Back up an Archive

Before you begin

Ensure you have enough disk space.

About this task

You must back up archive files periodically to ensure that your data is protected. These backup files contain tag data as well as alarms and events data. You can send these files to a shared network location or to physical media.

Always back up archives before a planned Historian software product upgrade. Use Microsoft® Volume Shadow Copy Service when backing up archive files that are more than 2 GB in size or when backing up more than the last two archives. For more information, refer to Back Up Archives with Volume Shadow Copy Service.

This topic describes how to back up an archive manually. You can also back up an archive automatically.

Important points to remember:
  • The .IHC file is automatically backed up when, and only when, you back up the current archive .IHA file. By default, the .IHC backup path is the same as the archives path.
  • The .IHC backup file uses the following naming convention: <system name>_Config-Backup.ihc. If the default backup path is different from the archives counterpart, the .IHC file is copied to the backup folder with the standard .IHC naming convention: ComputerName_Config.ihc.
  • In the mirroring system, Client Manager sends a backup message to Data Archiver located on the Client Manager node to which you are connected. The back up, then, happens in the specified location on that node. If that Data Archiver is not running, a NOT_CONNECTED error message appears, and the backup will not happen.
  • If you back up an archive more than once, the backup tool will (by default) attempt to use the same name for the backup file and will detect that an archive with the same name already exists. Rename the backup archive file or move the original backup archive file to a different folder.

Procedure

  1. Access Configuration Hub.
  2. In the NAVIGATION section, under the Configuration Hub plugin for Historian, select Archives.
    The Archives section appears.
  3. Right-click the archive that you want to back up (or select ), and then select Backup Archive.
    The Backup Archives window appears. The ARCHIVE NAME field is disabled and populated. The BACKUP FILE PATH field is disabled and populated with the value in the DEFAULT BACKUP PATH field of the data store.
  4. Select OK.
    The archive file is backed up.