How to Create a New Database and Archive the Old Database

EventSentry Database Rotation: Creating a New Database & Archiving the Old

As an EventSentry database grows, managing long-term data retention while maintaining performance becomes critical. While you can purge old records, some environments require a Database Rotation.

This process involves initializing a fresh "Primary" database for current data while keeping the existing database as a searchable "Archive." This guide walks you through creating a new database, reconfiguring your EventSentry services to point to it, and setting up an Archive Profile in the Web Reports so you never lose access to your historical data.

A - Creating a New Database

1. On the EventSentry server, open the EventSentry Management Console, navigate to Actions > Primary Database.

2. Click the Create/Edit button and copy the Database Name, Username, Server, and Port; you will need these later. Close the Connection String creator.
   

   

3. On the right, click the X button (next to the Create button) to remove the current database settings. Click the Initialize or Update Database button to start the Database Setup Wizard. Create a new database, ensuring you specify a name that does not already exist (e.g., EventSentry2026). Once the wizard finishes, this will be your new Primary Database. Make sure to use the passwords for eventsentry_svc and eventsentry_web that already exist (the assistant will not create new passwords, and the wizard will fail).
   

   

4. Click Test to verify the connection.

5. In the ribbon, go to Home and click Save to apply the changes

6. Save & Deploy the configuration, or push these new settings to your managed machines: in the toolbar, click Groups > Push Configuration > Go.

B - Pointing Web Reports to Your New Database

1. Open Web Reports and navigate to Settings > Profile Editor.
   
2. Scroll down to the Database Connection section and update the settings to point to your new database (e.g., EventSentry2026).
   
3. Click Test Connection to verify, then click Submit to save.

C - Creating a New Web Reports Profile for the Old Database

1. In Web Reports, go to Settings > Profile Editor.

2. Select New Profile and name it 'Archive Database'.

3. Enter the connection settings for your old database (from step A-2), then Test and Submit.
   

   

D - Checking Automated Database Maintenance for Both Databases
You can now switch between databases using the profile dropdown menu in the upper-left corner of Web Reports.

1. Primary Database: Select your Default Profile, go to Settings > Maintenance Jobs, and ensure the retention period matches your desired criteria.

2. Archive Database: Switch to your Archive Database Profile and go to Settings > Maintenance Jobs. Ensure that no Maintenance Jobs are active for this profile.

Note: For more information on how to set up these Maintenance Jobs, follow the steps in this article: How do I set up the database purge from Web Reports?