How To: Restore POS Data Backup using Database Restore Utility

POS Database Restore utility (DBRestore) is an user-friendly utility which restores a POS backup taken using POS Database Backup utility (DBBackup). You may have a need to restore the last available POS backup for a multitude of reasons from database corruption due to an abnormal reboot, a system crash due to hardware fault or OS fault or a planned migration of POS application to different hardware. This article is considered to be the user manual of POS Database Restore utility (DBRestore).

Pre-Requisites

1. A system with Ginesys POS application and a compatible SQL Server dataabse installed.
   Need help on POS installation? Refer How To: Install POS Application Server.
   
   

2. A valid POS backup set. A valid POS backup set must contains two backup files. A full backup and a differential backup. The name of the files look like, POSFullBackup_CUID.zip, POSDiffBackup_CUID.zip
   Need help on how to backup? Refer How To: Take Database Backup for POS.
   
   

3. Active Internet connection to access Web database.

Step-by-step guide

Follow the steps given below to execute the POS Database Restore process. In most of the cases, these easy to follow minimum number of steps will get you through the restore process. In any scenario, this happy path doesn’t work for you then please refer the Understanding DBRestore Utility section to understand all the available options and options which you may need to choose suitably.

1. Go to the POS application directory \GSL\GINESYS POS. To reach there easily, right click on the POS shortcut on Desktop and select 'Open file location'.
   
   

2. Copy the backup files in the Backup directory within the GINESYS POS directory. If the directory Backup is not found then create a directory named Backup and copy the backup files into the directory.
   
   

3. In the GINESYS POS directory, locate the application DBRestore.exe and run in elevated mode (Run as admin; right click on DBRestore.exe shortcut and select Run as administrator).
   
   

4. Database Restore window will open. 
   
   

5. In Select backup folder field click Locate button, click OK on folder browser window. By default the primary backup path \GSL\GINESYS POS\Backup is selected.
   
   

6. Verify the information loaded in the Backup Snapshot Info section, especially the store name, CUID and backup time-stamp are important to check.
   
   

7. Click on Restore button to start the restoration process.
   
   

8. On successful restoration the success message will be popped-up.

Understanding DBRestore Utility

The utility has two tabs, Select Backup Location and Database Connection.

Select Backup Location

1. Select backup folder: The default primary backup location \GSL\GINESYS POS\Backup is selected, ideally the backup files are already copied at this location (in step 2).
   
   

2. Extraction folder: No change required. Keep the default selection.
   
   

3. Database connections:
   
   

   1. Populate automatically from backup
      If the current system retains same name or IP as it was when the backup was created, then it is recommended to go with this selection. The utility reads the local and Web Database connection details stored in the backup fileset and loads in the utility. If the utility can test the loaded connection details then the details will be used in current process. The next tab Database Connections will have the loaded connection details for local SQL Server database and the Web database. For unchanged local system, local SQL Server service and Web database Successful message should be seen.
      
      

   2. Enter Manually (in Database Connection tab)
      In any case, where you are migrating to different server or have assigned a different name / IP then select this option.
      Once you select this option, please go to the next tab Database Connections to make the necessary change in system and database details. See
      After testing the modified details successfully, come back to previous tab to continue.
      
      

4. Backup Snapshot Info:
   
   All the necessary details related to the backup set in use is populated in this section. The information includes the backup time, store name & CUID and most importantly a comparison of latest Data Exchange ID found in Web database and the same available in the backup set. You can proceed in restoring only if there is no alert or validation error indicated in this section, that means only when the Data Exchange IDs in backup match with Web database values. If any alert is displayed related to inconsistent Data Exchange ID, ensure you are using the latest backup set. If you still experience the issue, please contact Ginesys Care.
   
   
   

   Open

   

    

5. Full Backup Info: For further verification, you may visit subsequent tabs to know more about the backup. But no action is required in this section, you may proceed further.
   
   
   

   Open

   

   
   
   

6. Differential Backup Info: For further verification, you may visit subsequent tabs to know more about the backup. But no action is required in this section, you may proceed further.
   
   
   

   
   
   

7. Where to restore?:
   
   

   1. Restore to database: Provide a database name where the restored database will be stored. The default value is NPOS. You can continue with the same name or give any name of your choice.
      
      

   2. Restore Data Folder: The default primary data location \GSL\GINESYS POS\Data is selected, ideally you shouldn't make any change here.
      
      

   3. Data file name / Lof file name: The values are populated automatically, no action required.
      
      

Database Connection

As long you retain same system or same system name and IP or there is no change in Web database connection, you need not to look into this section. In any case the system name or IP is different than it was when the backup was generated, you need to provide the current connection details in the Database Connections tab:

1. Local Database Connection : 
   The utility loads the last use POS database connection information which was included in backup set. If the current details are different, you need to mention those here. Use the Test button to verify the mentioned details.
   
   

2. Web Database Connection :
   In general Web database details remain unchanged. In any case the database connection details have been changed, same need to be entered manually. However, you can get the current web db connection information under the following scenarios. Check which scenario matches with yours and take the respective actions.
   
   
   

Restore

The Restore button will start the restore process, but the process will start when all the validations are passed. Following validations are made once the Restore button clicked.

1. Connections are tested Successful for both the databases, Local Database and Web Database. That means correct database connection information and active Internet connectivity to reach the Web database are required.

2. The latest Data Exchange sequence as found in the backup matches the Data Exchange sequence in the Web Database for the store.

After completion of restore process you will get a message of successful completion.

Related Articles

How To: Take Database Backup for POS.

How To: Install POS Application Server