Set NetCrunch Automatic Backups to be saved to remote network location

Automatic Atlas Backups to network drive

NetCrunch by default performs backup of your atlas everyday. But the default folder to store backups is inside NetCrunch data folder and every IT administrator knows that good practice is to keep backups at least on the other data storage device than original data and preferably on the independent hardware.

We can accomplish this by using external software to copy backups made by NetCrunch as it's described here.

But we also can set NetCrunch to save backups to network drive. Keeping in mind that NetCrunch Server service runs as Local System account, it's not enough just to map a network drive, because this drive won't be "visible" for NetCrunch.

To set automatic backups to network drive we can use NetCrunch startup script. To do that please follow the steps below:

Share the desire folder on remote machine:

• Create the folder (e.g. NC-backup-folder) and share it with user (e.g. bak-usr). You can share it with local machine user or a domain user.

  Remember to set sharing permission level to Read/Write and check permissions in security properties of the folder.

• Inside this folder create "backup" subfolder (NC-backup-folder\backup).

On NetCrunch Server machine create simple batch script to map the shared folder as a network drive:

• Create empty text file mapping_nc_backup_folder.txt.

• Write to this file command to map the network drive:

  @echo off net use k: \\\NC-backup-folder/user:bak-usr /p:yes

  In net use command in <IP address of remote machine> you can use either windows name of NetCrunch Server machine or its IP address. Also use proper password for the user.

• Change the file extension to .cmd by renaming it: mapping_nc_backup_folder.cmd .

Set created script to run on NetCrunch Server startup:

• In NetCrunch Administration Console open Tools->Options->General Options.

• Check Advanced in the lower left corner and choose Startup Script tab.

• Select prepared mapping_nc_backup_folder.cmd script.

• Uncheck Wait until script finishes option.

• Click Test Script button - now the network folder should be mapped to as k: drive.

• You should also see k: drive in Explorer, check that.

Change the default backup data folder in NetCrunch options:

• Open again Tools->Options->Maintanance.

• Set K:\backup folder as Backup data location.

• Save settings with OK.

Run NetCrunch backup manually as a final test:

• Choose: Atlas->Maintenance->Backup....

• Perform Quick Backup or Full Backup.

• Check in the NC-backup-folder\backup if the backup file has been created successfully.

From now on, on every NetCrunch Server start the network drive will be mapped and all automatic backups will be created in the NC-backup_folder\backup.

Troubleshooting:

If you experience any errors while performing backups, check availability of the shared folder and then if you don't want to restart NetCrunch Server to remap network drive, you can just use Test Script button to map it again.