Backing Up
and Restoring
Software
This chapter introduces the procedures
you’ll use to back up and restore the MCS
software operating system, database, and
applications software with the BackMaster
utility.
9
Backing Up and
Restoring Software
Backing up the software on a bridge is a necessary and routine task
that’s often neglected. However, it’s important to do it regularly and
well to ensure that you can quickly recover from any type of bridge
malfunction (a mechanical failure, for example) or a larger disaster
(the facility burning down, for instance).
If you do not have up-to-date backups, you cannot restore the
bridge (or a replacement) to its current operating condition. Make
every effort to keep a current backup copy of the entire system and
the database: you never know when you’ll need it.
2-1
BACKING UP AND RESTORING SOFTWARE
Overview: What,
When, and How
You need to perform two types of backups in order to protect the
different types of programs and data on the bridge and to minimize
the amount of time you spend performing the task.
❑
A full image backup creates a copy of everything on the MCS’s
hard drive: the operating system, the bridge’s own software,
and the data in the MCS database. This procedure must be
done whenever there is a significant change in the bridge’s
operating system or software or once a month. You use the
bridge’s tape drive to create a full image backup; it usually
takes about an hour.
❑
A database backup creates a copy of all the videoconferencing
information in the MCS database: the system configuration,
users, groups, conferences, sites, and so on. This procedure
should be done whenever the information in the database
changes; when information is deleted or added. You use the
bridge’s diskette drive to perform a database backup; it takes
just a few minutes.
In each case, these guidelines are just that; guidelines. For instance,
if your bridge is an important link in a corporation’s
communications system or is part of a commercial information
provider’s network, you’ll probably want to make backups more
often to protect the bridge’s log and accounting files. You’ll need to
balance the need for backups against the value of your time and the
value of the bridge to your organization.
Table 9-1: How full image and database backups compare
Type of backup
What is protected
Operating system
Applications software
MCS database
Full image on tape
2-2
All support files
When to perform
Whenever there is a
change in the
software, or once a
month, whichever is
more often.
How long it takes
About two hours
(although it will take
longer if you need to
format a tape cartridge,
have an old, slow tape
drive, or have an
especially large
database).
Overview: What, When, and How
Table 9-1: How full image and database backups compare
Type of backup
What is protected
MCS database
Database backup
on diskettes
When to perform
Whenever the MCS
database changes, or
weekly, whichever is
more often.
How long it takes
Depends upon the size
of the database, but
usually fewer than 15
minutes.
Software tools
PictureTel bridges are delivered with BackMaster, a commercial
backup utility program that we feel is the best tool for PictureTel
bridge backup and restore tasks. The instructions in this chapter are
written for BackMaster 2.0, which is delivered with MCS software
levels of 5.0.C1 and greater. If you are using an older version of
software, follow the instructions in the original documentation set.
FF.Y.I.
YI
For more information on BackMaster and its capabilities
contact its publisher, MSR Development, for a manual. MSR
can be reached at:
4407 Manchester Ave. #104
Encinitas, CA 92024
619 633-3900
http://www.msrdev.com
? The first time
BackMaster is
run from the hard
drive, doesn’t it
require a
configuration
form to be filled
out? What about
from floppy?
2-3
BACKING UP AND RESTORING SOFTWARE
Supplies
Before you begin any procedure, you’ll need either tape cartridges
(for a full image backup) or diskettes (for a database backup). In
most cases, you’ll use one tape cartridge and three diskettes.
For tape backup procedures, you must match the tape cartridge you
use to the type of tape drive in your bridge. Most tape drives display
their model or supported format clearly on their front panel or door.
You can also use the table below, which lists types of drives used in
PictureTel bridges and the supported tape format.
Table 9-2:
PictureTel bridge tape drive formats
Bridge
PictureTel Prism
Tape drive label
Travan
Tape cartridge
format
QIC-80 Travan
(indicates a
Colorado T1000
tape drive)
Montage
Colorado 350
QIC-80 or QIC-80 XL
Colorado 250
QIC-80
Colorado 120
(may be
unlabeled)
QIC-40
All diskette drives in all bridges use IBM format high-density 3.5
inch diskettes.
