Perform an on-demand Data Archive backup

To back up Data Archive, users must have read and write access permissions in the PIBACKUP table. Use the PI SMT Database Security tool to provide this access to users.

Use the Backups tool in SMT to run on-demand backups of Data Archive for testing and troubleshooting. On-demand backups run in component mode.

Note: Do not use the Backups tool as a substitute for scheduled backups. Your daily backups should be set up as a Microsoft Windows scheduled task.

1. In the Backups window, select the data server from the PI Server list.

2. Click Backup Now .

3. In the server Backup window, select the Data Archive components to back up.

   As you make a selection, the right side of the window shows the list of files that will be backed up.

4. In the Backup Location field, enter or browse to the target directory path.

   You can specify a UNC or a local path on the server that you are backing up.

   Note: If you are not running PI SMT on the same Data Archive server that you are backing up, then you cannot use the browse button unless you have Windows administrator access to that server.

5. Click Backup.

The Backup History window shows the backup details, including a backup's progress and whether it was successful or aborted.