How to Set Up a Parallel Archive Database Using the Archive Feature

The Archive feature in EventSentry enables continuous, parallel synchronization between a primary and secondary database. Once activated, both databases remain active: one handles live data, while the other serves as a real-time archive. Archiving is not retroactive - the archive database will only store data collected from the moment the feature is enabled.

This guide covers initializing the archive database, enabling the feature, and verifying accessibility through Web Reports.

A - Creating the Archive Database

1. In the Management Console, navigate to Actions, right-click, and select Add Action. Choose Database and give your new database action a name (e.g., Archive).
   
2. Click Yes to start the Configuration Assistant.
   
3. Select your database type. When prompted for the database name, provide a descriptive name (e.g., Archive). Follow the assistant to create and test a new connection string. You will need your database administrative credentials (postgres or sa).
   
4. On the next screen, the wizard will prompt for the passwords of the eventsentry_svc and eventsentry_web users. Enter the passwords that were originally set (e.g. during installation). Since these users already exist, the wizard will not change them; it is simply verifying the connection.
   
5. Click OK and then click Test to verify the new connection string.
   

B – Linking the Archive Database to Your Primary Database

1. In the Management Console, go to Actions > Primary Database (or your primary database action).
2. In the 'Additional (Archive) Database dropdown', select the database action created in step A.
   
3. Click Save in the ribbon to apply the changes.

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 new database, then Test and Submit.
   
4. You can switch between your primary and archive profiles using the dropdown menu in the upper-left corner of Web Reports.
   

D – Setting Up Retention for the Archive Database
1. While on the Archive Database profile in Web Reports, go to Settings > Maintenance Jobs.
2. Create a new maintenance job for this profile with your desired retention period (e.g., 365 days).

Note: This process retains new data going forward up to the configured retention period. Existing historical data from your primary database will not be migrated to the archive database.

For more information on configuring Maintenance Jobs, refer to How do I set up the database purge from Web Reports?

Related articles:
How to Create a New Database and Archive the Old Database
How to Move a PostgreSQL Archive Database to a Different Drive and Connect It to Web Reports