Creating a Database Backup of DW Spectrum® IPVMS
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Affected Roles: Administrator, Owner
Related Digital Watchdog VMS Apps: DW Spectrum® IPVMS
Complexity: Medium
Software Version: DW Spectrum® IPVMS v5.0
Last Edit: December 2, 2022
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DW Spectrum® IPVMS utilizes a database containing the user roles, device configurations, and other information to manage the system. Each DW Spectrum® Server has its own database configuration. However, a DW Spectrum® Server that shares a system with other Servers will share the same database configuration. This can be useful if a system ever needs to recovered and restored.
This article will outline the different ways to create and copy a database backup and how to restore a system from a backup file.
When upgrading a server from a previous major release version to the most recent build (e.g., v3.2 à v5.0), please consider the following:
Once the DW Spectrum® Server is installed, the application will automatically create a database backup file every day without the need of user involvement. The DW Spectrum® Server will ensure that there is at least 10 GB of free storage space available before creating a backup file.
Over time, the Server application will create six (6) days of database backups. Once the Server has six (6) days of database backups, it will delete the oldest backup and create an updated backup file. As a result, there will always be at least one backup file of the database.
By default, the database backup files will be saved in the Backup folder of the DW Spectrum® Server’s Media Server.
The automatic database files (.db) will display as “esc_<build_number>_<time_stamp>_timer”.
C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Digital Watchdog\Digital Watchdog Media Server\backup
/opt/dwspectrum/mediaserver/var/backup/
From the Backup directory, you can copy and save the database file locations at your discretion.
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While the DW Spectrum® IPVMS program will automatically create a database backup daily and when upgrading the DW Spectrum® Server software, the Administrator or Owner of the DW Spectrum® Server can create a database backup through the DW Spectrum® Client application.
To create a database backup:
In the General tab, click the Create Backup button.
The Save Database Backup window will display. Select the file directory where you would like to save the database backup file, assign the file a File_name, then click the Save button to create the backup file.
The DW Spectrum® Server will create and maintain raw database files in addition to its daily database backup. When the DW Spectrum® Server program is running the Server relies on these raw database files for user information, device configurations, and recording license information.
In some special circumstances, such as when transferring a DW Cloud user database to a new Server computer, you may need to copy these raw database files.
**NOTE: It is recommended to copy-and-paste database files, rather than simply moving the file to a different location. The DW Spectrum® Server will look in its Digital Watchdog media Server folder when trying to start the Server.
To copy the raw database from a DW Spectrum® Server in Windows:
Right-click on the Media Server icon located in the Service Tray and select Stop Server (started).
Using the File Explorer, navigate to
C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Digital Watchdog\Digital Watchdog Media Server
Paste the database files ecs.sqlite and ecs_staticsqlite to a safe location (e.g. USB drive, external drive, etc.).
Right-click on the Media Server icon located in the Service Tray and select Start Server (stopped).
To copy the raw database from a DW Spectrum® Server in Windows:
sudo su
Press ENTER, then enter the root password of:
Dw5pectrum
**NOTE: The root password will not display as you type. Older DW Blackjack models that were sold prior to June 18, 2021 may still use the old (14.04, 16.04) super user login of "admin/admin" instead of the newer (as of 18.04) "dwuser/Dw5pectrum" login.
service digitalwatchdog-mediaserver stop
In the Terminal application, use the command:
cd /opt/digitalwatchdog/mediaserver/var
In the Terminal application, use the commands:
cp ecs.sqlite /home/dwcube/Desktop
cp ecs_static.sqlite /home/dwcube/Desktop
**NOTE: If you are using a different computer model than the DW Blackjack® Cube, then instead of “dwcube”, use the server’s model name.
For Ubuntu/Linux systems, the permissions of the file must be changed. In the Terminal application, use the commands:
cd /home/dwcube/Desktop
chmod 777 ecs.sqlite
chmod 777 ecs_static.sqlite
After copying the raw database files, you can start the Media Server again. Logged in as the super user/admin, use the command below to start the Media Server.
service digitalwatchdog-mediaserver start
Using the DW Spectrum® Client, an Administrator the Owner can restore a system using a database backup file (.db).
**NOTE: If you are restoring a Server by using raw database files, you must copy-and-paste the ecs.sqlite and ecs_static.sqlite files in the same Digital Watchdog Media Server folder that they were copied from.
**NOTE: If you are replacing a Server, it is recommended that you use the article Replacing A Server instead, as it contains additional steps and information for this process.
To restore a database using a backup file (.db):
Click on the Updates tab.
Ensure that the Server that is receiving the database backup is using the same firmware version as the original Server. In this example, both Servers are running DW Spectrum v4.0.0.29990.
Click the Restore from Backup button and select the DB Backup from the old Server.
Click Open to prompt the DB Backup restoration.
For More Information or Technical Support
DW Technical Support: 866.446.3595
https://www.digital-watchdog.com/contact-tech-support/
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