Automatically copying your research data to the RDSF for Windows users Author University of Bristol Research Data Service Date 05.02.2015 Version 1.4 Notes URI data.bris.ac.uk IPR Copyright © 2015 University of Bristol Overview There are many excellent reasons to store research data in the Research Data Storage Facility, Bristol’s world class data store. However, it sometimes makes practical sense to retain a local, working copy of your data. For example, while valuable audiovisual research data should be stored on the RDSF in the long term, playing video back over the network, directly from the RDSF can give less than optimal results. You may wish to have a copy of the video on a local drive of your desktop PC, to help ensure smooth playback while editing. This can mean the frequent copying of files to the RDSF from another location. For a small number of files this can easily be done manually by mapping your RDSF project space as a networked drive, under Windows (see How do I access my project?1 for details) and then simply dragging files or folders across. However, you may wish to automate this process for larger numbers of files or for frequent operations. For example, you might set an automated, incremental2 backup job for a particular folder kept on your local PC. The job might involve copying the folder (and all its contents) to your RDSF project space every day at 1pm. Please note that this procedure makes use of a programme called SynchFolders which must be installed on your computer. Your computer must be switched on for the duration of the backup procedure. Can’t my whole computer system be backed up to the RDSF? Whole system backups (such as those carried out by utilities such as Apple Time Machine, Linux rsync and PC backup software) should not be used to copy entire computer systems to the RDSF. This is because problems arise when copying multiple ‘live’ system files (such as applications, preferences, browser caches etc.). Such files are often rejected by the software used to manage the RDSF. If you need to back up non research data you should make alternative arrangements with your Zonal IT support team. Procedure The following assumes you are using Windows: 1 https://www.acrc.bris.ac.uk/acrc/RDSF-faqs.html Incremental backups involve copying only new or amended files from one location to another. Files which are already present in the target location will not be copied. 2 1. The SyncFolders program is installed via the IT Services Software Center3. If you don’t see SynchFolders listed under available software contact IT Services who can resolve this for you 2. If you don’t already have a convenient folder within your RDSF project space to copy your data to, then create a destination folder 3. In SynchFolders, start by creating a ‘sync rule’ using the Create rule button 4. As a minimum, you will need to specify a Source Folder (the folder with your files in it), a Target Folder (created in Step 2, above), and choose an appropriate Action (Copy, Backup or Synchronize). Make sure that you read the description of the actions carefully. Note: Back up can delete as well as create files 5. Click OK once configured 6. Save the rule(s) you have just created to somewhere convenient such as your Documents folder on your computer, using the Save Rules button Automating the task 3 http://www.bris.ac.uk/it-services/advice/operatingsystems/windows/windows7/selfservicesoftware.html Next: To use the Scheduled Sync Tasks feature within SynchFolders, in order to setup an automatic sync on a schedule, follow this procedure: 1. Open the Scheduled Sync Tasks from the options menu 2. Click the Create button to setup a new schedule 3. Click on Rules File to locate the rule file you saved earlier. By default the synchronisation task will be executed once every day but you can modify this 4. Once you have set an appropriate name, description & schedule, click Create Task to complete the setup 5. Ensure that your computer is switched on at the scheduled time and the task should run automatically