ISY Backup Help

[zerop]

Currently running 4.2.18 on my ISY994i/IR Pro.  Thinking about upgrading to 4.2.30 so I did a backup of my ISY by going to "File" and "Backup ISY".  I saved the file and did not rename it.  It made a .zip file with the name "ISY Backup v4.2.18 with today's date".  I'm running Windows 7 64-bit.

 

Now, with Windows you can double click on a .zip file to see what's in it without extracting it.  When I do this I see there is another .zip file called "uuid.00.21.b9.02.13.15.zip".  When I double click on that file to see what's in it, it is empty.

 

When I extract the original .zip file "ISY Backup v4.2.18...." I get a folder with another .zip file in it "uuid.00.21.b9.02.13.15.zip".  When I try to extract that second .zip file I get an error that says Windows can't complete the extraction because the compressed (zipped) folder is invalid.

 

I do not have any type of .zip file software installed.  I am just using the Windows default.

 

Am I doing something wrong?  Should I be able to see what's in the backup?  This is the first time I've ever tried backing up my ISY so I'm not sure if there is a problem or if this is what's meant to happen.

[LeeG]

The ISY .ZIP is not a normal ZIP file.  What are you trying to determine?  The contents of that ZIP file cannot be modified and most info will not be understood.

[Brian H]

As LeeG pointed out. The contents may not mean much.

Maybe it is the way Windows is handling it. A Zip file inside a Zip File.

I put one of my backups in a test folder. Unzipped it. Then unzipped the file inside it.

It had a folder called CONF

Inside it was list of files and a few more folders. That have no meaning to me.

[zerop]

The ISY .ZIP is not a normal ZIP file.  What are you trying to determine?  The contents of that ZIP file cannot be modified and most info will not be understood.

 

I wasn't trying to determine anything iother than the backup worked/was created.  Is there a way to test the backup or confirm it is good and not corrupted or something?

As LeeG pointed out. The contents may not mean much.

Maybe it is the way Windows is handling it. A Zip file inside a Zip File.

I put one of my backups in a test folder. Unzipped it. Then unzipped the file inside it.

It had a folder called CONF

Inside it was list of files and a few more folders. That have no meaning to me.

My files were empty.  Nothing in them.

[LeeG]

The ZIP is not empty.  It is not a standard ZIP file and cannot be viewed using your approach.

 

Do a Restore ISY using the original ZIP file created by the Backup ISY if you want to test it.   Under no circumstances use the file you have been playing with.

[stusviews]

 

Do a Restore ISY using the original ZIP file created by the Backup ISY if you want to test it.   Under no circumstances use the file you have been playing with.

 

What does one do if the back-up fails the test? IMO, it's best to backup on a scheduled so you always have a back-up for the back-up. I'd be nice it the back-ups could be automated, after all the ISY is about automation.

 

If you like to tinker with the ISY, then you should make a backup just prior to tinking. Unfortunately, tinkerers don't have the patience, We can't wait for the next tink to happen

[paulbates]

I'd be nice it the back-ups could be automated, after all the ISY is about automation.

 

Put that on ideascale. I'll vote for it.

[Xathros]

What does one do if the back-up fails the test? IMO, it's best to backup on a scheduled so you always have a back-up for the back-up. I'd be nice it the back-ups could be automated, after all the ISY is about automation.

 

If you like to tinker with the ISY, then you should make a backup just prior to tinking. Unfortunately, tinkerers don't have the patience, We can't wait for the next tink to happen

I tend to make backups right after I make a bunch of changes.  As long as I do that consistently, I can always go back the the previous backup to undo my recent changes.  This way I don't need to wait for the backup before I can get to work.

 

-Xathros