Regularly back up repositories to prevent data loss due to hardware or software problems. When you back up a repository, the Model Repository Service saves the repository to a file, including the repository objects and the search index. If you need to recover the repository, you can restore the content of the repository from this file.
When you back up a repository, the Model Repository Service writes the file to the service backup directory. The service backup directory is a subdirectory of the node backup directory with the name of the Model Repository Service. For example, a Model Repository Service named MRS writes repository backup files to the following location:
<node_backup_directory>\MRS
You specify the node backup directory when you set up the node. View the general properties of the node to determine the path of the backup directory. The Model Repository Service uses the extension .mrep for all Model repository backup files.
To ensure that the Model Repository Service creates a consistent backup file, the backup operation blocks all other repository operations until the backup completes. You might want to schedule repository backups when users are not logged in.
To restore the backup file of a Model Repository Service to a different Model Repository Service, you must copy the backup file and place it in backup directory of the Model Repository Service to which you want to restore the backup. For example, you want to restore the backup file of a Model Repository Service named MRS1 to a Model Repository Service named MRS2. You must copy the backup file of MRS1 from
<node_backup_directory>\MRS1
and place the file in
<node_backup_directory>\MRS2
.
When you back up and then delete the contents of a Model repository, you must restart the Model Repository Service before you restore the contents from the backup. If you try to restore the Model repository contents and have not recycled the service, you may get an error related to search indices.