Backups ยท 10 minutes

Check that a backup is real

A file with the right name is not a backup. Restore it somewhere safe and read a record from it.

What a complete backup includes

  • The database fileYour learners, fees, vouchers, marks and settings.
  • The provider key fileWithout it, encrypted digital-payment settings cannot be read after a restore.
  • A dated copy off the serverExternal drive in another room, or a secure school account.

Restore test, without touching live data

  1. Pick a quiet timeAfter the counter closes, or before opening.
  2. Copy the backup to a test folderUse a separate directory, not the live data path.
  3. Start a test instance against the copyIf you do not know how, ask support to walk you through it once and write down the steps.
  4. Open the day book for a recent dateFind a receipt you recognise. That is the proof.
  5. Record the testDate, backup name, who tested it, and which receipt was found.
Never restore over live data during school hours. Stop the service first, and keep the current live folder untouched until the restored copy has been checked.

If the backup is missing

Check that the server stayed powered overnight. A scheduled backup cannot run on a machine that is switched off at the socket. Move the backup time to just after closing, and confirm the task ran the next morning.

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