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Backing up the GFI FaxMaker Configuration

Author: Stephen White Updated

Overview

This article describes how to back up GFI FaxMaker configurations. Performing these backups can be of great assistance in the case of downtime issues or migrations.

 

Prerequisites

  • Backup software can cause problems when files are accessed, opened, or run by GFI FaxMaker and the backup software at the same time. Your backup software should be configured to shut down all GFI FaxMaker services before a backup is created and to start up all GFI FaxMaker services after the backup is completed.
  • When a GFI FaxMaker machine is virtualized, it is highly recommended to create a snapshot of the virtualized machine. This allows restoring the previous GFI FaxMaker version quickly.

Note: When GFI FaxMaker services are stopped, no faxes nor SMS will be processed, sent or received.

 

Solution

GFI configuration backups consist of three main steps:

  1. Stopping all GFI FaxMaker services.
  2. Backing up all relevant files.
  3. Restarting all GFI FaxMaker services.

 

Stopping GFI FaxMaker Services

GFI FaxMaker services must be stopped before performing backups. When using backup software to automate the backup, ensure that the selected backup software stops these services before the backup job starts. If any services or files are open or running, the backup may be rendered unusable. If this is the case, a manual backup is recommended.

 

Stopping Services Manually Using Services.msc

  1. Right-click on the start button and select Run.

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  2. Type services.msc into the Run dialog box and click OK.

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  3. The Services.msc window will open. Find the desired GFI FaxMaker services.

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  4. Right-click each one of these services and click Stop.

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    The service control window will appear as shown below and the service will stop.  

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The GFI FaxMaker services you need to stop are:

  • GFI FaxMaker Fax Server
  • GFI FaxMaker Message Transfer Agent
  • GFI FaxMaker Attendant 

Note: When using a Brooktrout device or a  Brooktrout SR140, also stop the Brooktrout Boston Host service.

 

Step 2: Backing up GFI FaxMaker Files

Copy the following files and folders from the GFI FaxMaker installation folder. The entire folder can also be copied, which is fine as long as the files below are verified to be present.

 

Files and Folders to Backup

  • All files with an FST extension (such as: fmdb_rul.fst and fmdevcfg.fst). (if available)
  • fmdb_rul.mdb
  • fmsmscomms.xml
  • config.mdb (if available)
  • doccvt.ini
  • remclient.ini
  • options.ini (if available)
  • modems.dev
  • capi.dev
  • rcvlog.txt
  • sendlog.txt
  • Coverpage folder with all of its content.
  • Data folder with all of its content.
  • Archive folder with all of its content.

 

The Backup Process

  1. Copy all files from the source folder.

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  2. Paste the files on the destination folder.

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    Once complete, the folders will look the same.

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  • Unless modified manually during installation, GFI FaxMaker installs by default to C:\Program Files (x86)\GFI\FaxMaker\
  • It is recommended to take note of the installation path. If a backup needs to be performed, the files will need to be deployed to the same path (either on the same or on a different server depending on the situation).

 

Notes:

  • If the default Archive folder is changed from the default configuration, make sure to back up that folder as well.
  • If using a Dialogic Brooktrout fax board or Dialogic Brooktrout SR140 virtual fax software, also include the following files into the backup:
    • FaxMaker\brooktrout\TR1034\Boston\config\callctrl.cfg
    • FaxMaker\brooktrout\TR1034\Boston\config\btcall.cfg
    • FaxMaker\brooktrout\TR1034\Boston\bin\*.lic  (this is the default location of the SR140 license file, but may it be elsewhere).
  • Some of the files listed above may be found in subfolders rather than in the root directory.
  • Searching for the specific files may be easier than scrolling and looking.

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  • Should recovery be required, all backed up files can be copied to the GFI FaxMaker folder of a new installation folder. In such cases, the new installation of GFI FaxMaker must be installed over the same path as the old installation. For example: ..\GFI\FaxMaker\

 

Step 3: Restarting GFI FaxMaker Services

 

Starting Services Manually Using Services.msc

  1. Right-click on the Start button and select Run.

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  2. Type in services.msc in the Run dialog box and click OK.

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  3. The Services.msc window will open. Scroll to the desired GFI FaxMaker services.

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  4. Right-click the desired service and select Start.

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    The GFI FaxMaker services you need to start are:

    • GFI FaxMaker Fax Server
    • GFI FaxMaker Message Transfer Agent
    • GFI FaxMaker Attendant 

     

Now that the services are restarted confirm that faxes and SMS messages are working again.

 

Confirmation

Once all the necessary information has been backed up, you can right-click each folder and select Properties to ensure they are the same in size and file count as the original folders.

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