Copyright: GBAK Scheduler
Citation: GBAK Scheduler


GBAK Scheduler

Overview

System requirements

Installation

Uninstallation

Quick start

Main window

Properties window

Options window

Troubleshooting

Technical support

License

About GBAK Scheduler


Overview

Summary

GBAK Scheduler is an Interbase / Firebird utility that performs regular database backups with a user defined strategy. The main feature is to preserve a required number of backups to allow data recovery for previous days.

GBAK Scheduler keeps several backups on your disks (for example 4 a day for 30 days) so you can solve your possible database problem with the preferred copy (not always the last).

GBAK Scheduler is safe because it doesn't perform backup itself, but runs your copy of GBAK.EXE.

GBAK Scheduler uses few system resources and can run as an application or a Windows NT service. It can run in automatic (loaded and started at startup) or manual mode and can run your backup tasks whenever you want with the Execute now! command, without waiting for the scheduled time.

Main features

Mirror: Creates double copies of your backups on different disks/computers for extra protection against disk crashes.

Zip compression: Compress your backup file with industrial standard Zip format to save disks space.

Priority selection: GBAK Scheduler ca run GBAK.EXE in Idle, Normal or High priority.

Log information: Creates a simple or detailed log file to supervise backup tasks (GBAK part of log can be included in Zip file).

E-mail notification: Sends log information directly on your remote workstation. 3 forms of email message are supported: Html, attached plain text log file, attached zipped log file.

Backup strategy: With GBAK Scheduler you can select your preferred backup rotation scheme or choose Smart set to keep last 6 months backups on line. Plain set can rotate up to 365 backups, so you can have backups for whole year.


System requirements

Summary   Installation   Uninstallation

To use GBAK Scheduler, you must have Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 (or newer) and, obviously, Interbase or Firebird.

The copy of GBAK installed by Local Interbase doesn’t perform remote backups. Use Interbase workgroup server or Interbase developer client instead.

For e-mail notification you must have a TCP/IP connection and a mail account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or an Internet-style network, providing an SMTP service.

GBAK Scheduler was developed and / or tested on Windows 95 (4.00.950a),Windows NT 4.0 (sp3), Windows XP (sp1,sp2), Windows Vista and Windows Server 2003 / 2008.


Installation

Summary   System requirements   Uninstallation

This is the content of the distribution archive GBAKSchd.zip:

GBAKSchd.exe	Main program for either Windows 95 and NT 4.0 (or newer)

GBAKSchd.hlp	On line help

GBAKSrvc.exe	Windows NT service

ZipDll.dll	Info-Zip compression library

ReadMe.txt	ReadMe file

License.txt	License file

File_id.diz	Standard BBS Diz file

ChangeLog.txt	Version change log file

To install GBAK Scheduler simply extract all files in this archive to a directory (you must have read/write permissions over the installation directory). Then you can start the application running GBAKSchd.exe.

GBAK Scheduler doesn’t install any files in the system directory and modifies the registry only in two circumstances:

If you run the program over Windows 95 and select the automatic startup option , GBAK Scheduler inserts the value GBAKSchd=application_path in the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.

If you run the program over Windows NT 4.0 (or newer) and select the service startup option, GBAK Scheduler installs the service and Windows NT creates some entry in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key to update the Windows service manager.

For installation of the service (Windows NT 4.0 and newer only) you can both run GBAKSrvc.exe /install or select the service startup options from the main program (recommended).

To remove the service (Windows NT 4.0 or newer only) from the Windows service manager you can both run GBAKSrvc.exe /remove or select the application startup options from the main program (recommended).


Uninstallation

Summary   System requirements   Installation

To uninstall GBAK Scheduler you must first select the application startup – manual mode option from the main program and then remove the entire GBAK Scheduler directory. With this procedure you are sure that all the registry entries of GBAK Scheduler will be removed.

If you don’t set the application startup – manual mode option from the main program before deleting the installation directory, some entries of the registry could persist (see Installation for more information).


Quick start

Summary   Main window

Using GBAK Scheduler is very simple.

After installation select the View-Options menu command and specify the path for GBAK.exe on your local drive. Then select your preferred startup mode.

Next insert your backup tasks via the Backup-New command or the New button in the toolbar. For every tasks specify the database location, your user account, the folder where to put the backup file and the backup time. At the end, put the scheduler in running mode.


Main window

Summary   Quick start

The Main window shows all the scheduled tasks and is divided into five sections:

The Title bar that informs the user about the state of the scheduler (running or not).

The Main menu that contains all the available commands:

The Toolbar that contains speed buttons for frequently used functions.

The Tasks area that shows the most important parameters for the scheduled tasks.

The Statusbar that shows the descriptions of the selected menu item or toolbar button.

If the scheduler runs in application mode and you close the main window, it remains active in your traybar. To close definitively the application, you must select the Shutdown command in the popup menu of the minimized icon.

Menu commands:

Backup -> New: Creates a new backup task.

Backup -> Properties: Edits the scheduled task parameters.

