PSA---Remember to backup your PT databases!

theRealMacoy · #1 03-03-2006, 10:21 AM

Public Service Announcement---Please backup all of your PT databases.

In the past year, i experienced two computer malfunctions that caused me to loose all of my PT databases. It is a truly sickening feeling thinking you have lost all of your data. Note: neither event was a result of PT malfunction.

Luckily for me, I had done a back-up fairly recently and ended up losing only a couple weeks worth of hands. Anyway, I just finished my latest round of backups and thought i would give a friendly reminder to one and all.

If you have never backed them up before do the following (it is very very easy):
Depending upon whether you use Access or PostreSQL dbs go to step Ia or Ib (BOTH STEPS NOT NEEDED).

Ia. PostgreSQL database backup instructions
- click on "Utilities" at the top of the main PT window.
- on the drop down menu click "PostgreSQL Database Functions...."
- to select which db to backup---press the arrow where the name of your main database appears---choose database
- press the "Backup" button

This will open a pg_dump window which will close automatically once finished----you can contine to use pokertrackers whilst the backup is taking place.

Ib. access database backup instructions
- open the "Poker Tracker V2" Folder (inside the Program Files folder)
- make a copy of the appropriate .mdb files and save them to a separate folder.

II. Final Step of Backup Process
Burn those backup files onto a cd or dvd for safekeeping.

If for some reason you burner isn't working you can always open your gmail account, create a new email message, attach the backup file and save it as a draft---voila, at least it is stored outside your computer. Note: the gmail storage method won't work of your db is very large.

Now, even if your computer completely melts from some horrible new virus (or your four-year-old fry's your computer with apple juice) you will not lose any valuable pokertracker data.

Cheers,
Sean

Splossy · #2 03-03-2006, 10:29 AM

Why do you have to do two seperate steps like that? Why don't they just design a "Back up your database" function which does it all for you?

theRealMacoy · #3 03-03-2006, 10:40 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Why do you have to do two seperate steps like that? Why don't they just design a "Back up your database" function which does it all for you?

[/ QUOTE ]

sorry, i was unclear. i will edit above.

what i added was that you do not need to follow both the access and postgreSQL steps above. you simply do one or the other depending upon which type of database you are using.

sean

ooinsight · #4 03-04-2006, 11:16 PM

Thanks for posting this. Seems like common sense but its so easy to forget.

Splossy · #5 03-06-2006, 02:03 PM

Oh right - cool, thanks.

This is gonna sound stupid, but how do I know which database I am using? And what difference do the two different databases make? Should I be using one rather than the other for any reason?

SackUp · #6 03-06-2006, 05:58 PM

bump.

everyone should be doing this at least monthly if not more

bort411 · #7 03-06-2006, 08:08 PM

Excellent post.

I'll throw out one more method which I use in conjunction with the MySQL backup function:

Export hand historys to file via the utilities tab, then compress those .txt files into an archive (or archives). I prefer winrar, but any compression program should work. This method makes my backups about 70% smaller than the .backup files. It should be noted that this won't work for databases containing observed hand histories, unless you are storing the actual hands, not just the results.

One futher item: the PT access databases can be significantly compressed to a much smaller size if you'd rather not just copy your giant databases.

theRealMacoy · #8 03-07-2006, 05:52 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Oh right - cool, thanks.

This is gonna sound stupid, but how do I know which database I am using? And what difference do the two different databases make? Should I be using one rather than the other for any reason?

[/ QUOTE ]

PT by default uses access.

You can switch over to PostgreSQL. There are instructions in a sticky in the PostgreSQL sub-forum at the PokerTracker Forums HERE.

There is are numerous posts discussing the merits of switching over to PostgreSQL. The most recent is HERE. Use the search function to find the rest if you need more information.

The two basic differences are as follows:
- Access dbs are limited to a max size of 2gigs, thus if you have large db files PostgreSQL is a must.
- There are performance increases to using PostgreSQL over Acess.

Cheers,
Sean

theRealMacoy · #9 03-07-2006, 05:54 AM

bort,

thanks for adding more info.

sean

WalkAmongUs · #10 03-07-2006, 08:35 AM

I just backup my entire drive onto an external hard disk usuing Acronis True Image. It only takes about 10 minutes and I have a full backup of everything. you can get a small external drive for super cheap these days.