Using the Backup Configuration Utility

The Backup Configuration Utility is a helpful resource used to back up and restore Barr software configuration files. Use the Backup Configuration Utility to back up specific settings and restore original or specific settings. This topic shows how to back up or restore Barr configuration files.

Before you begin

There are a few important points to consider when using the Backup Configuration Utility.

For security reasons, the computer from which data is being backed up and the computer to which the data is being restored must be in the same domain.
Any custom configuration settings with the same name as that being restored will be overridden (for example, FCBs, overlays, override tables, custom codes pages, etc.)
Windows services are not included in the backup; therefore, specific service settings such as starting services automatically must be re-configured.
Avoid restoring the configuration settings to a Barr Host Communications Suite that is installed on a different path. If the settings are restored to version that is installed on a different path, the registry as well as settings that are path-specific (such as FCBs, overlays, etc.) will not be restored correctly.
The utility will prompt you before overwriting an existing physical printer. You will not be notified if there is an existing port or spool printer using the same name. If the driver for the restored printer does not exist on restored computer, the restore proceed but a message is recorded in the log file.

Backing up configuration files

Complete the following steps to back up configuration settings and files.

Open the Backup Configuration Utility. (On the Spool Window's menu bar, select Tools | Backup Configuration.)
Select Backup.
Select the location where the backup files will be stored. Depending on which items you have selected for backup, several folders may be created within the backup folder. The default location is C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Temp\BarrBackup. Enter the folder name, click the folder button to select a folder, or select a recently used folder from the drop-down list. If the designated folder does not exist, it will be created automatically in the path specified. The folder must include a complete path or valid UNC Acronym for Universal Naming Convention. The system of naming files among computers on a network so that a file on a given computer will have the same path name when accessed from any of the other computers on the network. name.

Under Items to include, select which items will be included in the backup file.
Click Backup to back up the selected items. You will receive a warning if any existing backup files will be overwritten. Click Yes to continue with the backup, or click No to return to the Backup Configuration Utility. The status of the backup process will display in a message.

If the backup was successful you will receive a message confirming this. If the backup was not successful, you will receive a message that an error occurred. A log file is stored in the backup folder and shows details of the backup. To view the log file, select View log file, and then click OK.

Restoring configuration files

Complete the following steps to restore configuration settings and files. The current software version and the version of the backed up configuration files must be based on the same major version of the software. For example, a backup of software version 4.1.48 can be restored to software version 4.1.50, but not to software version 4.2.1.

Open the Backup Configuration Utility. (On the Spool Window�s menu bar, select Tools | Backup Configuration.)
Select Restore.
Select the folder where the configuration files are stored. The default location is C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Temp\BarrBackup. Enter the folder name, click the folder button to select a folder, or select a recently used folder from the drop-down list.
To save your current configuration before restoring configuration files, select Archive current configuration first. The current configuration files will be saved in a folder named Archived Configuration within the folder specified for Folder.
Under Items to include, select which items to include from the backup file. When restoring, only items selected to be backed up will be available to be restored in the Items to include list. For example, if AFP resources was not selected when backing up, then AFP resources will not be available to be restored.

If you are restoring Spool Printers, you must change all printer states to Disabled before restoring the configuration.

Click Restore to restore the selected items.
You will receive a warning that any existing configuration settings will be overwritten. Click Yes to continue with the restore, or click No to return to the Backup Configuration Utility. The status of the restore process will display in a message.
If the restore was successful you will receive a message confirming this. If the restore was not successful, you will receive a message that an error occurred. Details of the restore and any errors are appended to the log file, which is stored in the backup folder. To view the log file, select View log file, and then click OK.

Viewing the log file

Complete the following steps to view the log file.

Open the Backup Configuration Utility. (On the Spool Window�s menu bar, select Tools | Backup Configuration.)

Click View Log. The log file is named BarrBackup.log and is located in the \\BHCS\Log folder.

You can also view the log file by selecting View log file on the confirmation dialog box you receive after backing up or restoring a file.

Backing up files from the MS-DOS prompt

In addition to using the Backup Configuration Utility, you can use the command prompt to back up configuration files. Enter the following command at the command prompt to back up configuration files for Barr Systems registry entries, spool printers, resource folders, settings folder, and code pages.

BarrConfig /b folder settingsfile