Restore Ignition from a previously backed up copy of the gateway.

There are times when it is necessary to install an Ignition Gateway backup file onto an existing Ignition Gateway. Typical scenarios may include the following examples. An Ignition administrator made changes to the Gateway configurations but is unsatisfied with the results. In this case it may be more efficient to install a Gateway backup file than to attempt to fix the changes. In another instance, an integrator is installing Ignition at a customer site as part of a larger project. The integrator bench tested the Ignition Gateway at his office and is now ready to install the new Gateway onto the customer’s server.

The origin of the backup file is largely irrelevant. The backup file from one Gateway can be loaded onto a different Gateway. The caveat is that the two Gateways share the same version of Ignition. For example, a backup file from a server running Ignition version 7.7 cannot be loaded onto a server running Ignition version 7.6.

If the source of the backup file is Ignition's automatic backup feature then determining the file location of the backup file is the first step toward restoring the Gateway. The location of the backup file can be found by accessing the Gateway and selecting the Configure tab. Under the Configuration section, select Gateway Settings. The location of the backup file is found in the the Scheduled Backup Settings area of the page. Navigate to the file location described in the Backup Folder text area. The backup files should be located in this area.

Follow these steps in order to install a Gateway backup onto an existing Gateway. Access the target Gateway and select the Configure tab. Under System section, select Backup/Restore. A best practice is to download the current Gateway before restoring with the backup file. Selecting the button labeled Download Backup will backup copy of the user data for the currently running Ignition Gateway server. This includes all projects, drivers, images, and configurations associated with the Gateway. Should the need arise to revert back to the previous Gateway then there must be an available Gateway backup to load into the Gateway. Hence the practice to download the current Gateway before restoring with the backup file.

In the tab labeled Restore there is an option to choose the backup file. Gateway backups have the file extension “gwbk.” Press the button labeled Choose File and locate the appropriate Gateway backup file. The checkbox Restore Disabled will result in all projects, database connections, OPC connections, etc. being disabled upon restart of the Gateway. This may be desired in order to prevent unintentional interaction with OPC devices and databases.

Once the button labeled Restore is pressed, the Gateway goes off-line and becomes unavailable for the duration of the restore process. The Gateway automatically starts and becomes available as soon as the Gateway completes the restore process. 

The process should take less than a minute.