The Archive Manager system can automatically create restore points of its configuration files. Archives protected by Store Vaulting Tasks can also be recovered if the vault is available.


Usage Scenario


Let's assume that you have been periodically running an Export Settings Task to archive your settings to a folder or cloud storage (recommended). Then one day your Archive Manager computer dies. No problem; you can quickly and easily restore your system and data as follows:


Install the Archive Manager software and license keys on a new computer. If you have the media containing your stores, attach it to the new computer. If you were vaulting to cloud then add your Cloud Account to the Archive Manager system.


Run the Archive Manager Import Settings action to start the import settings wizard and choose an export file to restore. When you click Finish and enter credentials the task will run and the settings will be imported to your new system. Stores attached to the new computer will be discovered and reconnected. Vaults will be shown in the Archive Manager but you will need to recover the vault information for each vault by running its Restore Vault Information action. At this point the vaults will contain restore points that you can restore data from. See Restoring Data from a Vault for more information.


Creating an Export Settings Task


To configure the system to save configuration settings, open the Archive Manager Properties page and choose the Export Settings tab.


This feature runs as a scheduled task called "ExportSettingsTask - <computername>." As with Store Tasks and Protection Plans, you can set a schedule for automatically running the task. You can also run the task manually from the Windows Task Scheduler. Choose Modify Schedule and then click "New" on the Schedule tab to create a new task.


The settings are exported into a compressed file that can be saved to either a folder location or, if a cloud account has been set up, to a Cloud Account. Note: When saving to a cloud account, the export file will be saved to the default data center specified in the cloud account's Properties page. Choose where to save the export file, then specify a number of versions to keep. Oldest versions beyond the number to keep will be deleted. The export file name contains a timestamp indicating when the export was performed and the computer name of the system that was exported, as follows: "<computer name>.<timestamp>.export.zip."


Importing Settings


Prior to importing settings, you must install the software and activate your license keys. Add your Cloud Accounts if applicable. Add your tape libraries and removable disks to the computer if applicable. If you have backups of your stores, attach them to the new computer.


To import saved configuration settings, select the Archive Manager folder and then choose the Import Settings action to launch the Archive Manager Import Settings wizard. You will be prompted for a user name and password of the Scheduled Task's "Run as" user account for running protection plans. All imported tasks will be saved with this "Run as" user account.


After importing the Archive Manager settings, close and reopen the Archive Manager user interface to refresh the Archive Manager system.