BBC CCE participant Richard Rodway has written an automatic backup program for the BBC Climate Change Experiment.
This document is written for Autobackup 1.03 downloaded after 3 July 2006.
With most changes for Abu 1.04 implemented
Is Autobackup useful to you?
-Autobackup is originally written for Windows hosts in the BBC CCE Project and for the present 1.04 version Richard made it compatible for the CPDN Project as well.
Some have used autobackup 1.04 to do a few basic backup/restore, -t n and -c n backup/restores on CPDN models with success.
-Autobackup does not work if Boinc is installed as a service.
-Linux hosts are not served. Sorry but maybe, maybe ... a separate Linux version later.
-Autobackup does not monitor the status of other boinc projects. It just shuts the boinc manager down at a time most convenient for the BBC CCE or CPDN Application, than backs up everything that is found in the boinc folder. Restarts the manager and restarts the climate models. I presume it restarts the other models as well but .......sorry not sure!!
-Manual intervention with know-how of the elements of the other project workunits is needed in case one has to refer to a backup/restore for bbc or cpdn. Without intervention other workunits will be set back as well or even attempt to continue an already completed workunit.
Other considerations when using Autobackup
-Autobackup works with models running on multiple processors but so far not optimal.
-Also inactive models, suspended models, still active boinc.exe executables after shutdown or suspending the 'Locked' model can leave autobackup in 'infinitive' wait mode. ( Richard worked around some of this in 1.04 but ..)
-Until you feel confident with autobackup, you may want to make independent backups for a while. Thus one can revert back to the alternative if autobackup or you messed up.
-Autobackup makes copies of directories but does not delete older backup-directories. together with an alternative backup method fast amounts of disk can be used.
-Autobackup does not monitors or warns you when your disk fills up. Windows XP does, but if you ignore those messages autobackup will generate incomplete backups.
-A good backup is only proven by a successfully handled restore. Build up a routine in the manual restore procedure and restore test.
The restore process is not difficult but lends itself for mistakes, such as:
--Copy into a non empty directory,
--Using move instead of copy -specially when drag/drop is used,
--Copies to the wrong folder - specially when drag/drop is used,
--Renaming identical files/folders instead of replace by overwrite and
--Overwriting newer by older instead of older replaced by newer files.
-The basic backup mode does not automate the backups. Is gives you just one backup for every time you manually invoke Autobackup. To automate one has to use an applicable option.
Sorry, Starting this way is not the best way to sell a product, but it is fairer than BBC's do step 1-2-3 and there you go.
Are you still with me, some have called the next daunting but worthwhile in the end!!!
Getting Autobackup
To download go to: BBC CCE Autobackup
Save this downloaded file to the root of your system e.g. C:\Windows
Running autobackup in basic non-repetitive mode
Locate and remember or copy/paste the BOINC source directory address. (if you have made a default installation than this would be:
Please do not include the sub directories 'project' etc. in the string.
If you have done a non-default installation search the harddisk for files cpdnbbcmgr.exe located in ...\Climate Change Experiment or boincmgr.exe in ...\BOINC and select the folder that best reflects the above image.
Create your backup target directory. Here we use ' C:\CCE-bu ' as example, but you can create the target directory anywhere on a fixed disk.
How to activate the program in basic mode
To run autobackup it needs a ms-DOS command-line with the following format:
==================================================================
BBC-backup(.exe) <space> " <BOINC source directory> "<space>" <backup target directory> "
==================================================================
For example, if your BOINC directory is C:\Program Files\Climate Change Experiment or ..\BOINC and you created C:\CCE-bu for your backups, go to Start | Run and you'd type:
==================================================================
BBC-backup "C:\Program Files\Climate Change Experiment" "C:\CCE-bu"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBC-backup "C:\Program Files\BOINC" "C:\CPDN-bu"
==================================================================
Please note the two required spaces and the four double quote symbols( " ).
and press Enter.
Note on a PC's first autobackup attempt
Only once you need to tick 'OK' on a "Close Confirmation" box on the dialogue box that comes up when you shut BOINC down to stop that dialogue box coming up. Otherwise the backup program will not shut boinc down and will as a result NOT do the backup (it won't try to do the backup if it sees any boinc related processes still running)
Picture(s) would be usefull to visualise this
You have now completed the procedure to run Autobackup, but you may wish to read on for post-run instructions, options, advanced options, and useful information.
