What should I backup on my Focus server?
We recommend backing up the below files and folders. In the case of a complete server failure, having the below items will allow you to completely recover all archived recordings.
- SQL database (PanoptoDB_3)
- Panopto\Web (contains all files needed to stream recorded content)
- Panopto\Data (contains all raw video files) - These files would only be needed if you want to re-edit any content. If you record using DV (13GB/hr), you may want to exclude this from your nightly backups.
*Note your directories may have different names depending on what was specified during the install.
How to backup up your SQL database
1. Extract to C:\
2. There should be three files present: BackupExpress.cmd, BackupExpress.sql, and ScheduleBackups.cmd.
3. By default, BackupExpress.cmd will backup to c:\Backups. This file can be modified by right-clicking and selecting edit.
Two options: One time backup or Nightly backup.
Option 1: One time backup
4a. To complete a one time backup of the SQL DB's, Click on Start - Run - type cmd - press Enter.
5a. Change directories to c:\.
6a. Run "BackupExpress.cmd .\sqlexpress" without the quotes.
**Note: In this instance "\sqlexpress" is the default name of the database of which Panopto is using.
7a. If completed successfully, there will be a file named "2K3_SQLEXPRESS-PanoptoDB_3-Thursday.bak" in C:\backups. *Note, the other .bak files are included with SQL Express and are not needed for Focus. The important one .bak file is the one that includes "PanoptoDB_3" in the file name.
Option 2 - Nightly Backup
4b. To schedule a nightly backup, run "ScheduleBackups.cmd .\sqlexpress" without the quotes.
**Note: In this instance "\sqlexpress" is the default name of the database of which Panopto is using.
5b. If done correctly, there should be a schedule task called At1 in control panel - Scheduled Tasks.
6b. Right-Click on "At1" and select "Run"to ensure that the job was setup correctly.
7b. We suggest re-naming this to "PanoptoDB_backup" or something more easily identifiable.
8b. To rename the scheduled task, Right-Click on At1 - select "Rename".
**As long as c:\backups, Panopto\Web, and Panopto\Data are added to your backup routine, you are ensured of having the ability to recover all of your data.
Self-Support Options
Panopto Support Options
* Submit an online support request
Contact Support by Phone:
US Support Line:
800-931-5036, Option 1
UK Support Line:
+44203 137 7056
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