Backup Check

The Backup Check queries device backup results on the days specified to determine the status of the backup. The check ensures that in the event of device problems, there is a backup to restore from. Depending on the backup product used, the backup information is derived from the Windows Event Log or from the product's native log files.

Since the Backup Checks poll the device for the backup results, the results in N-sight RMM are those reported by the backup product being monitored. If the reported result is Completed with Errors, Completed with Warnings, or a similar response, we recommend you investigate the device and ensure the backup product can backup the expected data sets.

Add a Backup Check

  1. In the All Devices view, select the device in the North-pane.
  2. Go to the Checks tab in the South-pane and select Add Check.
  3. Select Add DSC > Backup Check.
  4. Choose the supported backup product from the Backup Check dialog. See Supported Backup Products .
  5. Select the checkbox for each day a backup is scheduled to run. Since backups usually run overnight, the Backup Check runs the day after the scheduled backup. For example, if you select Monday, the Tuesday daily Backup Check verifies the Monday evening backup and displays the results. For more information, see Which Backups.
  6. Enter the number of backup jobs to check for. We recommend entering the minimum number of jobs scheduled to run over the monitoring period. If this minimum number of jobs is not met, the check will fail. For more information, see Number of backup jobs to check for.
  7. Enable or disable other check conditions available for the backup product. For example, Show 'complete with exceptions' as successful (or equivalent).
  8. (Optional) To run an Automated Task when the Check fails, select Assign a Task after creating the Check. This option is not supported for all checks.
  9. Click OK to save and apply.
  10. If you selected Assign a Task after creating the Check in the step above:
    1. Select the Automated Task script and select Next to configure.
    2. Enter any required Command Line parameters or Script parameters and select Next.
    3. Set maximum permitted execution time for the script (optional).
    4. Select Finish to save and apply.

Tips for Best Usage

  • If a Check fails, we recommend you ensure the backup program is installed and writing the backup status events to the relevant log file. For example, native log files or Windows Event Log.
  • If we do not support your backup product, but the product writes to the Event Log, you can configure your own Event Log Check to monitor the status of the backup job. If the backup the product writes to its own native logs, you can write a Script Check to retrieve the required information.
  • To ensure the backup files are manageable sizes, use the File Size Check to generate an Alert if the backup files or locations exceed the specified threshold.

Edit a check

  1. In the All Devices view , select the device in the North-pane.
  2. Go to the Checks tab in the South-pane.
  3. Right-click the check and select Edit Check.
  4. Configure the settings as needed.
  5. Click OK to save and apply the changes.

Delete a check

  1. In the All Devices view , select the device in the North-pane.
  2. Go to the Checks tab in the South-pane.
  3. Right-click the check and select Delete Check.
  4. Enter the password you used to sign into N-sight RMM to confirm removal.
  5. Click OK to delete the check.

For multiple backup job schedules, use multiple Backup Checks

When you add a backup job that runs on a different daily schedule to the existing Backup Check, we recommend you use additional Backup Checks to address all the new changes. This ensures that the correct number of backup jobs are monitored each day.

For example, if Files and Folders and System State backups run seven days a week, and you add SQL and Exchange backups to run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, as shown in the table below, then we'd recommend you use two Backup Checks.

  • Backup Check 1: Configured to run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to monitor four backup jobs.
  • Backup Check 2: Configured to run seven days a week to monitor two backup jobs.
Backup Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Files and Folders 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
System State 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
SQL 1 0 1 0 1 0 0
Exchange 1 0 1 0 1 0 0
Total backups each day 4 2 4 2 4 2 2

Configuration settings

Which Backups

In the Which Backups section, select the days a backup is scheduled to run. Since backups usually run overnight, the Backup Check runs the day after each scheduled backup. For example, if you select the Monday checkbox, the Tuesday daily Backup Check verifies the Monday evening backup and displays the results.

Which Backups selection Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Backup Check runs on Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday

Number of backup jobs to check for

To avoid false positives or negatives, when you configure the Backup check, we recommend entering the minimum number of jobs scheduled to run over the monitoring period. If this minimum number of jobs is not met, the check fails regardless of whether discovered backups were successful.

We recommend you keep Backup Checks updated to reflect the current number of jobs. The following examples show what can happen if they are not updated.

Example 1

  • Number of backup jobs configured in the Backup Check: 3
  • New number of backup jobs: 2
  • Backup state: All passed
  • Backup Check result: Check fails because less than the expected number of jobs were discovered.

Example 2

  • Number of backup jobs configured in the Backup Check: 3
  • New number of backup jobs: 5
  • Backup state: 3 jobs ran
  • Backup Check result: Check passes because the expected number of jobs were discovered. No failure to indicate two jobs did not run.

Show 'complete with exceptions' as successful (or equivalent)

Depending on the backup product used, there may be an additional options to pass the check if a non-successful condition is encountered. For example, record the backup as complete with exceptions if the backup completes but files are still open.

Daily Safety Check run time

If there is a change to the backup schedule, you may need to change when the Daily Safety Check runs to ensure it runs after the backup completes.

To change when the Daily Safety Check runs:

  1. In the All Devices view North-pane, right-click the device and select Edit <device_type>.
  2. In General Settings, under Check Frequency, select the DSC Run Time from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click OK to save and apply.