How does the program work
When you run the program it will wait till the next savepoint, then wait another minute for the system to finish writing files. It will then cause the Boinc manager to exit (by simulating File|Exit). It will then wait for all processes associated with it to exit, backup the BOINC folder, and finally restart the Boinc manager to continue the model(s).
Diagnosis or post-run error and other messages (basic mode)
If a window, a DOS-box, is coming up, with header 'bbc-backup', than the executable is running. Within the DOS-box you should get the text:
BBC-Backup 1.0n
Waiting for Checkpoint. Checkpoints to go: m followed by a blinking cursor _
The DOS-box stays in this situation until a "model_ID".xml file is updated by the model application after passing checkpoint = 0. This takes max. m * checkpoint-interval.
(checkpoint-interval cpi = 432 * your model s/Ts
As indication:
a 1.0 Gig P3 has a s/Ts = 9.7 So cpi = 432 * 9.71 / 60 = 70 minutes
a 2.4 Gig P4 has a s/Ts =3.43 So cpi = 432 * 3.43 /60 = 25 minutes
You can find your models s/Ts on the "Show Graphics" window)
On passing the checkpoint Shutting down BOINC is displayed and behind the box you might see the Boinc-manager and associated windows disappear.
If the checkpoint is passed, but Autobackup keeps in the wait mode than autobackup might have locked onto a 'model_x.xml' file that has been suspended.
A dirty workaround is to temporarily rename or move the suspended model_x.xml file.
Next display should be: Performing Backup taking up to a few minutes depending on the quality of your disks.
As last Restarting the experiment is displayed briefly, the DOS-box disappears and the Boinc-manager opens again (if it was open)
***Add problems with multiple *.xml files. Solved in 1.04 but include in 'how it works'
If the DOS-box gives a message "x.xml not found", than the program failed to find a certain file. Maybe because the second part <BOINC Source directory> is not good or you forgot one or more 'double quote symbols' or you are running CPDN and not BBC CCE.
If the DOS-box gives a message "Could ...." than it could be that the target directory does not match or is not created. Please check the exact spelling!
If the DOS-box shows a blinking cursor '-' than the program is waiting for .. see below!
If it is blinking for more than an hour, while the model is running normally, than there is something else wrong. Appending the -v option to your command-line string might give more information.
-v output is explained in appendix A.
Backup directory build-up
The first backup in a new destination folder will be a full backup, copying the entire BOINC directory to a folder named CCE-Base in your backup target directory. On subsequent backups it will only copy files that have changed since the snapshot of the system stored in CCE-Base. These will be stored in a directory called CCE-n, where n is a large time/date-number and stands for the seconds lapsed from 01 January 1970 (e.g. CCE-1152178013 was made at 06/07/2006 10:26:xx ).
To test a backup and your handling of the restore procedure
To test the backup, rename the Boinc folder to i.e.. "...\Climate Change Experiment-Orig".
Create a new ...\Climate Change Experiment folder and follow 3 till 7 of the restore procedure of the next list.
Was the restore successful, than the backup was good. Now you can leave it running and leave or delete the "....-Orig" folder or revert back to the old situation.
To do a restore,
(1)Exit the boinc manager, using Menu File|Exit,
(2)(permanently) delete the contents of the BOINC directory (using Shift-Del) and
(3) (Optional) make .zip files of the CCE-Base and latest CCE-n directories.
(4)copy the contents of CCE-Base back into the Boinc directory, then
(5)copy the contents of the last CCE-n directory on top of it (select overwriting 'yes to all' to the 'Replace' window and 'Yes' to the 'Confirm replace' window. but by all means avoid 'copy of ..' )
***Placeholder for picture: ConfirmReplace.jpg Value: Nihil
(6) Start the Boinc client again.
(7) Monitor if the model goes into running mode, percentage shown is what you expected and the 'CPU time' goes up than the backup saved the model successfully and the restore procedure was handled well.
Hint: to identify last and previous backups compare the dates and times of the CCE-n folders.
