Put catalog file on same drive as backup

[klaveness]

Using Retrospect 7.7.620 on Win 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

 

I run one Retrospect backup daily to a second internal drive (designated the D:\ drive) inside the computer, and an occasional backup to an external hard drive (the G:\ drive) that I store offsite.

 

Retrospect puts the catalog file for the daily internal backup on the C:\ drive, which holds the operating system and my stuff. So when the C:\ drive crashes, the catalog file is lost. Although I can rebuild the catalog file from the backup on the D:\ drive, it takes two days.

 

On the other hand, Retrospect puts the catalog file for the occasional/offsite backup onto the external G:\ drive itself. So that catalog file is accessible and usable in a restore.

 

Could the program be tweaked so that the catalog file for the backup set always goes on the drive where the backup goes? Or so that the user can select where he wants the catalog file to go?

 

Please see the post below, in the Professional forum, for elaboration.

 

http://forums.retros...l-backup-drive/

 

Thanks.

[Lennart_T]

Retrospect puts the catalog file for the daily internal backup on the C:\ drive, which holds the operating system and my stuff. So when the C:\ drive crashes, the catalog file is lost. Although I can rebuild the catalog file from the backup on the D:\ drive, it takes two days.

You could create a backup copy of the catalog file on another disk.

 

 

 

Or so that the user can select where he wants the catalog file to go?

Hmmm? I'm only on version 7.6, but I remember clearly that Retrospect prompted for the folder for the catalog file.

 

Are you using grooming? Then you should NOT put the catalog file on the same volume. When the volume becomes full and grooming starts, Retrospect needs lots of spcae for updating the catalog file. Space that it just ran out of.

So create a small partition on the D or G physical disk for the catalog files.

[klaveness]

You could create a backup copy of the catalog file on another disk.

 

The user should not have to take that step, either manually or by setting up a separate Retrospect script to duplicate the catalog file -- especially since the software is "smart" enough to place the catalog file on the external G:\ drive.

 

I have set up a duping script, by the way -- but I'm denied access to the folder that Retrospect places it in, even though I'm the administrator. (Please: Let's not divert this thread onto "access denied." That's a different can of worms.)

[Naughty Nigel]

There is an option to keep a copy of the catalogue file on the backup media. I have forgotten where this is, but I think you select this option when creating a a backup set. (We use RDX and LTO tape drives.)

 

There is a further option (in Configure, Backup Sets, Properties, Options) for fast catalogue rebuild. This only needs the latest backup member, and having used it recently to transfer files to a new server it deosn't take too long to recreate the new catalogue file.

 

Hope that helps.

[klaveness]

There is an option to keep a copy of the catalogue file on the backup media. I have forgotten where this is, but I think you select this option when creating a backup set. ... Hope that helps.

 

It helps immensely. In a practice run after reading your post, I found that the user can indeed choose a place to save the catalog file when creating a backup set. I didn't notice that feature when I created the backup for the second internal drive several years ago.

 

Unfortunately, there seems to be no way to change this aspect of a backup set once it has been created. So I'll start over with a new backup set.

 

I'm most grateful to you.

[Naughty Nigel]

Don't forget that (if you have two backup devices) you can copy backup sets between them. So you could, in theory, create a new backup set, and then copy the contents of the original set to it (if there is space). A new catalogue file will then be created for the combined backup.

 

Retrospect is clever, so it won't copy files that already exist in the set. (This is how the catalogue is used.) You can also use the file selector to choose which files are transferred from your old backup. So if, for example, you only need files from an accounts programme, you can choose to select those and exclude everything else.

 

I hope that helps you sort it out.

[Cygnis]

Unfortunately, there seems to be no way to change this aspect of a backup set once it has been created. So I'll start over with a new backup set.

 

You can indeed move the catalog file, by doing the following:

 

(1) Configure -> Backup Sets -> (choose the relevant backup set) -> "Forget" button -> OK

 

(2) In the Windows Explorer, move the catalog file to its new location.

 

(3) Double-click the relocated catalog file in Windows Explorer, which should add it back to Retrospect's list of backup sets. (If this doesn't work, simply click the "More" button in the Backup Sets window of Retrospect, then click "Open", then select the file from its new location.)

 

This is probably too late to help you now, but might be useful in future, or for others wishing to do the same.