Backup Guidelines: /Documentation/Archive/20.11

Backup Guidelines

Documentation: Version 20.11

Backup Guidelines

This topic provides general guidelines for backing up your data.

You should backup the following data in LabKey Server:

Database
Data Files
Configuration and Log Files

If you are using our recommended folder configuration, the <LABKEY_ROOT>\backup subdirectory is a good place to store backups locally.

Database

Backup procedures will vary somewhat based on the type and location of your database. These guidelines can get you started.

PostgreSQL

The default LabKey installation uses a PostgreSQL database. PostgreSQL provides commands for three different levels of database backup: SQL dump, file system level backup, and on-line backup.

You can also find backup details in the PostgreSQL documentation for your version, available here:

https://www.postgresql.org/docs/

Microsoft SQL Server

For further information on administering Microsoft SQL Server, see the documentation that came with your Microsoft SQL Server installation.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/default.aspx

Data Files

Site-level File Root. You should backup the contents (files and sub-directories) of the site-level file root. The location of the site-level file root is set at: (Admin) > Site > Admin Console > Configuration > Files.

Navigate to the file root location (for instance, an older installation might have been located in: C:\Program Files (x86)\LabKey Software).
Right-click on the files folder and select Send To > Compressed (zipped) folder to create a zip file of the folder.
Move this zip file to C:\labkey\backup.

Pipeline Files. You should also back up any directories or file shares that you specify as root directories for the LabKey pipeline. In addition to the raw data that you place in the pipeline directory, LabKey will generate files that are stored in this directory. The location of the pipeline root is available at: (Admin) > Go To Module > Pipeline > Setup.

Other File Locations. To see a summary list of file locations: go to (Admin) > Site > Admin Console > Configuration > Files, and then click Expand All. Note the Default column: if a file location has the value false, then you should backup the contents of that location manually.

Note: For some LabKey Server modules, the files (pipeline root or file content module) and the data in the database are very closely linked. Thus, it is important to time the database backup and the file system backup as closely as possible.