How to Back Up Interbase / Firebird databases.

For data security, the database files (.gdb or .fdb) should be backed up on a regular schedule. The best way to do this is to first back up the database files with the GBAK utility included in the bin directory with Interbase / Firebird. The resulting file will be a compressed .gbk file. This .gbk file can be copied to your secure backup loaction, be it tape, cd, or other location.

Manual Backup:

You can use IBConsole to backup the database.
1) Log into the database server
2) Log into the database
3) Under menu item database | Maintenance | select backup and fill in the options

This .gbk file can be copied to tape, CD or any other backup loaction.

- Or -

At the command line prompt (run | cmd) run the following process:

Gbak –b –user SYSDBA –password PASSWORD servername:sourcedatabaselocation backupfilename

For example:

(one line)
"C:\Program Files\InterBase\Bin\gbak" -b -user SYSDBA -password password localhost:C:\Laborpower\referral\jobref.gdb "d:\backup\jobref.gbk"

Note the need to specify the server as localhost if you are backing up at the console of the server. Do not use UNC (//servername/share/…). Complete documentation of GBAK is available on our web site.

This process can be done “live” while database users are connected to Interbase / Firebird. GBAK will create a snapshot of the data the moment it is started and all transactions created after the backup start will not be backed up. Do not simply copy the .gdb file while it is being accessed as it’s state can change spontaneously during the backup and thus the copy can be corrupted.

Schedule a Back up

We recommend that you run GBAK every day and then use your regular backup routines to copy the resulting .gbk file onto tape. To automate GBAK, with notepad or equivalent create a batch file titled “DBBACKUP.TXT”. Save it. Close. Change the name to DBBACKUP.BAT. Edit the file.

The batch file will need 2 –3 commands:
1) Delete the old backup
2) Make a backup
3) Optionally copy backup file to a place where the regular tape routine can copy it to tape.

For example:
;Delete old file
del "d:\backup\jobref.gbk"
;Create backup as above
"C:\Program Files\InterBase\Bin\gbak" -b -user SYSDBA -password password localhost:C:\Laborpower\referral\jobref.gdb "d:\backup\jobref.gbk"
; Optional: Delete and Copy to another machine where it will be ;backed up to tape
del \\OTHER_SERVER\DB_Backup\jobref.gbk
copy "d:\backup\jobref.gbk" \\OTHER_SERVER\DB_Backup\jobref.gbk

NOTE: None of these delete and copy commands are being done on the gdb file.

Save

To schedule this operation, go to Control Panel | Scheduled Tasks and use the wizard to create a new DB backup task that will run the .BAT file you just created. Have the task log in as administrator with your password. Have it run an hour before your scheduled tape backup and have the tape backup pick up the result .gbk file whereever you put it.

Now relax knowing that you have a daily complete copy of all data that can be restored if needed.