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Backing up Configuration Settings and Database in GFI EventsManager

Author: sajjad haider Updated

Overview

This article shares the processes for backing up the configuration settings and database in GFI EventsManager.

  • DISCLAIMER:
    • GFI recommends keeping a backup of the product configuration data. In case of data loss, GFI will not be able to recover your configuration if a backup is not available.
    • If using backup software to back up data, it is required to stop the GFI EventsManager and GFI EventsManager Monitor services before the backup starts and to start the services again once the backup is complete.
    • Not stopping the services during a backup by third-party backup software may cause GFI EventsManager to malfunction.
    • If you are unsure about securely performing the steps mentioned in this article, always make a backup before making any changes or reach out to support for more help.

 

Information

See the below sections to understand the process options for backing up configuration settings and the database: 

 

Backing up Configuration Settings

There are three options to back up configuration settings. Using the wizard, the command prompt or doing it manually. Please review the steps for each option as indicated below:

 

Option 1: Using the Import and Export Configurations Wizard

Before we discuss the process to back up configuration settings, please note that only the following configurations can be exported using the Import and Export Configuration Wizard. The Wizard does not back up Reporting settings, e.g. custom reports.

  • Event Sources
    • Computer Groups
    • Database server Groups
  • Event Processing Rules
    • Folders
    • Definitions
  • Events Browser Filters
    • Maps
    • Browser Filters
    • Query Filters
  • Options
    • Default Classification Options
    • Users and Groups
    • Syslog Server Options
    • SNMP Traps Server Options
    • Alerting Options
    • Audit Options
    • File Storage
    • Database Operations
    • Custom Event Logs
    • Internal Settings

Follow these steps to back up configuration settings using the wizard:

  1. Open the GFI EventsManager console.
  2. Go to File > Import and export configurations…
  3. Select the Export the desired configurations to file option and click Next.
  4. Select the location where the file will be saved and click Next.
  5. Select the configuration options you would like to export and click Next.
  6. Once complete, an .esmbkp file is created in the location specified.
  7. Make a backup of this file.

 

Option 2: Using the Command Prompt

Follow these steps to export configuration settings using the command prompt:

  1. On the machine where GFI EventsManager is installed, open command prompt and change the directory to the EventsManager installation folder.
  2. To list all the parameters that can be used to operate the import/export tool, run the command:
    • ExportSettings /?
Parameter

Description
/Destination:<folder>

To append all files in the destination folder with .esmbkp
 /folder:<folder>

This is an optional parameter to instruct the tool to export from a folder other than the default Data folder

Example: 

  1. Command to export to file: ExportSettings /destination:”C:\EventsManagerSettings.esmbkp”

 

Follow these steps to import configuration settings using the command prompt. Please note that the command line tool does not back up Reporting settings, e.g., custom reports.:

  1. On the machine where GFI EventsManager is installed, open command prompt and change the directory to the EventsManager installation folder
  2. To list all the parameters that can be used to operate the import/export tool, run the command:
    • ImportSettings /?

Parameter

Description

/operation:<operation>

The operation to be performed; Can be importFolder or importFile

/destination:<folder>

The destination folder where the configuration will be imported.

/sourceFile:<filename>

The name of the file that contains the exported configuration.

/sourceFolder:<folder>

The name of the folder containing EventsManager configuration.

/id:<InstanceID>

The new instance ID to be set after importing the configuration.

You can use this parameter by itself if you only want to change the EventsManager instance ID.

If this parameter is not specified when importing configuration, the existing EventsManager instance ID will be preserved.


Example:

  1. Command to import from file: ImportSettings /operation:importFile /destination:”C:\Program Files\GFI\EventsManager2012\Data” /sourceFile:”C:\EventsManagerSettings.esmbkp”
  2. Command to import from folder: ImportSettings /operation:importFolder /destination:”C:\Program Files\GFI\EventsManager 2012\Data” /sourceFolder:”C:\EventsManager\Data_old”

 

Option 3: Manual Configuration Backup 

  • To manually back up the GFI EventsManager configuration and make a backup of the following directory: GFI\EventsManager\Data
  • All GFI EventsManager configuration settings, including Reporting settings, e.g. custom reports are included in this data folder.
  • Restoring the configuration manually from a Data folder should only be done with the same build of GFI EventsManager.
  • It is recommended to use the Import and Export Configurations Wizard to restore the configuration from a Data folder.

 

Backing up Database

Follow these steps to back up the database:

  1. Stop the GFI EventsManager and GFI EventsManager Monitor services.
  2. Back up the folder specified in the EventsManager file storage settings.
    1. To find out the location of the folder, open the EventsManager console.
    2. Go to Configuration > Options > File Storage
    3. Click Configure file storage… 
  3. Start the GFI EventsManager and GFI EventsManager Monitor services.