How to improve or optimize Vault Backup performance

Autodesk Support

Jul 8, 2024

Products and versions covered

Issue:

How to optimize the amount of time it takes to back up the Vault Server. The following components are included in the Vault Backup:
  • Library Databases.
  • Vault Databases.
  • File stores.

Also the following can be observed:
  • Larger Vaults take longer to back up than smaller ones.
    • Backing up the SQL databases is quicker than the Filestore.
    • Each file should be copied from one location written to another and then be validated
  • A backup that is set up on a different machine (virtual or physical) does not have the same performance issues.

Environment:


 

Causes:

The main causes of a slow backup are:
  • Quantity of data that needs to be backed up.
  • Configuration and environmental factors.
  • Hardware performance.
  • Software.
  • Antivirus.

Solution:

Check that the following points are done:

 

Quantity of data that needs to be backed up

  • Consider that there might be some data that never changes.
  • It might not be necessary to back up everything managed by the Vault Server. 
    • For example, the Standard Inventor Content Center Libraries or "legacy" Vaults.

Standard Content Center Libraries

  • The Standard Inventor Content Center Libraries should not require backing up. If they become corrupted, they can be downloaded at any time from here:
  • The Autodesk Data Management Server (ADMS) Console supports detaching them at the start and reattaching them on completion.
  • This can be controlled by using the "-DBSC" command line switch, or by deselecting the "Backup Standard Content Center Libraries" option in the User Interface.

Vault Backup Dialogue

"Legacy" Vaults

  • A "Legacy" Vault is one that is no longer used in production.
  • It might be attached to the Vault Server, but users only ever read from it, and never add new information.
  • Then consider detaching it before backing up and reattaching at the end. Detach a Vault or Library database by right-clicking it in the ADMS Console.
Note: Still make sure you have a Backup of this Vault from the time it was discontinued.

Vault Detach 

 

Other Quantity related Topics:

Purging the number of files in the Vault once a month. If Purging is already being used, consider a more aggressive purging policy to reduce the number of files in the Filestore.

Configuration and Environmental factors

Backing up to a Network drive

  • Backups to a network drive are slower. Back up to a local hard drive.
  • If the backup needs to be moved to another location, do it after Vaults backup has completed and as a separate command.
  • This can be achieved by either manually copying the backup, or appending a "COPY", "XCOPY", or "ROBOCOPY" command at the end of the backup script.
 

Good Example:

Connectivity.ADMSConsole.exe" -Obackup -BC:\TEMPVAULTBU
XCOPY C:\TEMPVAULTBU \\BUServer\TEMPVAULTBU
RMDIR C:\TEMPVAULTBU


Bad Example

Connectivity.ADMSConsole.exe" -Obackup -B\\BUServer\TEMPVAULTBU

Windows task Scheduler

  • Investigate the "History" tab entries for more information.
  • Investigate the security options in the "General" tab.

Task Scheduler

  • Make sure that the job is executed with the "run with highest privileges" option selected.
  • Consider the schedule, can the job start at an earlier time? Or to run during out-of-business hours?
 
Note: By default, when a Windows Scheduled task is created, it is given a relatively low priority. Although it is not possible to define the Priority in the User Interface in Windows. It can be manually modified, to make it run faster. To elevate the priority, export the task, modify it, and reimport it following these steps:
  1. Go to Start - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Task Scheduler.
  2. Find the task which is executing the Vault Server backup.
  3. On the Action Menu, go to Export... Save the file as *.xml.
  4. Open the XML file using Windows Notepad.
  5. Find the line <Priority>7</Priority>.
  6. Change the value of the Priority from 7 to a higher priority value like 4 or 5.
  7. Save the XML file.
  8. Delete the Scheduled task about the Vault Server Backup.
  9. In the Actions Menu, go to "Import Task" and choose the XML File.
  10. The next time the Scheduled Task is run it should complete in a shorter time.

 

Hardware Performance

 

Use Incremental Backups

 

Upgrade to Vault Server 2025

  • For Vault Server Backup exists the new function "Backup databases"
Upgrade Vault
 
 

Products:

Vault Basic; Vault Professional; Vault Workgroup;

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