Backup -> Delete: Remove the selected task from the scheduler.

Backup -> Copy: Create a copy of selected task.

Backup -> Disable: Disable the selected task without remove it.

Backup -> Enable: Re-enable a disabled task.

Backup -> Execute Now!: Runs the selected task without waiting for the scheduled time.

Backup -> Log File: Shows the last log information file for the selected task.

Backup -> Start: Starts the scheduler.

Backup -> Stop: Stops the scheduler.

Backup -> Exit: Close the main window.

View -> Toolbar: Shows or hides the toolbar.

View -> Statusbar: Shows or hides the statusbar.

View -> Options: Edits the application options.

Help -> Help Topics: Shows the application help.

Help -> About: Shows the about window.


Properties window

Summary

This windows allow you to insert and edit your backup tasks. GBAK Scheduler saves all the parameters on disk as soon as you confirm them. When you insert or edit a backup task you can set the following parameters:

Database to backup

Is the local or remote database to backup.This field accept standard file name (c:\directory\database.gdb) and UNC file name (\\myserver\direcory\database.gdb).

For remote database, the folder dialog doesn’t manage the correct syntax and you have to write it directly (refer to Interbase / Firebird documentation for more information):

TCP/IP	myserver:[drive:]\directory\database.gdb

IPX/SPX	myserver@[drive:]\directory\database.gdb

NetBEUI	\\myserver\[drive:]\directory\database.gdb

The copy of GBAK installed by Local Interbase doesn’t perform remote backups. Use Interbase workgroup server or Interbase developer client instead.

User name – Password – Confirm password

Your Interbase / Firebird account. User name and password are crypted in the GBAK Scheduler configuration file.

Backup folder

This is the directory where the scheduler puts your backup files. This field accept standard file name (c:\directory) and UNC file name (\\myserver\direcory). You must have read/write access over this folder. You can clean this folder whenever you need. This field is enabled only if you choose the backup file option.

Mirror backup folder (optional)

This is the directory where the scheduler puts your second copy of the backup files. Use this option for extra security against disks and tape streamers failure. If you put this second copy over another computer of your network, you will be able to restore your database even if the main server crashes. This field accept standard file name (c:\directory) and UNC file name (\\myserver\direcory). You must have read/write access over this folder. You can clean this folder whenever you need. This field is enabled only if you choose the backup file option.

Zip backup file

Check this option to save disks space. Backup and mirror files are compressed using the industrial standard ZIP format. This option is enabled only if you choose the backup file option.

Device ID

This is the ID of your streamer tape device (refer to Interbase documentation for more information). This kind of backup is out of the scope of the scheduler because the main feature of GBAK Scheduler is to dynamically create backup file names to preserve a required number of backups, nevertheless you can insert a mixed collection of tasks, some to backup over files and the other to backup directly over tape. This option is enabled only if you choose the storage device (tape) option.

Options

These are the standard GBAK options (refer to Interbase / Firebird documentation for more information).

Process priority

GBAK Scheduler can run GBAK.exe at your preferred level of priority. If you choose low priority, GBAK.exe is executed when the computer has nothing to do (idle time).

Create a log file

If you enable this option, GBAK Scheduler produces a log information file so you can check the backup execution. This log file can be detailed (the standard log produced by GBAK.exe) or simple (summary only option) and can be saved wherever you want. You must have read/write access over the log folder.

Include partial log file in ZIP (GBAK log)

If you enable this option, GBAK Scheduler includes a copy of log file in your ZIP archive. This option is available only when Zip is checked and “Summary only“ unchecked. Log file included is not complete log file but only the GBAK part of log.

E-mail log file

You can send the log file directly in your mailbox, if you have one. To do this you have to specify the destination address (user@domain) and your SMTP server (ask to your network administrator).

Custom port for SMTP is supported (if empty default 25 is used). If SMTP server requires authentication, you can specify your email account username and password. You can specify custom email Subject text (if empty default text is used). Sender information (email and name) is set globally in Options section.

Plain set

If you choose plain set, GBAK scheduler will preserve the selected number of backup files (up to 365) before beginning to overwrite them. For example you can select a 14 files rotation strategy to keep two weeks of backup files on line. Check your disks free space first. With Plain set, GBAK Scheduler uses this backup names format:

DatabaseName_TaskID.Index

This option is enabled only if you choose the backup file option.

Smart set

If you choose smart set, GBAK scheduler will preserve the daily backups for current week plus last 5 weekly backups and last 6 monthly backups. With 18 backup files or less you can keep all the important backups for last 6 months. Check your disks free space first. With Smart set, GBAK Scheduler uses this backup names format:

DatabaseName_TaskID.Day (for daily backup)

DatabaseName_TaskID.WKIndex (for weekly backup)

DatabaseName_TaskID.MTIndex (for monthly backup)

This option is enabled only if you choose the backup file option.

Backup time

Here you can set when to execute your backup task.


