Phone Lines icon GFI Support Home Sign in
Start a conversation
  1. GFI Support
  2. GFI Support - LanGuard Section
  3. Articles

Backing Up GFI LanGuard

Overview

This article guides you on the process of backing up GFI LanGuard.

DISCLAIMER: GFI Software recommends keeping a backup of the product Configuration Data. In case of data loss, GFI cannot recover your configuration if a backup is not available. If using backup software to backup data, it is required to stop the GFI LanGuard Attendant service before the backup starts and to start the service again once the backup is complete. Not stopping the service during a backup by third-party backup software may cause GFI LanGuard to malfunction.

 

Process 

Backup of GFI LanGuard includes 3 steps:

  1. Backup the configuration - Using the Import and Export Configuration Wizard or Import / Export command line interface.
  2. Backup the database.
  3. Backup the Data directory and selected configuration files.

1. Backup the Configuration

Option 1: Using the Import and Export Configurations Wizard
  1. Open the GFI LanGuard console and go to File > Import and Export Configuration.
  2. Select the Export the Desired Configurations to File option and click Next.
  3. Select the location to save the file and click Next.
  4. Select the configuration options you would like to export and click Next.
  5. Once complete, a .cfg file is created in the location specified. Make a backup of this file.
The following settings can be exported using the Import and Export Configuration Wizard:
  • Scanning Profiles
    • Complete/Combination Scans
    • Vulnerability Assessment
    • Network & Software Audit
  • Ports
    • TCP
    • UDP
  • Custom Reports
  • Scheduled Reports
  • Auto-Remediate Settings
    • Application Auto-Uninstall
    • Patch Autodownload Settings
    • Patch Auto-Deployment 
  • Options
    • Database Backend
    • Alerting Options
    • Computer Filters
    • Internal Settings 
Option 2: Backup Using the Import/Export Command Line 
  1. On the machine where GFI LanGuard is installed, open a command prompt and change the directory to the LanGuard installation folder.
  2. To list all the parameters that can be used to operate the import/export tool, run the command:
    impex /?
NOTE: This tool only imports and exports the scanning profiles and vulnerability definitions. No other configuration data is imported or exported when using this tool.

/H, /? Running without parameters displays this help message.
/XML:<xmlfile> The filename of the exported/imported file name. This parameter is mandatory.
/DB:<dbfile> The database file to be used during the import/export. If this is not specified, the default operationsprofiles.mdb file is used.
/EX Exports data from the database to an XML file (Default Option).
/MERGE When specified and if the target XML file for export already exists, the file is opened and data is merged.
/IM Imports data from XML file to the database.
/ONLYNEWER When specified only vulnerabilities newer than the newest vulnerabilities in the database are imported.
/PORTS Exports/imports all ports.
/PORT:<number> Exports/imports the specified port. /PORTTYPE must be specified.
/PORTTYPE:<type> Exports/imports all ports of the specified type.
/PROFILES Exports/imports all scanning profiles.
/PROFILE:<name> Exports/imports the specified scanning profile.
/VULNS Exports/imports all vulnerabilities.
/VULN:<name> Exports/imports the specified vulnerability. /VULNCAT must be specified.
/VULNCAT:<category> Exports/imports all vulnerabilities of the specified category.
/SKIP If an item already exists in the target XML/database, that item is skipped.
/OVERWRITE If an item already exists in the target XML/database, that is overwritten.
/RENAME:<value> If an item already exists in the target XML/database, that item is renamed to the value specified if /PROFILE or /VULN was specified. Port information is merged if the item is a port, or renamed by prefixing its name with the value specified in any other case.

Example 1 – Exporting settings
impex /XML:”C:\LanGuardSettings.xml”
Settings are exported to a single file and when the process is complete, the the following message is displayed:

Successfully exported all profiles, vulnerabilities and ports!

Example 2 – Importing settings
impex /IM /XML:”C:\LanGuardSettings.xml”
When import is complete, the following message is displayed:

Successfully imported all profiles, vulnerabilities and ports!

2. Backup the Database

Microsoft SQL Server database
If using a Microsoft SQL Server database for reporting, the database needs to be backed up separately.
For options on how to backup a Microsoft SQL Server database, refer to Create a Full Database Backup (SQL Server).
 
Microsoft Access database 
  1. Stop the GFI LanGuard Attendant service.
  2. Backup the .mdb file specified in the LanGuard database settings:
    • To find out the location of the file, open the LanGuard console and go to Configuration > Database Maintenance Options > Database Backend Settings.
    • By default, the location of the Microsoft Access database is:
      C:\ProgramData\GFI\LanGuard 12\scanresults.mdb
  3. Start the GFI LanGuard Attendant service. 
NOTE: If using backup software to backup this folder, it is required to stop the GFI LanGuard Attendant service before the backup starts. Start the service again once the backup is complete. Not stopping the services during a backup may cause GFI LanGuard to malfunction.

3. Backup the Data Folder

For maximum protection and to give GFI Support the most flexibility to help you restore your GFI LanGuard to the state it was in prior to upgrade please make a copy of the following files and folders:

  • C:\ProgramData\GFI\LanGuard 12\ directory
    or on an XP/2003 class computer:
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\GFI\LanGuard 12\ directory
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\GFI\Languard 12 Agent\crmiini.xml

Related Articles: 

Moving GFI LanGuard to a New Server

 

 

Choose files or drag and drop files
Was this article helpful?
Yes
No

  1. Priyanka Bhotika

  2. Posted
  3. Updated

Comments