TI
P
Try to use new media for backups. Used media can be
reformatted and reused, but media that is reused tends to be
more prone to failure than new media.
Formatting
Before either a tape cartridge or a diskette can be used, it must be
formatted. Formatting prepares the media so that the drive can
write information to it. Both diskettes and tapes can be purchased
2-4
Overview: What, When, and How
pre-formatted, which eliminates your having to perform this
preparatory step (formatting a tape cartridge can take two hours or
more). If you elect to reuse tapes or diskettes that have information
on them or you purchase new but unformatted media, formatting is
required in order to erase the old information and to prepare the
media for the new information.
Diskettes
To format a diskette:
1. Insert the diskette into a drive on either a bridge or an
IBM-compatible personal computer, such as a Workstation PC.
2. At a shell prompt (on a bridge) or a DOS prompt (on a PC), enter:
format a: /u
3. The program asks if you want to enter an optional volume label.
Entering a volume label can be useful to quickly identify
diskettes belonging to a particular backup set.
4. When the diskette has been formatted, you are prompted to format
additional diskettes.
If you respond by typing N, for no, the program ends.
If you respond by typing Y, for yes, you’re prompted for
another diskette.
Tape Cartridges
To format a tape cartridge:
Note: If your bridge does not have a mouse installed, use the
keystroke commands in parenthesis.
1. On the bridge, at a shell prompt, change directories to the
BackMaster install directory.
Enter:
cd \backmast
2. Run the BackMaster program.
At a shell prompt, enter:
backmast
2-5
BACKING UP AND RESTORING SOFTWARE
The main BackMaster window opens.
? Screen shot
3. Format the tape.
Pull down the Utilities menu (press Alt+U) and activate Format tape
(press Ctrl+F).
The Format Tape window opens.
4. Enter a name for the tape (optional).
The cursor is in the Name field. Highlight Untitled and then type
a name for this backup tape (typically a date).
? Screen shot
5. Start the format operation.
Activate Format (press Alt+F).
2-6
Backing Up the MCS
Backing Up the
MCS
This section tells how to perform a full image back up that copies the
MCS operating system, application software, and database to tape
and how to back up only the database to diskettes. These two types
of backup procedures complement each other; they do not replace
each other. You need to perform both to protect the bridge and its
data.
Full Image Back Up
There are two methods you can use to create a full image backup of
everything on the MCS hard drive.
❑
The first method runs BackMaster in single user mode,
automatically, with the bridge offline.
❑
The second method runs BackMaster under the OS/2
Presentation Manager while the bridge is online.
This means that conferences can take place while the backup is
created. However, conferencing quality may degrade because
the bridge’s processing power is divided between backing up
and managing videoconferences. The level of quality depends
on the bridge’s processing power and the complexity of the
conferences. Quite often, no conferencing quality is noticeable.
Caution
Because the restoration process cannot copy a database
from one software version into a different version, you must
back up a database from and restore it to the same software
version. Therefore, every time you install a new software
version, you should back up the database immediately.
Backing Up In Single User Mode
To perform a full image backup in single user mode:
1. Pick a time when no conferences are taking place and none are
scheduled for at least two hours.
2. Insert a blank, formatted tape cartridge into the bridge’s tape drive.
3. Start the backup program.
2-7
BACKING UP AND RESTORING SOFTWARE
On the bridge, in a Workplace Shell window at a shell prompt,
enter:
BACKUP
This command runs a batch file that reboots the MCS and uses
BackMaster to copy the entire contents of the hard disk to tape.
When the backup is complete, a prompt to reboot the system is
displayed.
Note: If you see error messages before the backup is
complete, correct the problem and start the
procedure over.
4. Reboot the MCS by pressing the Reset button to return to normal
operation.
5. Remove the tape from the drive and label the cartridge.
TI
P
? Is the command
line backup a
verified backup?
Many sites keep their backup tapes stored away from the
bridge location to ensure that if a disaster occurs, the tapes
and data are safe. There’s no safety in keeping both tapes
and bridge in the same room; both can be destroyed by the
same accident.
Backing Up Under the Presentation Manager
To perform a full image backup using OS/2’s Presentation Manager:
1. Pick a time when the conferencing load will be light for at least two
hours.
