database |

Solution 2

Follow the steps below to manually create a complete backup of your Geo SCADA database.

1)    Open a Windows Explorer dialog and locate the Geo SCADA Database folder.  On a Windows 10 PC the location should be

C:\ProgramData\Schneider Electric\ClearSCADA\Database

(The Database location may be found by right-clicking on the server icon, selecting ‘Configuration’ and then navigating to system configuration | Location.

All fields should be common to a folder named ‘Database’)






2) Bring the Geo SCADA server icon into view by selecting it from the system tray.







3) Right-click on the server icon and select ‘Shutdown Server’. NOTE: Never copy a database while the Geo SCADA server is running.  The database could be corrupted if the server is not shut down first.







4) Wait for the server icon to first turn red (shutting down) and then grey.  When the icon turns grey the Geo SCADA server has been fully shut down.








5) Back in the Windows Explorer dialog right-click on the ‘Database’ folder and select ‘Properties’.






6) Note the size of the file in bytes.  You will need to ensure that you have this much space available on the drive/media that you will be storing the database.

7) Close the Properties dialog, right-click on the ‘Database’ folder and select ‘Copy’.

Paste the folder to another drive/media for safe keeping.






8) Alternatively you could rename the ‘Database’ folder and so that it remains saved in the same folder location.  Right-click on the ‘Database’ folder and select ‘Rename’.   The recommended format is ‘Database_MonthDay_Year’.




9) Once the ‘Database’ folder has been moved/renamed you’ll notice if you start the Geo SCADA server that the icon may turn pink  (Typically, in ClearSCADA versions 2014 and older the icon will turn pink.  In ClearSCADA versions 2015 and newer, it won't).  The Geo SCADA server looks for a folder named ‘Database’ when it starts.  If it does not find this folder it goes into a safe mode indicated by a pink server icon.





10) If the server icon turns into a navy blue triangle (as in the image above), then skip steps 10) and 11).  If the server icon turns into a pink 'X' then the user will need to create a new, blank database by starting the database from this state.  Right-click on the pink server icon and select ‘Start Database’.








11) A dialog may appear asking a user whether they want to start the database or stay in safe mode.  If this dialog appears, Select ‘Start Database’.
(Note: this typically happens in older versions of Geo SCADA prior to ClearSCADA 2015)





12) Upon starting the database the server icon should turn navy blue and you will notice a new folder named ‘Database’ has been created in the Windows Explorer dialog.

Released for:Schneider Electric Canada