Note: Suggest when you use File-Explorer for the copy operations that you go to and highlight the CCE-n directory, use menu: Edit|'Select All'. Move-over Highlighted files and Right click mouse. Highlight copy and left click. Highlight the empty boinc directory and right click moving to paste.
Note: It is in some circumstances possible to make a backup of a crashed model. In that case the last restore would result in a computation error. In that case you can try to restore one of the previous incremental backups.
***Also is it possible that autobackup backs up a new model which was automatically received when the previous model crashed.
It is possible to avoid this situation by setting the 'Allow new taks/ No new tasks' toggle button to display 'Allow new tasks'. This seems confusing, but displayed is the situation you get when you activate the button by pressing it. Verify it by looking at the Status column for the BBC CCE line.
Find this button in the projects-tab of the Boinc-manager (under the Restart/Suspend button)
The incremental backups are about 130 Mb and rise to 170 Mb towards the decade upload. The size also depends on the backup interval and amount of models running on the computer.
*** Here the DOC goes back from restore to backup issues
Warning! If your model crashes, and a new one is downloaded, than the size of the incremental backups will increase with an additional 300 Mb! If you'd rather keep the new model than to restore to the old model, then delete the CCE-Base directory (or rename it if you want the option of going back later). This will cause autobackup to make a new base-directory, and the subsequent incremental backups will be relative to the contents of that base-directory.
Used in the default mode, the program will execute once, wait for the first savepoint, exit, make the backup and restarts.
You should be able to use Windows 'Scheduled Tasks' to repeat the backup's based on absolute times.
but to be honest I don't get the Scheduled Task working. Get 32bit apps started but neither 16bit DOS-box's nor .bat files. Working could be based on profile policies or AD. Sched Help doc rattles on about security tabs which I don't have! MSCE Help or a workaround would be appreciated !!!
Advanced modes
Alternatively you can use the following options or flags:
-t <minutes> for repeated backups with times relative to the moment the autobackup command was given.
So, to use the above example, to backup every 12 hours, you'd type:
=================================================================
BBC-backup "C:\Program Files\Climate Change Experiment" "C:\CCE-bu" -t 720
=================================================================
Autobackup will continue to run indefinitely in this mode, or until you kill it :)
-t <minutes> -n See -n
-c <count> is used to specify the number of savepoints* to wait until the BBC CCE is shut down and the backup is made. For example -c 5 will wait 5 savepoints. -c 60 will wait a full model year.
-c <count> -n See -n
Note_1: the count option continuously monitors the state of a *.xml file, and therefore uses more resources than the -t option.
Note_2: With the count option alone, Autobackup will terminate itself upon completion of the backup. While:
-t 1 -c <count> will continue with backups. So using -t 1 -c 30 will do backups every 30 savepoints ad-infinitum.
Note_3: On HT, dual, quad processor computers with multiple models running, you should not take the sum of the savepoints. For now, this beta program monitors only one randomly selected model and counts the savepoints of that specific model.
-x This will cause BBC-backup to exit as soon as the backup is made. The BBC CCE is not restarted. Useful to shut the BBC CCE down before playing games for instance, no need to watch that checkpoint counter in 'Show Graphics' and hit File|Exit at the right time, it will do all that for you, and backs up your experiment for good measure :)
-x -nIf -n is used with -x it will cause BBC-backup to wait for the next checkpoint and exit the BBC CCE without backup.
-m <Mb> Used to indicate the minimum free disk-space that there can be for a backup to be made. If there is less space free than that, a backup will NOT be made. -m 500 for instance will cause backups not to be made if there is less than 500 Mb of space free on the backup drive.
-v This will give more text messages in the dos box and might be helpful to diagnose problems.
Output of the -v option is explained in Appendix A
-n This suppresses the first backup to be scheduled. You can use it with -t or -c options so it won't do the first scheduled backup. Particularly useful if the BBC CCE is not running when you start BBC-backup. Without specifying this. it will do an immediate backup, then start the BBC CCE. With it, it will just start the BBC CCE. After the first backup is skipped all other backups proceed as normal.
Anytime you have rebooted your computer you have to restart Autobackup with the desired options.
Autobackup versions
This program is NOT made for Linux*, it is for Windows only. It will run on Win2K, W2K3 and XP.