2. Insert a blank, formatted tape cartridge into the bridge’s tape drive.
Note: If your bridge does not have a mouse installed, use the
keystroke commands in parenthesis.
3. On the bridge, at a shell prompt, change directories to the
BackMaster install directory.
Enter:
cd \backmast
4. Run the BackMaster program.
2-8
Backing Up the MCS
At a shell prompt, enter:
backmast
The main BackMaster window opens.
5. Confirm that the automatic verify option is active.
This makes the backup program double-check the tape it creates
to ensure the accuracy of the file on the tape.
a. Pull down the Options menu (press Alt+O) and select
Configuration (press Ctrl+C).
The Configuration Options window opens.
b. Activate the Auto verify enabled checkbox (press Tab to move
to the checkbox and then press the spacebar to activate it).
c. Activate OK.
The main window reopens.
6. Retension the tape (If you just formatted the tape and it has not
been removed from the drive, you may skip this step.).
? Screen shot
Pull down the Utilities menu (press Alt+U) and activate Retension
tape (press Ctrl+R).
7. Set the scope of the back up.
Pull down the Backup menu (press Alt+B) and activate Full (press
Ctrl+F).
? Check keystrokes
The Drive Selection window opens.
8. Set the included drives.
? Check keystrokes
Highlight the C: drive listing (Use the arrow keys to move the
cursor and the spacebar to set or remove a highlight.).
Caution
Make sure the DOS compatible checkbox is not activated.
Activate OK.
The Backup — Full window opens.
9. Start the back up program.
Activate Start backup (press Alt+S).
2-9
BACKING UP AND RESTORING SOFTWARE
The Progress Indicator Display window opens and displays the
progress of the backup and the verification.
When both operations are complete, the main window reopens.
Backing Up the Database to Diskettes
Whenever you make changes to the MCS database, you should back
up the database to diskette. The MCS must be taken offline to back
up the database, so make sure you do this at a time when no
conferences are taking place.
You need at least three formatted diskettes to perform this
procedure. If your database is large, you may need more diskettes.
To back up the database to diskette:
1. On the bridge, in the Workplace Shell, kill the MCS control
program:
a. Press Ctrl+Esc.
The Window List opens.
b. Highlight QM_MAIN.EXE, and press Enter.
The QM_MAIN window opens.
c. Press Alt+F4.
The window closes, ending the program.
2. Insert a blank formatted diskette into the diskette drive.
3. Change directories to the SQLLIB directory.
At a shell prompt, enter
CD \SQLLIB
4. Run the backup/restore program.
At a shell prompt, enter:
START RECOVERY.EXE
The RECOVERY.EXE window opens.
5. Select the database to back up.
? Screen snap
Highlight QMDB.
6. Open the Backup database window.
Press Alt, then D, and then Enter.
2-10
Backing Up the MCS
The Backup Database window opens.
7. Set the back up parameters.
a. Select A: as the target drive.
b. Select Entire Database.
c. Select Backup.
The Backing Up Database QMDB window opens.
8. Respond to the prompts to switch diskettes as needed.
If you use multiple diskettes, be sure to label each diskette so
that you can tell which diskette was processed first, second, and
so on (disk 1 of 3, 2 of 3, etc.).
When the backup is complete, the Backup Database window
opens and a message stating that the operation was successful is
displayed.
9. End the program.
Select Cancel.
The RECOVERY.EXE window opens.
10. Close the window.
Press Alt, then ←, and then C.
The Workplace Shell window opens.
11. Reboot the MCS to resume normal operation.
2-11
BACKING UP AND RESTORING SOFTWARE
Restoring
Software or Data
to an MCS
Provided your backups are current, you’ll use backups of the
database on diskettes to recover from a minor problem, such as
when the bridge has been configured improperly, or some
information has been deleted from the database by mistake.
Restoring a full image from tape is the tool to use to recover from
catastrophic situations like these examples:
❑
Some of the software (either the operating system or the
applications software) has been corrupted
❑
A software upgrade has been aborted
❑
Hard drive failure
After a tape restore, you’re likely to also restore a database backup
because the database backups should be more up-to-date than the
tape backups because they’re performed more often.
