Ava automatic backup

Backing up your data is essential. It may not seem quite that way when everything is runing smoothly. It is an unfortunate fact that the majority of otherwise profitable businesses cease trading within a year of losing their core business data through failing to have adiquate backups. When a company loses core data then they not only lose essential customer information but that loss soon escalates into a lack of customer confidence. Customers expect you to know information they have previously told you: information you should have relating to the service you are providing.

It's similar to running out of fuel in the middle of a desert. Everything is going fine until it happens. It can then be fatal or at least very bad news.

Depending on your version of MS SQL there are two, three or more ways of backing up your Ava (SQL) database data.

1. 1.    Every time you close Ava it can be configured to remind you. Ava can be set to prompt you to back up every time you exit the software.
   2.    A backup can be scheduled daily using free 3rd party software such as SQL backup and FTP
   3.    Standard editions and above (not the Express version) of MS SQL (the database used by Ava) have backup maintenance plans which can be configured to backup and delete old backup files. If you have SQL2008R2 standard and above, you can also compress backups.
2. 4.    IT consultants will often arrange a "Server" file backup.

The best backups are those that are sent off site. Ava can arrange to store your off site backups for you.

To configure Ava to prompt you to backup:
From the record card or diary screen select from the main menu: Setup | File locations and defaults

Make sure the "File" tab is selected

Using the top half of the setup panel displayed, navigate to a folder in which the backups are to be stored. (This is a drive on the server.) This should be on a separate physical drive to the data.

The reason for this is that if the server its self fails, this drive can be removed and placed quickly in another machine. The server software can be reinstalled on the replacement machine and then database can be quickly restored.
There is a second reason for having the backups on a separate drive. If the backup drive fails, then you still have the original data. The backup drive can be replaced and you are once again safe.
When you exit Ava, you will get the following dialog, giving you the last time a backup was done.

If you click yes (the default), a progress bar will be displayed.

If the backup is successful, Ava will close. If for any reason the backup it not successful, Ava will display the reason (it might be a bit technical). You can then contact your IT support or Ava about the problem. As part of our standard service:

• We will then test the backup
• Liaise with your IT if necessary
• Copy a successful backup to our offices
• Carry out a test restore
• We will then notify you of the results.

Useful links on backup

• Configuring a backup maintenance plan
• SLQBackupAndFTP for MS SQL Express