Automatically Backup Log Files

NIPO Fieldwork System Version 1.14

Automatically Backup Log Files

Log files are allowed a maximum size limit; if the limit is superseded, or the service is restarted, a new file is created. The latest files has the extension 001. Whenever a new file is created, other files are renamed up until an upper limit. Above the limit, files are deleted.

Depending on the work load of a CATI center and the log level configured, log files may fill up quickly and exist for only a brief period of time. For issue tracking purposes you can configure a backup procedure that is triggered under one of the following conditions:

The service is started in case the service may have been stopped due to an unexpected system halt
The maximum number of log files is reached

To this end, the OnLogsFull trigger must be configured. This is a registry-only setting.

Root key 64-bit: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\NIPO\CatiMaster\Triggers]

Root key 32-bit: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NIPO\CatiMaster\Triggers]

Key: OnLogsFull = "<path>\\<name>"

The trigger assumes a batch file (*.BAT) or command processor file (*.CMD). The NIPO CATI / Web Master passes the following parameters:

%1 = (not used)
%2 = Survey folder
%3 = Log folder
%4 = Date and time in the format YYYYMMDDhhmm

In addition, the system stores a Trigger.LOG in the survey folder recording the times the trigger was executed.

Example setup

Assuming the following batch file called OnLogsFull.bat:

CD %3
MD Backup.%4
COPY Odmas*.* Backup.%4

And the following registry setting:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NIPO\CatiMaster\Triggers]
"OnLogsFull"="C:\\NIPOSoftware\\CatiWeb\\PROG\\OnLogsFull.BAT"

During a service restart or when the maximum number of files has been reached, the NIPO CATI / Web Master service copies the log files into a backup subfolder with the indicated date and time as the folder name extension.