Home Forums Discussions Problems Restoring to new main computer

I'm having problems setting up a backup machine. Basically, I want to use my backup to set up a new database on a different machine to see if I am set up for disaster recovery - ie. crashed hard drive or stolen machine.

I could use the Amazing Backup program with the monolithic .enc file, but this file doesn't work with my offline backup (at 14 gb too large for daily passage over the internet). Plus the Amazing Backup program continually puts extra backups in the Amazing Charts/Backup directory, which quickly fills up the server hard drive (a bad thing).

So my off site backup backs up the changed files in the Amazing Charts directory every night, including good shadow copy of open files. So here's what I've tried to do -
1. Fresh install of AC, with dummy practice, on new main computer.
2. Restore from offsite backup to different directory (AC2) on new main computer.
2. Disconnect the SQL database using the Advanced Options on Amazing Utilities.
3. Reset the path.
4. Start up AC and point to the AC2 directory.
5. Get an unable to connect to SQL database error every time.

I've checked and the appropriate mdf and ldf files are there. Why won't it connect?

Kevin,

I am not sure if I can help, because I am not sure exactly what you are doing. First, when you say "my offsite backup" what are you referring to? You had said that you weren't using the AC .enc files.

If you are using an offsite program which backs up only changed files, you are most likely not backing up the main system databases such as master, msdb or model but probably only the AC instance. Most 3rd party software, if not all, will offer addons to back up things such as Exchange Server and SQL. Consider that Acronis which makes a beautiful SQL backup program retails it for over $600. This is just to image the SQL Servers, nothing else. Of course, this makes restores extremely efficient and safe.

When you back up a SQL database, you generally back it up to a .bak file. In fact, if you run your database tuner, it will back up your databases into a .bak file in your Backup folder. You will not be able to run this daily, however, and use it as your backup (well AC corporate could) as you would need to have access to SQL Server Management Studio (which you can download free for SQL Express). But, then you need the sa username and password, which you don't have.

All of this begs the question why not use the native backup program which comes with AC. I may be mistaken, but I believe it only backs up the user databases such as codes, meds and amazingcharts. I think I must have written a novel and disagreed with at least ten users, but here is where it comes into play. While you can back up everything at one time, why not split the imported items so you aren't backing up 14GBS, which of course, you can't do offsite. You could do one backup locally and offsite with the AC backup program and then one local backup of the whole program including the imported items locally. I think offsite backups are overrated anyway, but that is just my opinion. Restoring from the .enc file is simple and rather foolproof.

But, it seems what you are doing is fine only you lose me at a couple of places. It seems as though your fresh "dummy" install is to install SQL Server Express. OK. Then you download your saved version to a different directory (just the program with its databases). So, here you say start up AC and point to the AC2 directory. Start up which AC? The dummy one? You already have AC2. Just connect it to SQL. Of course, you would use the utility to reconnect if possible. But, if that doesn't work, can you do it this way?

Install dummy practice. Detach and move the databases to another site or the recycle bin. Detach and move the databases from AC2 into the AC folder. Start up AC.

Wow, more issues than I thought. In any case, the reason I haven't been using the AC offsite backup is because I have a lot more stuff to back up than just AC. There's the billing program, financial records, patient handout directory (which has gotten very large) and others. Logmein backup has been working fine with these things.

Everything seems to work fine but then I get the following message:

There was an error reaching your SQL Server databases on MILLERHOME (port number 61067)

DETAILS:

I'm wondering if somewhere the connection string needs to be changes? Or do I have to mess arorund with more advanced SQL backup? Logmein does SQL backup but doesn't give any 'how to's.

The AC backup program seems to always make a 14 gb .enc file. I'm not sure where it does differential or incremental backup. As you mentioned, the .bak file is not set up for users to use.

I tried just moving files and it did not work. There is some change that occurs in SQL settings that you need backup restore to accomplish.

Try doing backup and use the option to exclude your import items. Then do a restore and copy the import folder separately. I suspect this should work.

In practice you will send your backup out minus imports and periodically copy your imports to be available for an emergency.

You could use another program to backup your import item folder only either to another computer on the system or over the internet, which may take too long.

When you say AC2 do you mean the AC folder is named differently or just that it's on the dummy machine? AC can be occasionally finicky about changing the folder name too much (although I have one called Amazing Charts New and it works) Make sure this is not an issue as well

I guess our replys crossed in the wind. I did not know Logmein b/u did SQL, it may be worth calling them on this for details. I dropped it because it could not accomplish backing up my backup folder. I might have to look into this.