Before 1.03 is only designed for BBC CCE using the BBC Screensaver, that is BOINC Version 5.3.17, 5.3.18 and 5.3.19 of the Boinc manager.
From v1.03 is designed for BBC CCE using the BBC Screensaver and the CPDN-Boinc manager Version 5.2.x and 5.4.9.
From 1.04 is designed for BBC CCE and CPDN, either via screensaver or standard client.
Seasonal attribution, Spinup's and beta's are not covered nor service installs
Checkpoints / Savepoints
Savepoints are special checkpoints, at a savepoint the model-data kept in memory is saved to disk. At savepoints volatile model data (in memory) is transferred to permanent storage (=on disk). For hadcm3l models checkpoints are at the end of model days and savepoints are at every sixth checkpoint.
In terms of model-days, Savepoints occur at the start of days 1,7,13,19 and 25. For some reason never at day 31 ;-)
Among many others, Richard uses the term 'checkpoint' when referring to a 'savepoint' and historically with slab models, hadsm3, a save occurred at every checkpoint.
As only this document made the naming distinction between the Save- and Checkpoint, but it is generally used interchangeably it is now used in this document as well.
A checkpoint is equivalent to one model day consisting of 72 timesteps. The hadcm3l model first goes through 48 half hour timesteps for the atmosphere calculations. Than it goes through 24 one hour timesteps for the ocean calculations.
Versus
A checkpoint is equivalent to 432 timesteps or six model days
A bit ambivalent, but I guess you will manage until it gets solved in a new model version ;-)
Hint: To see the timesteps to the next checkpoint you can invoke the graphics and use 'z' followed by '8' to display the countdown from 432 to 1
Printing this document
As this is a dynamic document I would not advice to print it.
It changes on a regular basis so you will be printing over and over.
If you want a copy I suggest to keep it electronically.
With your browser you can save this document as a (M)HTML with a '.mht' extension
(for IE7 that is the default extension to save pages and for IE6 It is an option under 'save as')
Save ink and paper and with that the forests and the planet. Every little bit of 'reduce' helps!
Your involvement
Give this Versatile Program a try, and let know of any positive news or problems encountered, Documentation flaws or requests you have for improvements, but please keep in mind that the BOINC Client can not be changed easily, because it is a general client serving all Boinc projects!
If possible we will reply, but Please keep in mind that we have other obligations as well.
Feedback of -v output
If asked or to diagnose a reproducible backup issue you can't solve with this documentation, than invoke Autobackup with the option -v added to it.
Output of the DOS-box can be copied as picture and paste into 'Paint'. (For compatibility and size reasons, I suggest to save pictures as .jpg and optionally in B&W for screen dumps. For readability of the thread you place the post in, the width of full screen dumps impairs the reading of the whole thread)
If the top of the box, as long as it is not flushed away, is included in the saved picture than we can deduct the options you used. Otherwise you have to mention them explicitly
Pictures should be uploaded to an online server, such as www.photobucket.com where you have or create an account. Is the picture uploaded than you can copy the IMG-string and place that string in the forum post you make. Please use http-string links for wide pictures such as screen-dumps.
Closing note
All credits for making Autobackup go to Richard Rodway !!!! Thanks for your effort.
And thanks to others for supporting or trying and feedback on Autobackup.
Please note that this documentation is 'in maintenance' and will be updated on a need be basis
This is the #09c update dd. 10-07-2006 @ 01:00 hours. Major updates will be reported in the 'Documentation flaws' thread.
Please, be so kind not to post into this or any **sticky-thread! But use the underlined links above to post messages in relation to BBC Autobackup.
Thanks,
==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
Pictures
- output -t 60 -v
Appendix A: -v Output Explained
Line 1: Displays version of active Autobackup.
Line 2: Reveals the condition and options under which autobackup runs.
Starting -
timer = n minutes. If n != 0 the -t n option has been used.
count = c checkpoints. If c != 0 the -c c option has been used.
norestart = {0,1}. If {1} the -x option has been used.
minfree = m megabytes. If m != 0 the -m m option has been used.
scipcount = {0,1}. If {1} the -n option has been used.
Line 3: Number of processes = n Is the total amount of processes running on the computer when autobackup was activated.
