Back up an application

An application typically contains areas (in a network directory), resource grouping information, and references to data servers, device servers, alarm servers, and HMI servers.
Back up an application and create an archive file to:
  • Restore the application to a
    FactoryTalk Directory
     on a different computer
  • Duplicate the application with a different name within the same directory
Optionally, include the System folder in the archive. The System folder includes a list of user, computer, and group accounts, passwords, system policy settings, product policy settings, system security settings, action groups, and alarm and event database definitions. Refer to Restore an application to find the steps to restore an application.
Prerequisites
  • Obtain the security permissions needed to perform backup and restore operations. Open
    System > Policies > System Policies
    , and double-click
    User Rights Assignment
    .
To back up an application
  1. In
    FactoryTalk Administration Console
    Explorer
    , right-click the selected application, and select
    Backup
    .
  2. Use the default name or enter another name for the backup file.
  3. Use the default archive location or specify another location by selecting
    Browse
    , selecting a location, and then selecting
    OK
     in the
    Browse for Folder
     window.
  4. In Backup Contents:
    • To exclude the
      System
       folder in the backup, clear the
      System Directory configuration
       check box. To include the System folder in the backup, select the
      System Directory configuration
       check box.
      TIP:
      You can still choose to restore only the application from the backup archive file later, even if you include the System folder in the backup.
    • (optional) Select
      FactoryTalk Linx
       configuration
       to back up shortcut and driver configurations.
    • (optional) Select
      FactoryTalk Linx Gateway
       configuration
       to back up server configuration, UA Server Endpoint settings, Advanced Settings, and UA Tag List configuration in
      FactoryTalk Linx Gateway
      .
  5. To encrypt your archive file, select the
    Encrypt file contents
     check box, and then enter the same passphrase in the
    Passphrase
     and
    Confirm passphrase
     fields. If you clear this check box, your backup archive file will not be encrypted or protected.
    The
    Encrypt file contents
     check box will not be available if your operating system does not support the proper level of encryption.
    IMPORTANT:
    Remember the passphrase if you choose to encrypt your file contents. The archive file cannot be restored without the correct passphrase.
  6. In the
    Backup
     window, select
    OK
    .
    Unless you specified a different file name,
    FactoryTalk
     Administration creates an
    ApplicationName.bak
     file for the application in the default location, or in the location you specified. If a backup file with the same name already exists in the location you've chosen, the system asks whether you want to overwrite the existing file.
    After backing up an application, back up and restore project files and databases separately from individual software products that are participating in the
    FactoryTalk
     system.
    If your applications include:
    • HMI servers
      , back up and restore
      FactoryTalk View
       files separately. See
      FactoryTalk View
       documentation for help.
      HMI servers:
       Back up
      FactoryTalk View
       files separately. See
      FactoryTalk View
       documentation for help.
    • RSLinx Classic
       data servers:
      Run the
      RSLinx
       Backup Restore utility to back up the data server configuration. From the
      Windows
       Start
       menu, select
      Rockwell Software >
      RSLinx
       > Backup Restore Utility
      .
    • FactoryTalk Linx
       servers:
      The base configuration of the
      FactoryTalk Linx
       server is included in the backup, including redundancy and alarms and events configurations.
      TIP:
      If the
      FactoryTalk Linx
       configuration option is not selected, make a copy of the file
      RSLinxNG.xml
       and keep it with your backup archive to retain device, driver, and shortcut configurations. By default, the file is located in
      C:\ProgramData\Rockwell\RSLinxEnterprise
      .
    • FactoryTalk Linx
       Data Bridge
      : Open
      FactoryTalk Linx
       Data Bridge, select
      File > Export configuration
      . Keep the exported file with your backup archive.
    • FactoryTalk Linx
       Gateway
      :
      • For
        FactoryTalk Linx
         Gateway version 6.20 and earlier, make a copy of the
        FTLinxGateway.xml
         file and keep it with your backup archive. By default, the file is located in
        C:\ProgramData\Rockwell\FactoryTalk Linx Gateway
        .
      • For
        FactoryTalk Linx
         Gateway version 6.21, make a copy of the
        FTLinxGateway.db
         file and keep it with your backup archive. By default, the file is located in
        C:\ProgramData\Rockwell\FactoryTalk Linx Gateway
        .
        TIP:
        If there are two files named as
        FTLinxGateway.db-shm
         and
        FTLinxGateway.db-wal
         under the folder
        C:\ProgramData\Rockwell\FactoryTalk Linx Gateway
        , make a copy of these two files together with
        FTLinxGateway.db
         file.
    • FactoryTalk Linx
      OPC
       UA Connectors
      : The base configuration for the OPC UA Connector can be restored. After the restore operation is completed, you will need to regenerate a certificate and enter a password to return the OPC UA Connector to full operation.
    • FactoryTalk Alarms and Events
       Logs:
       Use Microsoft
      SQL Server
       tools to back up and restore database files.
    • FactoryTalk Transaction Manager
      : Back up project files using the
      Configuration
       menu. See
      FactoryTalk Transaction Manager
       documentation for help.
    • FactoryTalk Batch
      :
      Copy the
      FactoryTalk Batch
       files back to the same directory locations. See
      FactoryTalk Batch
       documentation for help.
    • Other products
      : Back up product-specific information separately. See product documentation for help.
      IMPORTANT:
      FactoryTalk Services Platform
       6.10 applies a new encryption algorithm to the backup file for enhanced security. Backups created using
      FactoryTalk Services Platform
       6.10 can only be restored to host computers that are also running
      FactoryTalk Services Platform
       6.10 or later. Backups created using
      FactoryTalk Services Platform
       2.90 or later can be restored onto host computers that are running
      FactoryTalk Services Platform
       6.10.
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