SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM Backing Up File Vaults

Article by GoEngineer on May 19, 2015

Backing up File Vaults

File vault backups should be part of the daily management of SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM (now SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional). They are also required before you upgrade your Enterprise PDM components.

When backing up the vault, the latest updates in files that are still checked out and modified on client workstations are not included since they are stored in the local file vault view or local cache of the client. To ensure that the latest information of all files is always included in a backup, the files should be checked in.

Database Backup

Back up the file vault database hosted on the SQL Server using professional backup software such as Veritas Backup Exec with SQL agent. You can also perform the backup using the SQL Management tools that are included with the SQL Server.

Use the SQL Maintenance Wizard to schedule a planned backup.

To create a database backup manually:

From the Start menu, click All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SQL Server Management Studio.

Manually Create a Database Backup in SOLIDWORKS PDM

In the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, expand the Database folder. For this example the ConisioMasterDb is being selected.

Right-click the database to be backed up, and select Tasks Back Up.

Back Up Database ConisioMasterDb SOLIDWORKS PDM File Vault

In the Back Up databases dialog box, under Sources:

  • For Backup type, select Full.
  • For Backup component, select Database.
  • For the Destination, click Add.

In the Select Backup Destination dialog box, enter a destination path and file name for the backed up database and click OK

This location should be to a location that is not on the same location as your Enterprise PDM databases etc.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Backing Up File Vaults

For each of the file vaults, repeat the backup database process. For this example, the following vault database backups would be created for adaptaero, evaluation, PDMWE_TerryTest, and Training.

Backing up the Archive Server

The archive server contains file vault settings such as passwords and defined login types. It is also the physical location of the Enterprise PDM vault archive files. Backing up the archive server settings does not back up the archive files.

After backing up the archive server settings, include the backup file in your normal file backup.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Archive Server Configuration

On the archive server, from the Windows Start menu, click All ProgramsSOLIDWORKS Enterprise, then select Archive Server Configuration.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Backup Settings Option

Select Tools and then select Backup settings.

Backup Settings SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM Tutorial

In the Backup Settings dialog box:

  • Select Include all vaults. Alternatively, you can select Include selected vaults and specify the file vaults for which settings will be backed up.
  • Specify or select the Backup location. The default location is the archive root folder.
  • To schedule an automatic backup, click Schedule and specify the schedule.
  • Type and confirm the password for the backup file.
  • Do one of the following:
    • To perform the backup immediately, click Launch backup. When a message confirms the backup, click OK.
    • To perform the backup at the scheduled time, click OK.

The backup file is saved in the specified location and called backup.dat.

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