Line 4: szProcessName = boincmgr.exe. found!
sz = ?***, boincmgr and cpdnbbcmgr are the boinc manager main processes for standard client resp. screensaver. These spawn the boinc.exe and the various hadcm3l processes.
State = found!
Line 5: Waiting for .. {Standard Output}
Line 6 -> n: file: model_x.xml, time = , filetime = diff =
Listing of model.xml files found, present time, time .xml was saved and the difference in sec.
Line n+1: Locked onto filepath, model_x.xml
This line shows the specific model being selected and monitored. Backup will be initiated if the specific model.xml is updated.
Line n+2 -> m: time = , filetime = , diff =
As line 6 but only for the locked model. Every 30 seconds a new line is printed showing increasing values for time and diff. On model.xml update the filetime gets a new value resulting in the reset of the diff to near zero.
A few more lines are printed because of the one minute delay and the backup procedure starts.
Line m+1: Shutting down BOINC {Standard Output}
Line m+2, m+3: Check for processes. Number of processes = n
Second Check and comparing check results shows most of the time if the boinc associated processes are indeed down.
Line m+4: Performing Backup {Standard Output}
Line m+5: Number of processes
Third check. Why? ***
Line m+6: Restarting the experiment {Standard Output}
Line m+7: Timer = n
Puts executable in sleep-mode for n minutes.
On wake-up the loop start at line 3 again.
Model.xml selection and lock onto is repeated to accommodate manual and automatic changes of the model running states (running/suspended)
Appendix B: Diagnose with -v Output
1) Check version number and see in the documentation if that version should be doing what you expect it to do.
Appendix C: Location for Autobackup executable
The executable BBC-backup.exe should be saved to the root of your system. For most of us this is C:\WINDOWS or C:\WINNT.
There are other ways to get the executable working from other locations, but have put this into this Appendix C as an optional for more experienced / demanding users.)
Optional locations for the executable
For Windows XP:
Either the full path to the executable has to be used in the command-line or the executable has to be in a directory mentioned in the PATH-string.
For example, if you want to have the executable BBC-backup.exe in the root of drive D: than the command-line has to look like:
==============================================================
D:\BBC-backup "C:\Program Files\Climate Change Experiment" "C:\CCE-bu"
==============================================================
Method 2:
Windows will look for executables in the directories mentioned in the PATH-string:
To find the PATH String go to:
Start|control panel|system|system properties|Advanced|Environment Variables|Path:
Default value for the PATH String is:
%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem
Note read %SystemRoot% as C:\WINDOWS
To append the PATH-string, use the 'edit' button on the open window and append or insert " ; < ..path to executable..> ; " While taking care NOT to delete the default string!
Above example and the string change to:
===============================================================
%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;D:\
===============================================================
Would allow the use of:
==============================================================
BBC-backup "C:\Program Files\Climate Change Experiment" "C:\CCE-bu"
==============================================================
If it does not work than, either the path is incorrect or XP has to be recycled.
For Windows W2K and W2K3 this goes probably in the same way.
Appendix D: (Obsolete) Source Posts.
RRodway, 26 march 2006 @22:06:56 UTC
==============================================================================
Posting here as well, not sure of the right area for this, and probably no-one is interested in it anyway. but it was an interesting little exercise.
I've written an automatic backup program for the BBC Climate Change experiment.
To run, download www.rakhal.com/cpdn/backupBOINC.exe , scan for viruses (it should be virus free, but paranoia is good :)), then put it wherever you like.
To run, from the command-line type
backupBOINC <BOINC directory> <backup directory> [-t timeinterval]
For example, if your BOINC directory is C:\Program Files\Climate Change Experiment and you want to put the backups in C:\CCE you'd type
backupBOINC "C:\Program Files\Climate Change Experiment" "c:\cce"
When you run the program it will wait till the next checkpoint, then wait another minute for the system to finish writing files. It will then cause BOINC to exit (by simulating file|exit). It will then wait for all processes associated with it to exit, and then backup the BOINC folder, relaunching Boinc afterwards.
If this is the first backup, it will make a full backup, copying the entire BOINC directory to a folder called CCE-BASE in your backup directory. On subsequent backups it will only copy files that have changed since the snapshot of the system stored in CCE-Base. These will be stored in a directory called CCE-[large number] (ex: CCE-1211674322).
