Best practices for DB backup when not running on server

[Joe_Schmo]

I have a DB that will be running natively without a FMP server. What's the best way to back up the records and/or whole DB? Would something as simple as placing the DB file in Dropbox be sufficient? Export all records periodically via a script? Should I have a scipt to flush cache to disc or commit records more often than if it were on a server?

[mr_vodka]

Are you using this in a hosted scenario? You could technically make a backup at night when everyone is out of the system but Peer to peer was not really built for that. You really should consider getting Server. It was made to do that. You may be able to pick up an older copy since you are on 10 for a decent price.

[Joe_Schmo]

Are you using this in a hosted scenario? You could technically make a backup at night when everyone is out of the system but Peer to peer was not really built for that. You really should consider getting Server. It was made to do that. You may be able to pick up an older copy since you are on 10 for a decent price.

We have FMPServer 10 at work. However, I am building a DB for a friend who owns a small business. They will only use it in one location and never have more than one user at a time. So it is not likely that I will convince them to spend the extra money to buy the server version for a single user. So I'm looking for an alternative solution that either backs up on line or to and external drive to prevent data loss if the HD fails on the system where the DB will be stored and ran from.

[Wim Decorte]

If there never is going to be a remote guest (it's used only the same machine where the file is on) then Time Machine will do.

If they ever want to have another machine on the network access the file then I'm absolutely with John: get server. It's not that expensive for a business, certainly cheaper than losing it all.

[bcooney]

Time Machine, Wim? I thought that it was important to NOT use Time Machine with FileMaker. See KB.

[Joe_Schmo]

Time Machine, Wim? I thought that it was important to NOT use Time Machine with FileMaker. See KB.

Yeah, I thought you didn't want any backup software to try grabbing a copy of the DB while it's running. This will be on a Windows PC though so that wouldn't be an option anyway. I think I'm just going to use a script to save a copy with all records and dump it in Dropbox, but not actually store the original in Dropbox. Then use a VBscript and scheduled task to archive all but the most recent and purge them after so long.

[Wim Decorte]

Time Machine, Wim? I thought that it was important to NOT use Time Machine with FileMaker. See KB.

The KB article does not say that you should not use, like with any other external backup software: it can be used as long as you acknowledge the extra risk and take steps to mitigate that risk. Hence the best practice: don't use external backup. That's clean and simple. Best practices are not dogma. They are very very important for those areas where you can't be bothered to learn what is going on (and understand the risk and all that),