Restoring a Database From Diskette
Caution
The restoration process cannot copy a database from one
software version into a different version, because the
database structure changes to reflect the new software’s
capabilities. Therefore, you must take care that you restore
a database to the same software version that was used to
create the data.
To restore the MCS database from diskettes:
1. On the bridge, in the Workplace Shell, kill the MCS control
program:
a. Press Ctrl+Esc.
The Window List opens.
b. Highlight QM_MAIN.EXE, and press Enter.
The QM_MAIN window opens.
c. Press Alt+F4.
The window closes, ending the program.
2. Insert the first backup diskette into the diskette drive.
2-12
Restoring Software or Data to an MCS
3. Change directories to the SQLLIB directory.
At a shell prompt, enter
CD \SQLLIB
4. Run the backup/restore program.
At a shell prompt, enter:
START RECOVERY.EXE
The RECOVERY.EXE window opens.
5. Select the database to restore.
? Screen snap
Highlight QMDB.
6. Open the Recover Into a New Database window.
Press Alt, then R, and then Enter.
The Recover Into a New Database window opens.
7. Set the restore parameters.
a. Type QMDB in the Database field.
b. Select A: as the source drive.
c. Select C: as the target drive.
8. Start the restore.
a. Activate Start.
A message is displayed warning that the database exists and
that restoring it deletes all data from the existing database.
b. Activate Start.
The Restoring Database QMDB window opens.
9. Respond to the prompts to switch diskettes as needed.
When the restoration is complete, the Recover Into a New
Database opens and a message saying that the operation was
successful is displayed.
10. End the program.
Select Cancel.
The RECOVERY.EXE window opens.
11. Close the window.
Press Alt, then ←, and then C.
2-13
BACKING UP AND RESTORING SOFTWARE
The Workplace Shell window opens.
12. Reboot the MCS to resume normal operation.
Restoring a System From Tape
If the MCS operating system, application software, or database
becomes corrupted or you have problems with the MCS hard drive,
you can perform a full restoration of the system from a backup tape.
To do this, you must have the bridge’s Boot Diskettes. Before you
begin this procedure, make sure that MCS Boot Diskettes are not
write-protected.
FF.Y.I.
YI
You also have the option, if you use BackMaster’s
Presentation Manager interface, of selectively restoring just
some files or directories from a full backup tape.
You can elect to do this if you have identified a problem as
not effecting the entire system. For instance, if a directory or
a set of files have been erased or corrupted.
To perform this procedure, invoke BackMaster at a system
prompt by entering:
BACKMAST
Then refer to BackMaster’s online help for instruction on the
Restore menu’s options.
Remember that to get the bridge to the same status it was before the
problem occurred, you may also have to restore a copy of the
database from diskette if the database backup was created more
recently than the full image backup.
2-14
Restoring Software or Data to an MCS
FF.Y.I.
YI
Although it is an optional step, it is strongly recommended
that before you format the MCS hard disk before you restore
a full image tape. This provides a clean hard drive for the
restoration and can eliminate some types of hard drive
errors.
However, if you’re very sure that your problem was not
caused by a hard drive problem and you’re short of time,
you can simply overwrite the MCS’s existing software with
the contents of the backup tape. If you elect to do this, skip
the Partitioning and Formatting the Hard Disk procedure.
Partitioning and Formatting the Hard Disk
To partition and format the MCS hard disk:
1. Insert MCS Boot Disk 1 of 2 in the diskette drive.
2. Press the Reset button to reboot the MCS.
After the bridge performs its startup diagnostics, an A:> system
prompt is displayed.
3. Insert MCS Boot Disk 2 of 2 in the diskette drive.
4. Partition the disk.
a. Enter:
FDISK
b. Insert MCS Boot Disk 1 of 2 in the diskette drive.
c. Reboot the MCS.
d. When the A: prompt is displayed, insert MCS Boot Disk 2 of 2
in the diskette drive.
5. Format the hard disk.
a. Enter:
FORMAT
A warning message is displayed, saying that the procedure
deletes all data and asking if you want to continue.
b. Press Y (for Yes).
A message displays when the format progam is done.