To restore, delete the contents of the BOINC directory, then copy the contents of CCE-Base into it, then copy the contents of the last CCE-[large number] directory on top of it (overwriting as necessary)
You need to tick the box on the dialog box that comes up when you shut BOINC down to stop that dialog box coming up. Otherwise the backup program will not shut BOINC down and will as a result not do the backup (it won't try to do the backup if it sees any Boinc related processes still running)
The incremental backups seem to be about 50MB in practise. Warning! If your model crashes, and a new one is downloaded, the size of the incremental backups will jump to more like 300mb! If you'd rather keep a new model than restore to the old model, then delete the CCE-Base directory (or rename it if you want the option of going back later). This will cause it to make a new base directory, and the subsequent incremental backups will be relative to that directory.
Used in this mode, the program will execute once, waiting for a checkpoint, exiting BOINC, making the backup, then re-launching BOINC. You can use a scheduler to execute it whenever you want it to automatically.
Alternatively you can provide the -t flag to the program. This is of the form -t [time between backups in minutes]
So, to use the above example, to backup every 12 hours, you'd type
backupBOINC "C:\Program Files\Climate Change Experiment" "c:\cce" -t 720
backupBOINC will continue to run indefinitely in this mode, or until you kill it :)
Caveats: This is BETA software. I've tested it a fair bit, doing several backups and restoring them, all successfully, however I'm sure there are still bugs. Until you feel secure with it, you may want to make some independent backups too.
This is Windows only. It will run on Win2K and XP, which are the only platforms that the BBC experiment runs on I think.
It's designed for the BBC BOINC manager, not the regular one, it won't work with the regular one, though if wanted I could make it do so easily.
It's also designed for people that JUST run the BBC Climate change experiment. It'll wait for the right time to stop that, but if you're also running something else, it will not check the state of them at all.
If you're running 2 models at once, it will only wait for the checkpoint on the first one.
Give it a try, and let me know of any problems, requests you have for this
Hope it helps!
===================================================================
RRodway 27 Mar 2006 8:07:12 UTC
Executable renamed to BBC_backup.exe, as suggested.
So now, to get it, download
www.rakhal.com/cpdn/BBC_backup.exe
Incidentally, I actually use this to launch the BBC CCE now when I start it. If you run it while the BBC CCE is not running, it will do an immediate backup and then launch the experiment.
===================================================================
RRodway 28 Mar 2006 1:09:17 UTC
A new version of BBC-backup.exe is now available at www.rakhal.com/cpdn/BBC-backup.exe
As requested 3 new flags have been added
-c <count> is used to specify the number of checkpoints to wait until the BBC CCE is shut down and the backup is made. For example -c 5 will wait 5 checkpoints. -c 60 will wait a full model year.
-x This will cause BBC-backup to exit as soon as the backup is made. The BBC CCE is not restarted. Useful to shut the BBC CCE down before playing games for instance, no need to watch that checkpoint counter and hit file|exit at the right time, it will do all that for you, and backs up your experiment for good measure :)
-m <min disk-space in MB> Used to indicate the minimum free disk-space that there can be for a backup to be made. If there is less space free than that, a backup will not be made. -m 500 for instance will cause backups not to be made if there is less than 500MB of space free on the backup drive.
Hope some of these help
--Richard
===================================================================
RRodway 2 Apr 2006 17:55:29 UTC
Version 1.02 out of this program. Same place, www.rakhal.com/cpdn/BBC-backup.exe
New: Displays version number when it starts. Not in title car though since that's a little awkward in console programs. If/When it gets a GUI that will chance.
-n flag added. This suppresses the first backup to be scheduled. If used with -x it will cause BBC-backup to wait for the next checkpoint, exit the BBC CCE and not backup. For playing games etc. where you know that you've backed up recently anyway. OR you can use it with -t or -c and it won't do the first scheduled backup. Particularly useful if the BBC CCE is not running when you start BBC-backup. Without specifying this. it will do an immediate backup, then start the BBC CCE. With it, it will just start the BBC CCE. After the first backup is skipped all others proceed as normal.
Friendly feedback of operation now, you'll see what it's up to :). The -v flag is no longer needed, though it's still there if you want more gibberish on the screen.
