Restore a Data Archive backup to a new computer

This procedure assumes that you are restoring Data Archive on a computer where Data Archive was never previously installed. You need to know the following information about the Data Archive installation that you are restoring:

• The version of the Data Archive server that you are restoring (such as PI Server 2012).

• The full directory path, including drive letter, for the Data Archive installation that you are restoring (such as C:\%PISERVER%).

This procedure guides you through restoration of a complete Data Archive server from backup and the original installation disk. This is suitable for cases of disk crashes or disasters of similar magnitude.

1. Change the computer name of the new computer to the name of the old Data Archive computer. Restart the computer.

2. Restore the backup to a temporary directory, such as C:\TempRestoreDir.

   For example, if you have been backing up your backup directory with a third-party backup application, restore the desired backup to C:\TempRestoreDir. Alternatively, if you are restoring the latest backup, you can restore the Data Archive server directly from the latest backup directory. This procedure assumes that you have restored a previous backup to a folder of the name C:\TempRestoreDir.

3. Copy the installation kit to the new computer.

   The installation kit should be for the same version of the Data Archive server as the version you are restoring. Do not try to upgrade Data Archive as part of a restore.

   Note: If you are restoring an old backup, use the Data Archive server version that was installed at the time that the backup was taken. The version is typically found in the backup log, which should have been restored to C:\TempRestoreDir.

4. Disconnect the computer from the network.

   This step ensures that data is not lost from buffered interfaces in subsequent steps.

5. Run the Data Archive installation kit. Install on the same drive letter and directory path as on the old Data Archive computer.

6. Verify that the Data Archive computer is disconnected from the network.

7. Start Data Archive briefly, and then stop Data Archive.

   After completing the installation, start the Data Archive briefly to confirm it runs correctly. Once confirmed, stop the Data Archive to prepare for the file restoration process. This step ensures that the necessary run-once functions are completed and prevents any risk of overwriting files during the restoration.

   Note: Ensure the Data Archive computer remains disconnected from the network during this process to prevent data loss from buffered server nodes.Data Archive will be restarted in Step 13 to verify the restoration.

8. Using Windows Explorer or the copy command, restore all files from the C:\TempRestoreDir\dat\ directory to the new %PISERVER%\dat\ directory.

9. Restore all the message log files (pimsg_xxxxxxx.dat) from the C:\TempRestoreDir\log\ to the %PISERVER%\log directory.

10. Restore all files from the C:\TempRestoreDir\adm\ directory to the new %PISERVER%\adm\ directory.

11. Restore all files from the C:\TempRestoreDir\bin\ directory to the new %PISERVER%\bin\ directory.

12. Restore the archives from the C:\TempRestoreDir\arc\ directory to the same directory that they were installed on the old Data Archive computer. You can determine the directories from the archive list in the restored backup log.

    If you restore the archives to a different directory, you must also use PI SMT to register the primary archive in the new location (Operation > Archives). If you are uncertain which of the backed up archives is the primary archive, then examine the archive dates. The primary should have the latest start date and an end date of Current time.

13. Start Data Archive.

14. Register additional archives in PI SMT as needed.

15. Use piartool -al and the client tools (such as PI DataLink) to verify that all the data has been recovered. Run the clients locally, since the Data Archive computer is isolated from the network. If the data is intact, then the restoration is complete.

    Caution: Failing to perform this step before exposing the restored server to buffered data could cause data loss.

16. Connect Data Archive to the network. Verify it is reachable from clients on the network. Monitor all buffered interface nodes.

17. Use the MDB to AF Synchronization tool in PI SMT to check the status of the synchronization between MDB and AF.

18. If MDB and AF are out of sync, then use the MDB to AF Synchronization tool to reset MDB.