2-15
BACKING UP AND RESTORING SOFTWARE
c. Insert MCS Boot Disk 1 of 2 in the diskette drive.
Enter:
SWAP
A prompt to reboot the system is displayed. The procedure
is complete.
Restoring an Entire System From Tape
To restore from tape, you must have both MCS Boot Diskettes. Then,
follow these instructions:
1. Make sure that MCS Boot Disk 1 of 2 is not write protected (the
write protect slide should cover the write protect hole).
2. Insert MCS Boot Disk 1 of 2 into the diskette drive.
3. If you did not format the hard drive, enter:
SWAP.
A prompt to reboot the system is displayed.
4. Press the Reset button to reboot the MCS.
When the A: prompt is displayed, insert MCS Boot Disk 2 of 2 in
the diskette drive.
5. Insert the backup tape into the tape drive.
6. Install the operating system:
Enter:
BMREST
The BackMaster Configuration window opens:
? Snap
The keys you use to navigate and to select options are listed on
the bottom of the screen.
7. Set the restore parameters.
a. Press Tab to move the cursor to the Restore to field.
Use the arrow keys to highlight C:.
b. Press Tab to move the cursor to the Overwrite Options field.
Use the arrow keys to highlight Always.
c. Press Tab to move the cursor to the Restore from field.
Use the arrow keys to highlight your bridge’s tape drive. ;
2-16
Restoring Software or Data to an MCS
Bridge
Tape drive label
Restore from menu selection
PictureTel Prism
Travan
Colorado T1000 tape drive
Montage
Colorado 350
Colorado Jumbo 350
Colorado 250
Colorado Jumbo 250
Colorado 120 or unlabeled
Colorado 120
When all settings are correct, press Enter.
The Volume to Restore window opens.
d. Press Enter to accept the default setting.
The BackMaster window reopens and a directory tree of the
data on the backup tape is displayed.
e. Press the space bar.
An F is displayed in front of the +\. This selects all files on
the tape.
8. Start restoring data.
Press F10 to begin the restore process.
The Restore in Progress window opens and shows the progress of
the program as it reads data from the tape and writes it to the
hard drive. The process may take 20 minutes or longer.
When the restore operation is complete, a completion message
is displayed and the tape activity indicator light goes off.
Select OK to acknowledge the completion message.
The BackMaster Configuration window reopens.
9. Quit the restore program.
Press F3 to exit BackMaster.
? Check this. I
think it should be
A:
You see the C:\ prompt.
10. Finish the procedure.
a. Insert MCS Boot Disk 1 of 2 in the diskette drive.
b. Enter
NOSWAP
A prompt to reboot the system is displayed.
2-17
BACKING UP AND RESTORING SOFTWARE
c. Remove the tape and diskette from the drives and press the
Reset button.
After the MCS reboots, the system begins operating using the
database information from the backup tape. If you have database
backup diskettes that were created more recently than the tape,
restore the database by performing “Restoring a Database From
Diskette” on page 12.
If the system does not start operating, repeat the restore process
beginning with “Partitioning and Formatting the Hard Disk” on
page 15.
If the system does not begin operating correctly after the second
restore, contact PictureTel Customer Service at 508 762-5900, or,
within North America, 800 874-2835
2-18
Backing Up and Restoring the Workstation Software
Backing Up and
Restoring the
Workstation
Software
You need to back up only the MCS workstation configuration files.
These files contain information such as the connection type and
modem settings for connections to the MCS. The program files
themselves can always be restored from the software installation
diskettes.
To back up the MCS workstation configuration files, on the
Workstation PC:
1. Insert a blank, formatted diskette in the diskette drive.
2. At a DOS prompt, enter:
COPY C:\MCSWS\*.CFG A:
3. When the COPY program has finished, remove the diskette and
label it.
To restore MCS workstation configuration files, on the Workstation
PC:
1. Insert the Workstation backup diskette in the diskette drive.
2. At a DOS prompt, enter:
COPY A:*.* C:\MCSWS\
A warning prompt is displayed that asks if you want to
overwrite the existing files. Press A to overwrite all existing files
with the files from the diskette.
2-19
BACKING UP AND RESTORING SOFTWARE
2-20