The backup is complete (not differential or incremental.) I have 7 years of data and the AC b/u file is < 1 G (with imports). We do keep old chart scans separate, so I suspect that most of your 14 G is probably import items.

Wendell,

You're pretty much right on. Couple of things though. You can download the database and move it to the other. I have tried it many times.

Careful, though, because the databases are connected to the SQL Server engine, and not only can things like LogMeIn not going to be able to stop services, etc. or back up master, msdb or model (which you don't necessarily need to do -- but if they become corrupted, you are in trouble for a while) there is a good chance those databases may be corrupted. This is why you can copy the Amazingmeds database and move it. You can but you risk corruption. No real connection strings involved. That's the program to the databases.

However, you are completely right about the backup.

Kevin, do this exactly. Start from scratch. Go to other computer. Download a new AC and SQL Server Express. This will be your new program. Now, take a AC Backup without the Imported Items (for now), and run AC Restore and restore. It will ask you if you want to overwrite everything, and say yes. Then you will have the exact same AC you had before. Of course, you must back up everyday.

Wendell has a good point about using a different software program to back up the imported items. Yes, the AC Backup (in its infinite wisdom to help computer-illiterate users (sorry), puts the backup in the Backup Folder (I am writing a script for this -- to limit those). But, don't do AC Backups w/imported items without deleting it from that folder. But, you can back up the whole shebang to another hard drive and then delete.

That would be the simplest way. Back up once to an external hard drive and delete the backup in the Backup Folder. Then back up offline and again to another folder on the external drive without the imported items. Now you are all set.

The .bak file can be used if you have the right (free) software and know the sa password. LogMeIn and Carbonite are not going to tell you they can back up Exchange and SQL or they would end up getting sued left and right. It's just too difficult for them. And, Carbonite and LogMeIn Backup ARE NOT MADE for backing up serious server stuff.

So backup everything to external and delete the one in the AC folder.

Backup just the AC without the imported items offsite and to the same hard drive and keep a copy, if you want, in the AC folder.

Restore from there.

Kevin,

You are to be commended for doing this. It will serve you will. In the IT backup business part of the routine of backups are restores to check how it works. More people should do this.

Let me and Wendell know how it turns out.

So far this has worked. No need to disconnect databases or reset paths. I did create a dummy practice but I am not sure that is necessary. I am restoring imported items from my usual offline backup source. The .enc file without imported items is a lot smaller, less than a gigabyte. I don't doubt it will work fine with the restored imported items. I think I can use AC backup with the smaller size of the .enc file. There is an option on the Utilities program to delete backups older than 30 days and I think I can manage to do that. The size of the .enc file is small enought that I can have it go across the internet with encrypted offsite backup.

Yes, there is that option, but it is manual, which makes it basically useless. May as well open the folder and delete them. One should be able to set it to automatically delete a backup older than x days. Better yet, they shouldn't back up there in the first place. Number one, it is the weakest place to put a backup -- in the same folder, and two, you constantly have to remember to delete them.

Reading through all the solutions above, it struck me that there may be another way to switch AC to a new "main" computer. Would it be possible to accomplish this using the "Amazing Synchronizer" program?

For example:
1. Install AC 4.0 on the new "main" computer; during install, select the option that "this computer may be taken off site and sync-ed upon return".
2. Once installed, start up AC on the new computer and connect to the AC database on old "main" computer (I believe this step is necessary to populate AC on a new computer with the practice data). Then log off AC on the new computer.
3. Start up Amazing Synchronizer on the new "main" computer and choose the option to "Sync & take this computer off site". Under "Settings", include the Imported Items in the sync process.
4. After the Amazing Synchronizer finishes, use Amazing Utilities to reset paths on the client computers to the database on the new main computer.

I'm going to give this a try, and I'll report back regarding the results.

Would be interested in the results, but a couple of questions:

For #1, Isn't the selection you are referring to the same as the first selection, e.g. both install AC and SQL?

For #2 I don't quite understand that one. The practice data resides in the AmazingCharts.mdf database on your old main computer and shouldn't just "jump" over to the new computer.

I don't know, I haven't thought about it very long. Seems like you would have to manually enter the practice data.

Synchronization should work but is impractical in a disaster recovery situation. My restore to a new main computer worked in all details except it lost the imported items that had not been signed off. I'm not sure if it bagged all of these or only the ones that were in my Inbox. This is an issue that should be addressed at some point. All the other messages were restored.