Table of contents
About Backup Sets
The backup set is a grouping mechanism that simplifies and optimizes backing up MySQL databases, and tables that are accessible for a MySQL server or is a part of MySQL cluster. It lets an administrator define a set of backup policies (what, how, where and when) to automatically schedule different backup runs.
All ZMC actions (backup, restore, reporting, and monitoring) are performed in the context of backup sets.
A backup set cannot include more than one MySQL server, unless those servers form a cluster. A backup set can include one or more databases. When selecting individual tables as backup sources, you must select a single database, then the tables it contains. A single backup set cannot contain tables from multiple databases.
Multiple backup sets are useful for protecting a large number of systems with different backup requirements, but many organizations with less complex backup requirements can define a single backup set to meet their needs. For example, on a network that includes several databases with high transaction rate along with other databases that change more slowly, you would probably want to create one backup set for the more active databases, and another backup set for the less active ones.
What a Backup Set Contains
A backup set is defined by the following properties:
- Name
- Besides being unique, the name must consist of alphanumeric characters. Dashes (-) and underline (_) characters are also allowed.
- What
- Type and Name of MySQL host: Identifies the MySQL server (identified by DNS name or IP) or cluster being backed up, and the database(s), or table(s) within in a database to back up.
- Where
- The destination directory where the backups will be stored until they are expired by the retention date specified by the retention policy.
- When
- Specifies the backup cycle policies used when automatically generating backup schedules.
- How
- Specifies the backup mechanism to use and other parameters such as Backup Mode, Replication, Encryption, snapshots, etc.
Convenience in setting up multiple backup sets
ZRM for MySQL employs multiple levels of default inheritance to simplify the process of administering multiple backup sets:
- Factory settings
- These are the "built-in" assumptions that allow many administrators to use ZRM for MySQL right "out of the box" with few configuration changes.
- Site Settings
- These allow the admistrator to set global defaults used when creating backup sets. For example, if you have a single MySQL server and are creating multiple backup sets for different the databases it contains, you can set up a site-wide default MySQL server (and related parameters).
- Backup set
- The backup set itself allows you to override either Factory or Site settings.
ZRM for MySQL also lets you create backup sets by duplication. You can copy an existing backup set to a different name and then edit it as necessary.
- Use the left panel to create a new backup set.
- Use the right panel to open an existing backup set. The right panel also displays the status result of the most recent backup, regardless of the set it belongs to.
Create New Backup Set
- Owner
- Use the dropdown menu to choose the ZRM for MySQL user who will own the backup set. The only available user will be Admin until you configure more users.
- Backup Set Name
- Specify an unique and descriptive name for the backup set. The name can include any alphanumeric characters, along with periods and dashes (as long as they are surrounded by alphanumerics; for example: admin-backup is allowed, whereas admin--backup is not). Spaces are not allowed.
- Comments
- Enter an optional comment that describes the purpose of the backup set. The comment can contain any alphanumeric characters. Special characters such as # and newline are not allowed.
- Note
- Once the backup set name has been saved,directly editing it is not possible.
- Create Backup Set
- Click the Create Backup Set button when you are done. The Backup Summary page is then displayed, allowing you to set further options for the backup set.
Open Backup Set
This panel provides a convenient method to access the most common ZMC pages for daily backup administration. The panel displays status for the most recent backups (regardless of the backup set), and includes the following controls:
- Backup set dropdown
- Choose a backup set, and you will be taken to the Backup What page for that set.
- View All Events
- Click this link to go the Event Log Viewer, which logs and displays all ZRM for MySQL activity in detail.
- Column Headings
- Click on any of the column headings to sort the table based on the given criteria.
- Links in the Name Column
- Click on any of the backup set names in the table to go to the Backup Set Summary for that set.
- Links in the Last Backup Column
- Click on any of these links to go to the Backup Summary Report.
- Links in the Last Alert Column
- Click on any of these links to go to that alert in the Event Log Viewer.