Options window

Summary

Before starting GBAK Scheduler you have to set the following options:

GBAK folder

This is the directory containing the GBAK commands line utility provided with Interbase / Firebird. It must be on your local disk. This field accept standard file name (c:\directory) and UNC file name (\\myserver\direcory). You must have read/write access over this folder.

Scheduler startup

You can select to run the scheduler as an Application or as a Windows NT service (Windows NT only).

Startup mode

GBAK scheduler runs automatically at startup if you select Automatic mode. Select Manual mode to run the scheduler only on when you need it.

Create a trace file

GBAK scheduler creates a trace file called Trace.log that helps you to solve possible scheduler malfunctions.

Email settings

If you use email notification you can set email sender address and name (if empty default value is used for sender name, destination email address is used also for sender email address).

You can set email form for sending logging information, there are 3 options:

-	send log as Html text

-	send original log file as attachment

-	send zipped log file as attachment


Troubleshooting

Summary   Technical support

If you have problems running GBAK Scheduler, try these first:

Check to see that Interbase / Firebird is running.

Check to see that GBAK.EXE folder is correct (the field must not include “GBAK.EXE”).

Check to see that you are using the correct syntax for database names.

Check to see that the backup folder is correct and if you have read/write rights.

Check to see that the mirror folder is correct and if you have read/write rights.

Check to see that the log file folder is correct and if you have read/write rights.

Check to see that you select the desired days in your backup plan.

Avoid concurrent backup of the same database. It may produce unexpected results.

Don’t use identical log file names for two or more backups that can run concurrently.

If you use the Zip options, you must know that the Zip compression operation is serialized, so with two or more concurrently backup, the second must wait the end of the first.

If you can’t solve the problem, try to perform the backup manually running GBAK.EXE via the command line.

Activate the trace option and read the Trace.log file. This file contains all the operation that GBAK Scheduler tries to perform.

GBAK Scheduler also produces an error file (Error_TaskID.Log) for any tasks that can’t run.


Technical support

Summary   Troubleshooting

I will handle support issues with who uses this package on a time-available basis.

Since this is being distributed as freeware, you can't expect the kind of support you'd get from a commercial vendor.

Please limit your questions to those that directly pertain to this package.

Future updates to this software will be announced on Interbase / Firebird related newsgroups and mailing lists.

Please DO NOT ask me to e-mail you when this software is updated.

If you have suggestions, complaints or bug reports, please contact

Mauro Barbieri

gbakschd@geocities.com

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Bay/9603

rebuilded by Simon Benedicic

gbak.scheduler@gmail.com

http://gbak.scheduler.googlepages.com


License

Summary   About GBAK Scheduler

GBAK Scheduler is FREEWARE.

To use the GBAK Scheduler software, please first review and agree to this License Agreement:

GBAK Scheduler LICENSE AGREEMENT

This GBAK Scheduler License Agreement ("License") is your proof of license for the GBAK Scheduler software ("the Software").

1. Grant and Term of License. The author grants you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable and royalty-free right to install and use the Software.  The Software may be installed on computers or network servers under your control.  This License shall terminate immediately at any time you fail to comply with the limitations set forth in this License.

2. Restrictions. You may not modify, alter, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble or create derivative works based on the Software, or remove any proprietary notices or labels that it contains. You are permitted, however, to install the Software on more than one computer, to share the unaltered installation software with others (without charge to them) and to make a complete copy of the installed Software for backup purposes.

3. No Warranties or Liabilities. You expressly acknowledge and agree that use of this Software is AT YOUR OWN RISK and that the Software is provided "AS IS" without any warranties or conditions whatsoever.

THE AUTHOR MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS SOFTWARE AND/OR ASSOCIATED MATERIALS PROVIDED TO THE USER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR AGAINST INFRINGEMENT. THE AUTHOR DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, OR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CORRECTED. FURTHERMORE, THE AUTHOR DOES NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE OR ANY DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED HEREWITH IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY ANYONE SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY OR IN ANY WAY INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THIS WARRANTY.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY – THE AUTHOR IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIMS OR DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INFRINGEMENT, LOSS OF PROFITS, OR INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS, OR FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, HOWEVER CAUSED, WHETHER ARISING OUT OF BREACH OF WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE.

Mauro Barbieri

gbakschd@geocities.com

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Bay/9603

rebuilded by Simon Benedicic

gbak.scheduler@gmail.com

http://gbak.scheduler.googlepages.com


About GBAK Scheduler

Summary   License

GBAK Scheduler for Borland Interbase and Firebird

Version 1

GBAK Scheduler is FREEWARE.

Author: Mauro Barbieri

gbakschd@geocities.com

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Bay/9603

rebuilded by Simon Benedicic

gbak.scheduler@gmail.com

http://gbak.scheduler.googlepages.com

Interbase is a registered trademark of Borland International.

Windows 95 and Windows NT are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.

All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Greetings

Many thanks to the Info-Zip group for the freeware ZipDll compression library.

http://www.cdrom.com/pub/infozip/