Note that if you want to use -c <x> to do backups every <x> checkpoints you can cause that to happen by also specifying -t <time> and make the time interval very short, like 1 :). SO using -c 30 on its' own will wait 30 checkpoints, do a backup and then exit. Using -t 1 -c 30 will do backups every 30 checkpoints ad-infinitum.
Hope this helps, more soon...
--Richard
(what is the most desired new feature that people want next?)
===================================================================
Appendix E: Open questions
Running autobackup has opened a DOS box and it is currently waiting for a checkpoint. After it's done the backup, do I need to keep this DOS window open permanently?
Also must I run the program again if I reboot the computer?
Thanks,
Walcot
===================================================================
Can your script be modified to run on Linux (via bash even) please?
And be made more general so as to sensibly back up all other Boinc projects also?
Regards,
Martin
===================================================================
I'd like to use the BBC CCE autobackup program (and I tried) but I have the regular BOINC manager. Do you plan on implementing this feature soon?
Secondly, I installed and I run BOINC as a service (on win xp), would autobackup work in this case?
TIA & happy crunching.
Milivoj
===================================================================
Compressed backups. that will take a little more work. I have zlib and although I've not used it myself I know where to find out info about it. Will see what I can do here.
===================================================================
For multiple cpu computers it would be useful to simulate a suspend as soon as a particular model has reached a savepoint. Once all models are suspended the program should simulate a File|Exit and proceed the backup. After that it should restart the client again and simulate model restarts preferably with a slight (adjustable) interval to allow for extra cpu and disk activity.
Also have to mention that there is a hadcm3_spinup but I'm unable to do this on my machines.
More later
Kilcock.
====
Update 4 of **Sticky - BBC Autobackup doc.
-Integrated remarks from Jenny and Beekeeper, ex iXant - Both Thanks.
-Updated document to reflect version 1.02 of the program. Thanks to Richard.
Regards,
Kilcock.
=====
Update 5 (minor update)
-removed 'BBC ' from several directory strings.
Next update: Expect that Richard makes autobackup working for the standard boinc client.
=====
Update 6 of **Sticky - BBC Autobackup doc.
-Updated document to reflect version 1.03 of the program. Thanks to Richard.
-Major change: support for the standard Boinc clients
-Usefull for participants whom use the standard Boinc client to run their BBC CCE model(s)
- No need to upgrade from 1.02 to 1.03 for participants using the BBC Screensaver version.
Regards,
Kilcock.
====
Update 7+8 of **Sticky - BBC Autobackup doc.
- Added introduction notes
- Elaborated on a few issues
- Sorry but built more precautions into the restore procedure
- Sort off started making pictures to support text, but need an always on web location to put them. Anybody willing to give me ftp access to a directory on a always online server?
- Now it floats a bit like being in a maintenance state. So excuses if you find internal tags or unfinished parts.
Regards,
Kilcock.
====
Update 9 of **Sticky - BBC Autobackup doc.
-Updated document to reflect version 1.03 and bits of version 1.04 of the program. Thanks to Richard.
-Major change: full support for the Cpdn project.
- Sort off started making pictures to support text, but did not get further with that jet.
- It still floats a bit like being in a maintenance state. So excuses if you find internal tags or unfinished parts.
- Advice to upgrade from 1.02 or 1.03 to 1.04 for participants using the BBC Screensaver version.
Replace steps
Download BBC CCE & CPDN Autobackup latest version and save as BBC-backup1.04.exe
Copy BBC-Backup1.04.exe to C:\Windows
Down the BBC-Backup window using the red X button
In C:\Windows Rename BBC-Backup.exe to BBC-Backup.old or delete it.
Rename BBC-Backup1.04.exe to BBC-Backup.exe
Restart Autobackup when required with Start|Run selecting your desired command-line.
Regards,
Kilcock.
====
Update pre-10 of **Sticky - BBC Autobackup doc.
-Updated document to reflect version 1.04 of the program.
-Added Appendix A -v Output and moved other Appendices down.
-Added Appendix B Diagnose /w -v Not Done more to follow !!
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 +1yViews expressed here are not necessarily those of Greenpeace, bbc.cpdn.org, cpdn, nor its participating institutions. |
