The Database menu includes facilities for purge and backup, database conversion, reinitialization and repair, and a facility to unlock the database.
Backups and purges of old records can be done daily, weekly or monthly, depending on corporate requirements. Restore functions are used in case of a system failure or to search for evidence in a previously unrealized attack.
Using Full Backup allows the user to create a backup file of the current database (FullBackup.csv). The database remains unchanged. A full backup does not remove any information.
A Full Restore of the database allows the user to select a file that copied the contents of the database at a specific time and return the entire backup to the database (e.g., FullBackup.csv). The utility restores information exactly as it was at the selected Full Backup.
Files backed up by Full Backup and Purge Old Records are named FullBackup.csv and IncrementalBackup.csv by default. As with all backup files, establish a file naming convention and select a backup location other than the one where the server database is housed.
Purge Old Records is a utility for deleting selected database records from the database and create an incremental backup in the Comma Separated Values format (IncrementalBackup.csv). The user enters either the number of hours, days, months or years before which records should be purged, or the date before which records should be purged.
Restore Purge Records allows the user to restore records deleted from the database and stored in an incremental backup (IncrementalBackup.csv).
Convert a stored database to the current database format.
Reinitialize by removing the current database and replacing it with a new, blank database.
The Repair function checks for missing or damaged tables in the database and if the database has become corrupted, restores them.
Unlock clears the GTA options table, unlocking the connection between a client and its server. This allows another syslog the opportunity to connect and write to the database. The first syslog to write to the database owns it, and the database is again locked.
¨ Note
GTA recommends storing full and incremental backups on a separate machine in a secure location. When using the same machine for backups, if the system fails, the backup files will be inaccessible.
Purge Old Records (Incremental Backup) uses the Comma Separated Values (.csv) format. A spreadsheet program or database can easily import the .csv formatted data.
Always back up your database before reinitialization or repair.